Charging a restocking fee?

[#1]

In my return policy, I say that an item can be returned minus shipping (both ways) and a restocking fee. In my mind, the restocking fee is supposed to be a deterrent to someone buying something without thinking it through...on top of the fact that I try to post things that are seasonally appropriate and if they're returned back to me, I'll be reposting them at a less ideal time.

Well now someone wants to return something because it doesn't fit her, and I feel bad charging her the fee for it. What do you guys do?

[Former_Member]

Dan - I think accepting returns at all as a vintage shop sets me apart. I didn't just invent this policy, I based it off of a lot of thought and comparisons to successful Etsy shops I admire.

Shuntu - I totally agree, at the end of the day we have to do what works for us!

And Marissa - For custom orders I think a restocking fee is way more than fair. If this was a custom order I wouldn't even be questioning it!

You guys keep bringing up major retailers - we aren't major retailers... and I don't consider them my competition...Of course I buy things online from major retailers and expect to be able to return them, but I would never (and have never) from someone on Etsy because I expect that they don't have the resources to deal with shoppers that can't be bothered to check their measurements. As an online clothes buyer, I know all of my measurements by heart....inseam, waist, etc...because I don't want to waste my or anyone else's time being unsure with a purchase. I'm pretty happy with my sales figures and haven't felt that this policy has been a deterrent. THAT SAID I did waive the fee and I'm sure I will again in the future.

As far as legality, at least in California, stores are within their rights to charge a restocking fee as long as the customer is notified before their purchase, and not as a deterrent to returning damages or defects. It's listed in all my descriptions, and I would never, ever charge it to someone who received a damaged item.

And with Paypal, buyer's remorse is not covered in their protection policy:

"If you buy something that never arrives, or if it arrives significantly different than described, you're eligible for a full refund"

Of course, people can fudge their claims to fit the bill. But as a rule, it's not there.