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Make sure your returns policy is legally compliant and consistently displayed
Setting a legally compliant returns policy will become even more important to the eBay buyer experience in 2012. You should clearly outline the conditions of how a buyer can return an item in your returns policy.
From early June 2012, sellers who have opted to use business policies will be able to set returns policy options to define the number of days in the returns period and who pays the return postage.
In addition, your chosen returns policy will be clearly and consistently displayed on the item pages of your listings. This will help to reassure buyers who are considering a purchase and reduce the number of returns-related questions you receive.
Detail
Benefits of setting your returns policy options
- Makes it easier to comply with laws on offering returns.
- Displaying a clear and consistently presented returns policy across your listings reassures buyers who are considering a purchase and may result in increased sales.
- Setting your returns policy is easy and efficient plus you can change your settings at any time. Find out how to do this using business policies.
- Making your returns policy clear at the time of purchase reduces returns-related questions from buyers.
Laws on offering returns
You should set a returns policy to help you to more easily comply with both European and national laws on offering returns.
Find out more about returns and the law.
Setting up your returns policy
- Between June and mid-July, opt in to using business policies, review your automatically generated returns policy information and edit it to provide the following information:
- The number of days in your returns period
- Who pays the return postage
- Edit your policy in the free text box, making sure it's both legally compliant and consistent with your chosen returns information.
Find out more about using business policies.
| Between early June and mid-July | Opt in to using business policies and review your automatically generated returns policy information. |
|---|---|
| From early June | Select your returns policy options to define the number of days in your return period and who pays the return postage. Make sure your options are consistent with your free text on returns for all associated listings. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have a returns policy on all of my listings?
Businesses selling on eBay are legally required to offer buyers a 'cooling-off' period of 7 working days after receipt for all Buy it now items with very few exceptions. As a seller, you should clearly outline the conditions of how a buyer can return an item in your returns policy.
Find out more about your legal rights and obligations.
How do I set my returns policy options?
You can opt in to try using business policies and then set your returns policy options.
At present, you can choose to opt out if you wish, but in the future all sellers will have to select their returns policy options through business policies as standard listing practice.
When I have set my returns policy options, do I need to update the item descriptions on my listings?
When you have chosen to set your returns policy options, make sure you review your item descriptions and remove any duplicate returns information.
How can I set my returns policies for international buyers?
You should make any international returns information clear in your free text on returns.
Benefits
For you
- Better comply with EU legal requirements
- Reduce questions from buyers about returns
- Attract more buyers
For your customers
- Giving buyers greater reassurance