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Alibaba’s 1688 to eliminate “refund only” policy
Alibaba's wholesale platform 1688 will eliminate its 'refund only' policy from late March, shifting to a system where buyer credibility determines dispute resolution. This change aims to protect sellers from refund costs and improve buyer and seller experience, addressing past concerns about fraud and unfair refund practices.
Key points
- 1688 is removing its 'refund only' policy by the end of March.
- Disputes will be resolved based on buyer credibility, not automatic refunds.
- Eligible disputes will be compensated by Alibaba, not sellers.
- Buyers won't have to return items for eligible refund cases.
- Merchants can decide on other refund requests at their discretion.
- 1688's move addresses seller frustrations over refund claims.
- In February, 1688 announced a crackdown on fraudulent refund claims.
Why it matters
- In 2024, 33.96% of complaints in China’s e-commerce disputes were related to refund policies.
- Kuaishou ended its 'refund without return' policy in December, highlighting industry trends.
- Taobao and PDD have also introduced measures against unfair refund practices.
The shift in 1688's refund policy reflects evolving e-commerce standards in China, aiming to balance buyer protection and seller interests amidst ongoing concerns about fraud.