What Does Abusing a Return Policy Look Like?

[ssjones]

IMHO it depends on seller and buyer. As a retired seller I did accept any and all returns, as long as the item was returned in the condition it was sent out.

However .... IF ( and only IF ) the buyer had not read the description and asks to return an item because they did not read all the information .... while it was accepted as a return, a mental note was made of the buyers name. ie = return because the pipe is too short, or chamber too large etc. Then it did sort of leave me slightly peeved.

IF the buyer emails and says ..... Mike it just not what I was looking for, or I don't like the balance etc, no issues. Sent it back, no worries.

IF the seller did not fully describe or disclose as much information as possible, then shame on the seller and they should have no problems accepting the return.

It doesn't matter if you've sold 10 or 10,000 items. Returns for whatever reason are part of business. Accept them with politeness and respect towards the buyer. As a seller that one return accepted "properly" could lead to a long term client that ends up buying many items. Being a "dicK' about a return almost guarantees you've lost that buyer forever.

YMMV ......

Good advice from a one of the greats in the business.

I don't sell many pipes on eBay, but have never had a return.
If there is a defect, or undisclosed issue, I take good photos and ask for a return regardless of their return policy.
My eBay pipes are sold as "no returns", but if a buyer doesn't like the pipe, no matter the defect, eBay would make me complete a return.
I've sold many pipes here and only had one request for a return. A member pestered me frequently about buying a Peterson that I owned. After many months, I said sure, I'll sell it for XX. I took my usual 11 photos (I'm not Ansel Adams, but I think my photos are pretty decent, and I spend some time listing a pipe). When he received the pipe, he said the grain was disappointing, would take a return. I reminded me that he pestered me for this pipe and then said he would keep it. That bugged me.

 

[dog_park_piper]

Good advice from a one of the greats in the business.

I don't sell many pipes on eBay, but have never had a return.
If there is a defect, or undisclosed issue, I take good photos and ask for a return regardless of their return policy.
My eBay pipes are sold as "no returns", but if a buyer doesn't like the pipe, no matter the defect, eBay would make me complete a return.
I've sold many pipes here and only had one request for a return. A member pestered me frequently about buying a Peterson that I owned. After many months, I said sure, I'll sell it for XX. I took my usual 11 photos (I'm not Ansel Adams, but I think my photos are pretty decent, and I spend some time listing a pipe). When he received the pipe, he said the grain was disappointing, would take a return. I reminded me that he pestered me for this pipe and then said he would keep it. That bugged me.

That seems unreasonable of the buyer. The photos can show the grain.

 

[jbfrady]

I rarely return things unless it's from Amazon. I've never returned a pipe, even when I should have. I nabbed a Georg Jensen estate from Ebay where the stem had been sanded and polished in such a way that it was too loose and if you tried to smoke it, the stummel would slowly slide right off the stem. Still, I stuffed the pipe in a drawer and told myself I'd make a new stem for it - an improvement, as I'd make one sans filter. I still haven't done so, and I probably should've returned it. But for 30 bucks? Nah.

 

[ClinchKnot]

I appreciate a ‘Returns Accepted’ policy, especially with anything used. Don’t know what this looks like for big estate pipe sellers, and I am sure their policies guide acceptable reasons for returns, but I imagine it follows the same pattern I saw as a mailman: There are some people who abuse return policies.

Some people, for whatever reason, order things just to see them, and keep a constant flow of items coming in and going back out as returns. One customer I remember well bought shoes online and would have 2-3 boxes of shoes come in each day, and and almost equal number of returns going back out weekly - usually I would pick up her load on Saturday. I don’t know what the deal is with that behavior, but if I was the seller I would have to stop the chronic returns at some reasonable point.

If a return is only occasional or based on a condition issue undisclosed in the advertisement, it is on the seller to do the right thing as a course of business.

I’ve sold hundreds of pipes on eBay and only had one return request. It involved a broken tenon inside a pipe I had missed in a rush to post several pipes. I refunded the buyer’s money 100% and apologized for wasting their time.

 

[Uguccione]

My eBay pipes are sold as "no returns", but if a buyer doesn't like the pipe, no matter the defect, eBay would make me complete a return.

Interesting, I didn't know that.
At this point the question remains why ebay makes you choose whether or not to accept the return when you put an item up for sale.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Sellers are a funny group. They want to make the sale but don't want to deal with customer complaints. Now I grant you that some of the complaints are pretty silly, but it will serve you well to be courteous. The second time a guy a guy returns a pipe don't take bids from him in the future.

The one time I asked a UK Fleabay seller about his return policy ( he accepted returns ) he blocked me from bidding on a Ch. Supreme pipe ( in rather questionable condition ).
There was a brief conversation and I politely asked him to clarify ; he replied it was all a matter of trust, also
" he did not need a philosopher to guide his instincts".

 

[Duke of Erinmore]

Rude is to order three pipes with the intention to keep one (or in fact, none).

Like when someone who is a size 8 and orders the same pair of shoes in 7.5, 8 and 8.5. As a seller, you can be happy if he keeps one of those three. And you can't do anything about it.

 

[woodsroad]

I only return things if the seller screwed up. If I screw up, I accept it and move on.

However, I have a good friend that works at a major e-tailer. Many of the returned items they receive can not be resold, and he ends up with them (instead of them ending up in the dumpster). He is a kind and generous soul and has enriched the lives of his friends and acquaintances many times over. Keep returning shit, folks, there are cigars and blends that I haven't tried yet!

 

[georged]

IMHO it depends on seller and buyer. As a retired seller I did accept any and all returns, as long as the item was returned in the condition it was sent out.

However .... IF ( and only IF ) the buyer had not read the description and asks to return an item because they did not read all the information .... while it was accepted as a return, a mental note was made of the buyers name. ie = return because the pipe is too short, or chamber too large etc. Then it did sort of leave me slightly peeved.

IF the buyer emails and says ..... Mike it just not what I was looking for, or I don't like the balance etc, no issues. Sent it back, no worries.

IF the seller did not fully describe or disclose as much information as possible, then shame on the seller and they should have no problems accepting the return.

It doesn't matter if you've sold 10 or 10,000 items. Returns for whatever reason are part of business. Accept them with politeness and respect towards the buyer. As a seller that one return accepted "properly" could lead to a long term client that ends up buying many items. Being a "dicK' about a return almost guarantees you've lost that buyer forever.

YMMV ......

I just now saw this thread. Ignore what this briarblues guy ^^^^ says, on this thread and any other.

He was in business once for a couple days and only sold a couple pipes, and managed to become known as one of the most disagreeable people in the PipeWorld in that time. He knows nothing and is completely untrustworthy.

Avoid following his advice at all costs.

 

[woodsroad]

I just now saw this thread. Ignore what this briarblues guy ^^^^ says, on this thread and any other.

He was in business once for a couple days and only sold a couple pipes, and managed to become known as one of the most disagreeable people in the PipeWorld in that time. He knows nothing and is completely untrustworthy.

Avoid following his advice at all costs.


View attachment 327321

Let the replies of the humorless begin…

 

[briarblues]

I just now saw this thread. Ignore what this briarblues guy ^^^^ says, on this thread and any other.

He was in business once for a couple days and only sold a couple pipes, and managed to become known as one of the most disagreeable people in the PipeWorld in that time. He knows nothing and is completely untrustworthy.

Avoid following his advice at all costs.


View attachment 327321

Sticks and stones.......... LOL