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I can't keep cancelling, paypal will screw me up
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Original Post
This is the third thread I write regarding the crazy amount of cancellations that I'm getting. During the past 3 weeks I've had around 50, yes 50 requests to cancel for various reasons: teens that buy without their parents consent, buyers that found a similar item cheaper, buyer's remorse 3 days after purchase when all is packed to leave, and others didn't even bother answering my why are you wanting to cancel convo. Imagine, others didn't see the coupon in my listing and wanted me to cancel and refund so they could purchase again!
Paypal sent me an email, because of the amount of refunds I'm issuing. No, I'm not a bad seller, and I'm not a fake either. But because of that request cancellation button my account can be terminated. I do get a large volume of sales but with that comes a huge volume of "I want to cancel because I found ___ cheaper on this other store" requests that are made sometimes MINUTES after a purchase.
Etsy, this can't keep happening. I know the "busy season" is almost over but this is something a lot of shops will be encountering and this is my day job, I can't keep accepting cancellations because of fear of bad feedback or X-Y reason that will affect my business negatively.
Please restructure the cancelling system and then put it up again when it's actually beneficial for sellers, who are keeping this site alive. Without sellers there's no merchandise to be sold and no one to buy.
Think about this flaw please.
*I'm posting this in business topics too
Posted at 7:25 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
Responses
That's no fun. I think if I was you I would be asking myself why this is happening. You say a lot of shops will be encountering it; I haven't had it happen and it is strange it is happen so much to you. 50 cancellations is just incredible.
Posted at 7:48 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
I do have a feeling it's because of the demographic. Mostly college students or teens that purchase from my shop, so it's bound to happen. But I didn't ever have a cancellation request before that button was installed and I've been selling here for over 4 years.
Posted at 8:16 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
Luckily I have never had anyone ask to cancel (I think because my buyers are older) BUT when that feature was introduced I expressed to Etsy that the exact scenario you have laid out would be likely for many.... my concerns fell on deaf ears and they did not feel it would be problematic. I disagree and I feel for you.... that is a terrible and unnecessary position to be in.
Posted at 9:11 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
I had suggested that the seller have some control over when it is too late to cancel. I mean obviously when something has shipped it is too late but if you make personalized items it is too late once the work on the item has begun. I had suggested to Etsy the the seller be in control of when it is too late... because really only the seller knows.
I mean oh sure one can always say "no" to the buyer but because the button gives the illusion that cancellation is an option even when it is not, the seller is put in the position of disappointing the buyer thru no doing of their own
I have been very lucky not to have had a cancellation request
Posted at 9:30 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
I could not imagine dealing with that volume of cancellations.
The only solution would be to mark shipped as quickly as possible to make that button disappear.
Posted at 9:30 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
It actually is a really hard issue to solve; imagine a customer gearing up on you because you don't or can't issue a cancellation and saying Etsy allows it. Yeah, etsy says go ahead but what about paypal or any other payment method. Yeah, DC customers I bet wouldn't have an issue but I don't use DC like many international/US territory shops. Refunding whenever I want isn't an option.
Posted at 9:34 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
Wow. I have been reading your posts on this as it has happened and feel so bad for you. This is a crazy amount of cancellations! I think maybe you should add a disclaimer in your shop listings for now and see if that will help. It's not ideal but it might help.Maybe put something in the listing to " please be very sure you want to purchase the product before you check out as it can cause issues after the order is placed to do any kind of refund" or something like that. :(
Posted at 9:53 am Dec 25, 2012 EST
I'm so sorry for your troubles.
Posted at 9:53 am Dec 25, 2012 EST