Couldn't people just copy my product+ask for refund?

Yes people can do what you ask and do. Like you state in your post if your content is excellent quality you will mitigate most refunds. You could also try a guarantee that states they must prove they've taken action with your product to show it didn't work for them before they get their refund, but this may affect your conversion rates. Most of us just deal with each refund request on a one to one basis and yes there are some who demand a refund regardless. Sometimes it is better just to refund the money, keep track of their information to make sure they aren't a repeat offender at some point in the future and move on. Hope this helps and I'm sure there will be others with some different ideas and answers for you in this forum.

It happens and is worse in some niches and with some products.

Yes, and serial refunders will do this. Worse than serial refunders are those who not only get a refund but then share your digital products on Black Hat forums and file-share sites.

Some niches (IM) have more scammers than others.

But it isn't just Internet Marketing products.

This week the first four episodes of Game of Thrones Season 5 were leaked on line ahead of the season premiere.

You can try and prevent it but really working to lock things up can hurt customers more than thieves.

If you find your stuff on file share sites you can send a DMCA notice and they will (usually) remove the files.

That's been an issue since digital products have been sold. Do some people with no morals buy with the intention of stealing your product and claiming a refund? Yes. Thankfully, that's not the majority. It's considered a cost of doing business. If you come up with a workable solution that ends this problem, you have gold.

Now as far as online courses, you can drip feed by time period with some content extending out beyond the refund. That way they don't get access to the full course.

You can outright say this is to discourage serial refunders from stealing your valuable training, say it is to help prevent overwhelm by giving necessary time to digest and implement the lessons, or both.

Unless your product is complete rubbish, most people won't refund.

Don't worry about those that do - treat them almost like an online shoplifter.

The shares on black hat sites are a bit of a pain - I use the .htaccess file on my site to keep some of them away (research but be careful - it's a powerful file) but I know others who don't even go to that level.

Don't make it a pain for real purchasers to get and use your product. Personally I hate being treated like a criminal after I've bought a product and I'm not alone - a friend was moaning that he had to jump through hoops to use a product he'd bought when anyone using a hacked program bypassed the annoying stuff.

Treat your customers with respect and most will respect you back.

Sure that can happen for freebee seekers. I would not worry about it. The percentage of honest people will always far outweigh dishonest folks. Put affiliate links to related useful products (or links to your products) in your ebook and lock them so people cannot erase them. So, if someone decides to share your book on black hat sites or wherever, you should still make sales of other products.

I was surprised while reading a copywriting book about mail order busniess
from back in the 1930's that they would send the itme in the mail and
if the prospect did not want it then they sent it back. But of course
some prospect kept the product and never paid for it. So there was
a list (forget the name) kept by a credit company with all these
risky names so other companies would not make the same mistake.

So it has been happening for decades and digital products only makes
it easier. But when you consider the success of crowd-funding
you know there are still a lot of decent people living in this world.

By far, most people who buy from you are honest and would pay
for a quality product.

-Ray Edwards

Yes, this can and does happen. Unfortunately this is a cost of business and imo I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it

Some characters will do this but they are in the minority. Most people won't and that's what you need to 'focus' on instead. Worrying about what other people will do is like planning your future.

Yes, it can happen and it probably will happen, but this is just one of those risks you either decide you have to take or you look for another way to make money. It's not ok that people do this, but in the end I don't think you should worry to much about those who ask for refunds, they will be few if your product is good.

As has already been pointed out this happens all the time, both online and offline. There are people who order duplicate products (maybe a DVD course) copy the entire thing, and then request a refund.

They are fortunately not in the majority in most niches, and they are not worth losing sleep over.

You can of course lock some product... and have a server validate the license (and check for refunds) each time that it is used, but that's a real inconvenience for your customers in many instances... so I choose not to do that.

You can also build backend offers into your products, so that when they are shared, they are also promoting your other products. Still frustrating, but one of numerous ways to recoup some of your loss.

Stop over thinking it!

Start and get some customers and then adjust.

Adopt a Ready => Fire => Aim approach - that works well!

Yes, the best way to prevent this is...

Membership sites. Where people can't actually download to their computer, they have to watch the videos, read the tutorial inside the membership area.

Hope this helps

Yes they can copy and yes they can get refunds, but that should not stop you from starting to sell your product. The fear of starting is the major reason why many people never succeed online. Even if you had some people try to copy your product, they will be in small numbers. And you can check your rights on refunds or put specific refund policies. I hope you decided to just start marketing your work and see what happens...

Remember you are not alone.
Everyone face it.
Does this stops any one to sell digital goods . No

Don't worry about those who refund. Any way they are not good customer. Why you want them.

Membership sites - If you feel this right for you. Get the domain, buy the plugin and start.

Learn and do it. Its not as difficult as you think

Unfortunately this is a problem that you will have to deal with as a product creator. Especially if it's a product in the IM niche as others have pointed out. The membership programs with content that extends on passed the refund date are a good idea. I myself am already working on one. But normal people (not repeat re-funders) usually won't refund if you give them a quality product. A quality product should also be in depth, and take them a bit of time to implement, again lowering the refund rate as the time expires.

As far as dealing with black hatters posting your products, the best way is to become a member of their forums. Usually a quick message to a mod will get the post removed. "I'm the product owner, could you take post xyz down?" Is all it really takes, and some of the blackhat forums also have "do not share lists". If you talk to the mods you may be able to get your product added to the list, which could result in infractions/bans of people posting your product.

Regardless of your opinion on blackhat forums, their are some really helpful and skilled affiliates who browse them. Also browsing those types of forums will give you a good idea of who the serial product thieves are. Having a regular (not angry or threatening) conversation with them could protect your stuff in the future. But, as with all things and people, not everyone is friendly and there are immoral folks who just don't care and get a kick out of ripping off people's hard work.