Ethical question -- Okay to rely on "Free Returns"?

[Ziggy2525]

This is a distinction of which I was unaware, Ziggy. Thanks for the education!

What's The Difference Between "Morals" vs. "Ethics"? | Dictionary.com

People get the two mixed up with hot button issues all the time. People will say "abortion is unethical." It may be perfectly ethical (follows all the rules set by the state), but they really mean it's immoral.

 

[Telecaster]

Since Big Retail has destroyed local brick and mortar retail, we can't see and handle products in person before buying, any more. For most consumer products, the big online retailers understand this, and easy returns are built into their costs. If small sellers don't compete this way, they'll die on a hill not worth defending; i.e. the hassle of taking the occasional "buyers remorse" return should be an acceptable price to pay, to keep your operation alive.

 

[Absalom]

People get the two mixed up with hot button issues all the time.
.... It may be perfectly ethical (follows all the rules set by the state), but they really mean it's immoral.

One reason this frequently becomes an issue isn't so much that people get the two mixed up, but they want their personal ideas of what's moral to be accepted by everybody. So they oversell them as ethics, which are generally accepted standards.

 

[Kinman]

Its a funny thing...free returns. I remember a good friend of mine worked for the large locally owned department store. The family had an unconditional free return policy, similar to what Nordstrom's had. Every year the same wealthy people he knew would purchase top of the line outdoor furniture, use it for the summer, call up the company and have them come and take it back "free return". Nordstrom's had the same deal and the same wealthy people would buy a pair of shoes to wear for an evening, take them back and get a "free return". If you allow people to take advantage of you, you get what you got coming to you.
I suppose the department store owner figured those people that returned stuff spent more money on stuff they didn't return and it was just good policy to let them thing they were getting something for nothing, that is what its about really...you get them in the end. Here take this puppy home....

 

[Ackley1952]

question to the buyer who is pretty sure he won't keep it. How would you feel if you bought it then seller changes his mind about selling and sends your money back ? Is this not the same thing?

 

[Rammer Jammer]

No returns means nothing. I sold a new item on eBay with a no return listing on the item. A month later I get a package in the mail and it was the item I sold. The item was broken and the buyer claimed it was damaged in shipment. The box I used to ship it was used to send it back and there was no damage to the box sufficient to break the item. He had broke it and sent it back and claimed to eBay that I sent a "defective" item. Of course eBay sent him his money back so now I have a broken item and no money for it.

I also had an issue selling on ebay and will never sell there again. I selected Returns not Accepted, yet when a guy bought some vintage Doc Martens boots from me ebay automatically let him return the boots and refund him. He claimed that the boots didn't fit. What a surprise, you bought boots that you never tried on and now want a full refund!? CAVEAT EMPTOR! There was a lot of back and forth between me and ebay and without giving every detail I challenged their dishonest policy, got down in the muck with them and forced ebay to reverse the refund.

I have no plans to ever sell on ebay again but if I did I would try to figure out a way to have a listing that accepts returns but with all shipping paid for by the buyer with a HEFTY reshelving fee.