So I am running a small online store and getting hammered by chargebacks lately. What used to be 1-2 per month has jumped to 8-10 and it’s honestly scary for my cash flow. Must be like 15%…

The patterns I’m seeing:

– Customer receives item, uses it, then disputes saying “never received”

– People buying expensive items then claiming card was stolen right after delivery

– Getting “item not as described” disputes despite detailed photos and descriptions

I’m already doing signature confirmation over $100, tons of product photos, detailed item descriptions, etc. But the chargeback companies seem to automatically side with customers about 90% of the time regardless of what evidence you provide.

What’s actually working for other small business owners in 2025?

Looking for advice on:

– Payment processors that actually defend merchants

– Documentation strategies that win disputes

– How to identify suspicious orders before shipping

– Whether chargeback protection services justify the cost

Starting to wonder if I should just stick to local markets because this online stuff is brutal. Any strategies from fellow business owners would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help! Btw this is my first post on reddit so I hope I’m doing it right.