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Bad mailing label

I recently sold an item, printed the USPS label from eBay, and took the package to the post office. They told me I had a "bad label," but said the package could be delivered if I put it in a bin in the center of the PO. That didn't make sense to me, but I did it.

 

A couple days after I mailed it, it came back to me, with a Return to Sender sticker and a handwritten message: "Bad label. Must be complete." The tracking details say "Accepted. The carrier has the package."

 

I went back to the order details, but I don't see a way I can print the postage again. I haven't contacted the buyer yet, because I want to tell them what action I'm taking -- but I don't know what action to take. Thanks for any guidance, never had this happen before.

Message 1 of 15
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Accepted Solutions

Re: Bad mailing label

That definitely is a bad barcode.  Unfortunately if tracking shows it was accepted, someone typed the code in by hand, in which case they should have sent it on its way.  Otherwise, you could have voided the label.  Although I think I might try hammering on ebay for a credit anyway.

 

You need to create another label, but look it over carefully.

 

Are you printing labels on a Mac?

 

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Message 7 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

If the addy is bad and not the label: you will need to cancel the sale due to addy: relist it.

Before doing so tell the buyer they need to correct the addy: and when you relist the item they then can purchase.

 

 

Message 2 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

 

@..

 

 

..

Message 3 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

I don't think the issue is the address. If I understood correctly through the plexiglass, the postal clerk was pointing to barcode. But that's how it appeared when I opened the label attachment.

 

IMG_1525-min.JPG

Message 4 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

Go back to the order and in the dropdown box, click on "purchase shipping label." It'll let you purchase another. 

 

You might want to check the price for priority mail because in my experience, there's little (or no) difference in price for a 2-lb. package. 

albertabrightalberta
Volunteer Community Mentor

Message 5 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

Try to reprint and or void that label.   'Pretend' you're going to buy another label and at the top is a link to the shipping labels page.  If another printing (reprint option) looks like that try to void it.  You may need to buy another and eat your losses. 

 

Message 6 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

That definitely is a bad barcode.  Unfortunately if tracking shows it was accepted, someone typed the code in by hand, in which case they should have sent it on its way.  Otherwise, you could have voided the label.  Although I think I might try hammering on ebay for a credit anyway.

 

You need to create another label, but look it over carefully.

 

Are you printing labels on a Mac?

 

Message 7 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

Here's what I'm seeing.

 

Screen Shot 2022-09-14 at 7.24.19 PM.png

 

992ADDCA-9434-4443-A8F1-24728C4459BD_1_201_a.jpeg

 

And then this, which links to the Shipping labels page:

 

Screen Shot 2022-09-14 at 7.26.21 PM.png

But at the shipping labels page, I don't see any option to void. The only available actions are Print Another Label or Print Packing Slip.

 

Screen Shot 2022-09-14 at 7.41.32 PM.png

 

 

Message 8 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

Here are eBay's own instructions. But there is no More Actions, as far as I can see.

 

Screen Shot 2022-09-14 at 7.44.52 PM.png

Message 9 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

If you don't see the Void option then it is not available, because the tracking was already accepted.

https://www.ebay.com/lbr/labels-history/seller-hub

 

Message 10 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label


@rfmtm wrote:

Are you printing labels on a Mac?

 


Yes. Known issue?

Message 11 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label

Yes, there currently is a problem rendering images like the barcode using a Mac and Firefox, and possibly other browsers like Safari.   Firefox has fixed this in V106, but it has not been released yet.

 

The workaround is to save the label to a PDF file, then open and print the file outside of the browser.

Message 12 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label


@rfmtm wrote:

The workaround is to save the label to a PDF file, then open and print the file outside of the browser.


Do that with the label you already have because the PO already has Accepted it so no void is possible. They can put it through again with a corrected print of the same label.

 

Aside from the big gap in the lower barcode there are also errors in printing the service letter at upper left and the 2D barcode at upper right. The scaling factor for some fonts is getting messed up or misinterpreted for some reason.

Message 13 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label


@itsjustasprain wrote:

@rfmtm wrote:

The workaround is to save the label to a PDF file, then open and print the file outside of the browser.


Do that with the label you already have because the PO already has Accepted it so no void is possible. They can put it through again with a corrected print of the same label. >>

 

I couldn't figure out how to access the original label, so I gave up and bought postage a second time. Frustrating, and a weird programming failure that this issue continues. Could I get a refund for the first postage from eBay? Maybe. Do I want to put an hour of work into getting back $7.28? I'm not sure.


 

Message 14 of 15
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Re: Bad mailing label


@sidsalts wrote:
I couldn't figure out how to access the original label, so I gave up and bought postage a second time. Frustrating, and a weird programming failure that this issue continues. Could I get a refund for the first postage from eBay? Maybe. Do I want to put an hour of work into getting back $7.28? I'm not sure.

They might give you a 1-time courtesy refund if you asked.

 

One way to get back to your original label is to look in the email account tied to your Ebay account. There should be an email there from Ebay saying that your label is ready and giving you a link back to where you can print it again if needed.

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