Scammer have gotten so bad on this site! - Anyone else having this issue?
We sell pet supplies. I keep track of everything via our internal computer system. We are close to 80% of returns on this site that are fraudulent.
We cannot even sell dog collars anymore. People buy them for their puppies and when the pup outgrows, they return them. Flea products they use and return empty boxes. Toys get chewed up and 29th day, return. Aquarium meds get sampled or completely used, returned empty or opened. I mean, this is really terrible. I am eliminating so many products from this site. Other sites aren't even half. My highest 10 returned products on this site have NEVER been returned on any other site.
0 replies
Seller_WKQcxV8GJk5T7
I would think if Amazon is so picky about returns for Personnel Products, WHY would they accept Dog Items when Dogs carry more diseases than Humans. That seems funny to me, Amazon is so strict about their Policies that they would look by these kind of returns. WHY?????
Seller_aUbEyzlSSnsDJ
Amazon has gone woke. Sellers make too much money, so amazon is spreading profits equally with its buyers.
Seller_PGUxZfqc1lNx4
A guy tried to get a refund on a product claiming he never got it until i showed him proof it was handed directly to a resident... WHat i would reccomend is turning off returns for specific products, we've done that on some listings before, if a customer has an issue like the item truly not arriving or being damaged just refund them.
Seller_8UYHnTIxJNqVK
Are you FBA or FBM? ..................
Seller_dNvd5MBslXvX8
We sell women's clothing and we have the same issue. Swimsuits worn all summer, then returned. Winter sweaters worn all winter and pilled up, returned in the spring. Ultimately, we made the decision to no longer carry any higher priced inventory on this site and feature our higher-end items on sites where the seller is better protected from consumer fraud. We still sell on here, but only high-volume, low-cost products.
Seller_8LDS13Dwga70G
My local UPS store is an authorized Amazon return center. I go there at least 3 times a week. You should see the condition of products that people are returning. Just shameful and appallng. Clothing and bedding items wadded in a ball, no product boxes, dirty and used items, etc. Then some of them that can't read return instructions complain when they are told that they are required to have shipping box. Amazon's policy is really out of hand
Seller_RSQuhWLLYCSza
on Amz. you need to raise your prices to account for all the scammers
Seller_uk2qDyGo5ODRV
Amazon is a scammer's paradise. Amazon disrespects their third party sellers by refusing to adopt commonsense measures such as being able to block problem buyers or better yet, having some sort of an internal feedback system for sellers to identify people whom are committing fraud.
Seller_GCxUlIPErBOdr
I had the same Issue with pet toys then i stop selling in this category. idk what is wrong with this category!
Seller_0coItlEn8A3pR
The scammers are going to scam. You have to get past it, if you don't it will hurt your business. Did Zappos become gigantic because they focused on stopping the scammers. Nope. They sell shoes online, what a tough business, but they did it with a good return policy. Bezo watched, learned and then bought them and applies that same approach.
A wide open return policy brings more buyers; are you doing the same volume on your other sites? As long as the ethical buyers outnumber the scammers you will win.
Seller_6Y9FIKsJxDTiQ
Yep. I only had 1 return on the bay. This has too many to count and they return them damaged or used. And sellers have to pay for return shipping via UPS which is expensive! On the bay, the customers pay for shipping. This site has scammers written all over.
Seller_aEzr9PjpfpuxN
When the economy gets tough and goes down the hill you will see this type of things going on more and more. The only thing you can do it stand your ground and issue restocking fees especially high restocking fees when they send back a used product, empty packages and destroyed items.
On the orders that get refunded on first scan file Safe T claims to get reimbursed.
I wish there was more you could do but for now that it. Hopefully one day Amazon will change it policy to help us sellers out more
Seller_aUbEyzlSSnsDJ
We sell collectibles anything over $50 we sell elsewhere. We have the smalltime scammers priced in. Sorry for your luck we all get a turn on this platform. Yes, it does get worse every year.
Seller_M4NWRaRnU1uDM
I sell electronics. Imagine the fraud and scammers there. Scammers have literally made certain items not worth to sell on this platform. Electronics are low margin items. So, imagine how 1-2 fraudulent returns will destroy an entire sku. Amazon doesn't care; then they charge you for the item that was damaged or switched by the buyer.
Seller_2aBKWnR2FC9dK
This is horrible and I am sorry this is happening to you.
Have you analyzed the fraudulent returns you are getting what percentage is Female to Male buyers? I bet if you did you will see an overwhelming amount it Female buyers.
When I analyzed my fraudulent returns I found 95% was female buyers.
This all started when we get messages from buyers complaining about ridiculous things that had nothing to do with the product of its performance, like a dent in a bottle of liquid that didn't leak and so on. Almost all of the where female buyers so we stated to analyze out fraud returns and found 95% where female buyers.
So, I now tell me staff if you have an item that fine but has any cosmetic issue check the packing slip to see who it is if it s a female buyer don't ship that item go back to the shelf and find another one that is in a better condition. We still get fraudulent returns and overwhelming they are still Female buyers
Seller_wnc1pjYEF5ZqF
By that logic, and based on the consistent fraud and switcharoo returns that are clearly evident by threads on this forum, we can assume that most products won't be a "good fit" for this platform soon.
Poor logic. Customers need to be held accountable for abusing the return system.
Seller_5xUDjRTyrAgVB
100% I agree with you. We use to carry 20,000 sku's but we cut 90% of them for this reason. This site is falling apart
Seller_tAfXR7sVBEoZS
Amazon does not care about this. They push the burden of theft, damaged, products, etc. on sellers. I would LOVE to see how they handle returns of the items they sell and ship themselves vs. those their "partners" sell.
Amazon, disclose your return refund rates for your own products and we can have a meaningful conversation!
Seller_DBzTQPDCouH9d
They know to just buy from 3rd Party Sellers, not Amazon, if they want to pull off their scam and get free merch. Amazon doesn't allow this when purchased from them. Isn't that cute?
Seller_4HsL3GZbyDLea
Yes, this is the state of things. Amazon has created a paradise on earth for scammers. Amazon has made it a piece of cake for free loading losers to defraud hard working sellers.
This is the state of Scamazon.
Seller_cCwRiCrjZMd4T
The fraud is beyond out of control. A very high percentage of every kids' clothing, shoe and costume FBA return I open is fraud in one way or another. One more and more common is parent's sending in the used smaller size and returning it for a larger new one. There are people out there that don't pay for their shoes and cloths and the list is growing. It's gross. Amazon is losing sellers over this and will continue to lose them.
Seller_PNwUQLkqFLu1F
More and more sellers are leaving this nightmare place. I bet that soon Amazon will realize what they have done but it will be too late.
Even free membership or some other "tempting" stuff won't attract any of left-for-good sellers back.
Seller_zlRAIXo8Q9cJ1
Unfortunately this platform is a platform that breeds viral fraud. Nothing is being done to slow it, prevent it, or remedy it because only Amazon is in charge or regulating it and regulating it will not increase their profits. It's by design and embedded in the code written. AI and automation accelerates it to "promote buyer confidence". Also, everything and anything sold is being copied by Chinese factories and put to market before you get yours from your supplier or manufacturer. It's an unsustainable system and only after a major catastrophic economic problem will be begin to look at it. Good luck to everyone out there.
Seller_P85u3WAAnD3kQ
If Amazon started refunding their fees to sellers on returns, then they would start to care because it would eat into their profits. But right now, if a customer keeps or returns the item, it has no effect on Amazon's bottom line. They allow nonstop returns because they still make their fees off the sellers whether the item was returned or not.
3rd party sellers are responsible for 60% of amazon's business. you'd think they would treat us better, but we're all expendable, even the million dollar sellers, on our own. The only way we have power is if we band together to do something. THAT is 60% of Amazon's business so they'd have to pay attention...
Seller_gh3LllkoBe7eQ
Completely agree with almost all the comments. I had 7 asins I completely dropped on private label. WHY ? Returns. Tried same items FBM, see percentage of returns.
Out of lets say 200 returns last two years, I found 2 legitimate reasons. TWO ONLY.
I have often said to many other sellers, I would rather have LESS sales and no returns rather than high sales and returns.
Give us sellers a box to check offering ZERO returns. I would re-order in a heartbeat and continue my sales. I had 185+ reviews and 4.6 star average but because the return policy of amazon. no more.
Plus its a race to the bottom. I dont think amazons gives a darn about what we think from a seller stand point.
Seller_RhdbLYBpzig4e
You should switch to FBM (granted there's still margin and it's worth your time) for the highly returned products. Toggle Amazon OFF on customer care handling regarding those FBM products. What we've found, is if you handle the inquiry yourself. Simply ask the customer for proof of damage, etc., 90% of the time they go quiet and never respond. The issue is Amazon without questioning immediately refunds FBA items. So, if you're a PRIME member, and a bad actor with this knowledge, you can abuse it all you want with no consequences.
Seller_1qaYJhfQbpbnE
You are protected by the usps from fraud all your mail is insured why don't you use them and file claims on people I do that and I only have a 5 percent return rate
Seller_la3EbIkpgK6qS
AMAZON does not give a crap about any of its sellers or the costs they incur. I have had customers return half of what they ordered and AMAZON fully refunded customer and charged me for all labels, Customers have returned other sellers products to us and fully refunded the customer and charged me for all labels. We have had customers "CHANGE THEIR MIND" 6 months later and item came back used with grease and curb marks and they were refunded. AMAZON gives its USERS a warm and cozy feeling buying on AMAZON while destroying SMALL BUSINESSES DAILY
Seller_FEWRoNcdcTe0W
I literally sell candy on this site and have had so many cases of fraud and threats on Amazon. At this point, I literally don't care. I won't let thieves intimidate me. I might move on a different platform just because of the things I'm hearing on this thread.
Seller_nd8NAsSHObEXq
There's no civilization without trust. Unfortunately trustworthiness is in steep decline. Good luck, everybody !
Seller_nc30TW7kE3TMX
Yes, unfortunately. This is what has happened to selling on this platform. Many of our products have been returned daily (only on the Amazon store). The customers are committing fraud. After 24 years in business & 6 selling platform, all of a sudden, the products are "not as described" on this store only. It has nothing to do with you or your products, it is all the rules that Amazon allows for buyers, at our expense. Amazon makes money off of every return with fees and 100% of the return shipping label costs.
Seller_7ZHWLxWqqZ8uG
We are all watching a sinking ship, ive been saying this since the day amazon USA opened its doors to "the" international sellers. Contrary to this situation / belief but back in the day, im a 20yr Amazon veteran, Amazon actually did care about the seller. At this point in time Amazon does not care anymore about any good hole hearted honesty. The support staff has become a tyranny, the managers just dont care. Back in the day i was able to pick up the phone and speak to 3 guys, John, Bill and Anthony in tech support and explain a situation and they clearly understood the problem. Instead of whats going on now with the consistent circles and back and forth and irrelevant replies. Even executive seller relations no longer give a dam. Its disgusting and insulting to us as honest hard working sellers. Look dont get me wrong it is our job to account for crooks but we do not have to count amazon protecting these crooks either. Best advice i can give, is there are tons of other marketplaces out there guys its so easy to be lazy with what the amazon platform has historically provided to us. simple ecom success recipe, 1- get a 3PL if you dont have a warehouse, 2- get a solid order management system that ties into marketplaces for inventory and product content. 3-make your products look sexy. 4- dont expect crap to sell 5- treat customers well, 6- ship orders same day if possible 7- provide solid customer service 8- every return you get back take a video of the box with the label and who its from and the insides as you open it that will be your ammo to fight the crooks. 9- and last but not least pray... pray you rear ends off because you can do everything right and Amazon will still kick you in the crotch and spit in your face and then they'll go tor work on you. Just IMO from someone that was 1 of 5 FBA Beta testers of the platform. Jeff did care back then too i guess when you have that much money you just dont give a xxxxx.. anymore..
