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Problem with a tracking number
I wish to get help figure if I am just unlucky or if there is fraud going on with a seller on eBay. I received a notification that an order was delivered to my house, but it was not.
Question to the public: Can eBay generate "tracking numbers" of their own when shipping via USPS? The long tracking number starts with the letters "ESUS....". A seller claims eBay does. But after the investigation below, there are several red flags. Please read the detailed summary of events below. Thanks for your help.
Event details:
I received a notification that an order was delivered to my house, but it was not. Confirmed with a camera system that USPS did not deliver. According to the information on the tracking number and the seller, it was sent via USPS. After some unfruitful exchanges with the seller, I decided to go to a USPS office and showed the tracking number that I had received. USPS said this was not a USPS tracking number because it was not starting with the number 9, so they couldn't help me. The tracking number I was given starts with "ESUS...", which USPS can't recognise. I tried to reach eBay to ask questions but could not find a way to talk someone... This is why I am posting on this public forum, as directed by eBay! BTW, when clicking on that ESUS.... tracking number, it brings you to another page confirming the package was delivered, and another hyperlink tracking number is now showing with only numbers starting with the number "0". When clicking on this hyperlink, it brings you to the USPS Tracking site... but the tracking number is useless.
Before today, I have never paid attention to tracking numbers! I made several purchases on eBay in the past few months. I decided to go back and check the tracking numbers. They were all sent via USPS and all the tracking numbers start with the number "9" like the USPS office person told me. While I was there, in an effort to find a tracking number that made sense to them, I showed the "Shipment History" for that eBay purchase on my phone. The person told that something did not make sense. There was only 4 steps for the whole process, and one of them was redundant with 2 different time stamps... While looking at previous eBay orders, they all have a minimum of 10 delivery steps, some 20 steps! Now I understand why the USPS person seemed so surprised. Something is wrong.
In an exchange with the seller, he wrote this: "The carrier is USPS via first class letter. The tracking number is an eBay number, there is no USPS tracking number. It's some sort of an agreement between USPS and eBay that tracks the scans made by the post office as an item goes through their system. USPS scanned the item otherwise there would be no entry. Have you talked to your delivery person?"
Does that make sense??
Also, here's what the Shipment history says for that order:
Shipment history
eBay Standard Delivery: ESUS3........
All other eBay orders shipment orders are referring to USPS, not eBay Standard Delivery, as shown below. Hence why I am now wondering if this could be a fraud! That order was very cheap but necessary to fix something important to me.
eastlaneave
Mentor8 months ago@stgrand-73
An ESUS tracking number is for eBay Standard Envelope for Trading Cards, Stamps, Postcards & Coins
Only certain items can use an this special envelope
Requirements are
- Categories of Trading Cards, Coins and Currency, Postcards, Stamps, Patches, Sticker and Decals, Seeds, and Greeting Cards
- Weight up to 3 oz.
- Value up to $20
By it's nature, this item is scanned in the processing by USPS machines. It can definitely show delivered but not arrive for 1-2 more days. This is different from regular tracking that is scanned by the mail carrier at delivery.
eBay Standard Envelope has a special tracking which can he partially tracked here:
https://www.trackmyshipment.co/shipment-tracking
It may show delivered, I am not sure, but do wait until Monday or Tuesday to see if it appears.
If it doesn't, then you can open an Item Not Received Case then.
stgrand-73
OP8 months agoThank you very much for this response. It is really helpful! Much appreciated!