PS Preferred Vendor List and Excessive Returns?

[Batgirl76]

Hi all, I just bought my first colored stone (lab) from a vendor on the list. It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for so I returned it. I then asked about another stone the vendor had and never got a response.

I’m wondering if some of the sellers don’t want to deal with you if you’ve returned items in the past (?). Please share your experiences if you don’t mind. Also, has anyone ever been stuck with a stone because the vendor said “sorry, too many returns”? Thanks!

 

[distracts]

I haven't ever bought many stones in a row from a vendor but I can see how it would happen. However if you never got a response, I wouldn't jump to that conclusion without sending them a follow-up email first.

 

[T L]

I wouldn’t call that a preferred vendor list by the way. It’s just a list, not all the vendors on there are people I would want to buy from, and I’m sure others feel the same way, but the list was compiled by Pricescopers that may have had a decent to great experience with them.

If there are enough complaints about a vendor on that list, they can be removed.

There is one vendor in that list that started charging me restocking fees because I returned too much, and none of his descriptions matched the stone IMO. I think he’s dreadful, but he’s on the list. I’m not saying who it is because some people love him. Not all experiences with the vendors on this list will be great ones.

 

[PrecisionGem]

This is going to come up more and more now with PayPals new policy on refunds.

 

[lovedogs]

This is going to come up more and more now with PayPals new policy on refunds.

Agreed. PP is horrible.

 

[jordyonbass]

Agreed. PP is horrible.

It's become a nightmare for a lot of us vendors, I know some vendors that are going with exchange only policies as it keeps the probability of them getting stung by the new PP policies to a minimum.

 

[elizat]

It's become a nightmare for a lot of us vendors, I know some vendors that are going with exchange only policies as it keeps the probability of them getting stung by the new PP policies to a minimum.

I just saw the new policy. I noticed a few sellers on IG indicating that they will just pass it to customers. I would guess this means less purchases from folks.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

What happened with PayPal?

I rarely pay significant amounts with it so now you have me curious!

 

[Bron357]

What happened with PayPal?

I rarely pay significant amounts with it so now you have me curious!

PayPal takes a 2.9% fee plus 30 cents from the money you send the seller. You send $100, seller only gets around $97. PayPal deducts their fees. If a Seller refunds you (for whatever reason) with the new rule either you’ll only get $97 back or if to give you back $100, the seller has to cover the $3.
PayPal is keeping the $3 no matter what!
Problem is when transactions are in the $$$$ amount and/or ,000 items.

 

[lissyflo]

What happened with PayPal?

I rarely pay significant amounts with it so now you have me curious!

PayPal are changing their policy and will no longer refund the fees on returns. So rather than a sale + return bring a neutral situation for all concerned, someone will have to suffer the fees. I assume most vendors will have a policy of deducting the fees from any refund.

I can see PP’s point of view - they’ve actually processed 2 transactions for no fee if they don’t apply a charge, but it does make life potentially expensive in the age of internet shopping where the nature of sales means that you can’t see the goods before purchase. But equally internet shopping is why Paypal use has ballooned, so changing the rules once you’ve got a major market share is not entirely ethical in my mind either.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Charge cards work the same way only worse. The vendor is charged 2.9% for the sale, and then again 2.9% for the return. So on a $500 stone, a vendor is charged $29 with out even making a sale.
With PayPal the fees are 2.9% in the USA, and 4% for customers outside the US. At this point PayPal claims it's being nice by not charging again for the return.

I don't think this will hit most businesses as bad as ours. Gems are hard to photograph and need to be seen person, so returns would be much more common than say if you were buying ink for your printer.

I think it will take a little time for everyone to figure out how to proceed.

 

[T L]

Thanks Gene, that explains a lot.

By the way, Gene is probably one of the best vendors on the list regarding returns.

 

[Batgirl76]

Thanks for your responses and insight everyone!