package comes from Amazon, fake tracking number from FedEx
Twice now, I have ordered something from eBay, and I get a FedEx tracking number. But the package comes from Amazon, using Amazon shipping, long before the tracked item is delivered. The first time, the eBay price was literally 2 cents more than the Amazon price; the second time, it was $2.50 more. (Lesson: check Amazon before buying anything!)
When I check the tracking numbers, they show as delivered to my zip code. The first time, I called FedEx, and they confirmed that the package was delivered but to an address different from my own.
I suppose I should be happy that I got anything at all, but here's what I really want to know:
Where do these sellers find tracking numbers for packages being delivered to my zip code within a particular time window?
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@cyraxote ,
It is possible the items that were delivered by Amazon were sold by ebay sellers who use Amazon's Multi Channel Fulfillment service. Their items are stored at and shipped from Amazon facilities. Those items my be shipped by USPS, FedEx and UPS, but also via Amazon Logistics. It's possible Amazon provided a FedEx tracking number to the sellers, but then shipped it using their own logistics system, if they have a facility close to you.
"But the package comes from Amazon, using Amazon shipping, long before the tracked item is delivered".
Since you seem to have received the items why did you check with FedEx?
If pricing is something you are concerned with, you might want to compare the prices available on several sites not just ebay before buying here.
cyraxote
OP11 months agoIf you received the item on a Monday, from Amazon, and then got a message from eBay AND UPS* saying that the item was delivered on Thursday, wouldn't that rouse your curiosity?
Also, the items I ordered have been relatively light, 2 or 3 lbs at most, and in both cases, the weight given by the carrier with the tracking number was 15+ lbs.
*It was UPS the first time, FedEx the second.
mudshark61369
·11 months agocyraxote
OP11 months agoActually, I was mistaken: the first order came from Walmart but had a UPS shipping number. The more recent one came from Amazon but had a FedEx number.
I have a Walmart account. What I ordered on eBay and received from Walmart doesn't show on my Walmart purchase history. Is that what you meant?
I usually do not order from people with 0 feedback, and I do not order from outside the US. I have an extension in my browser that sets the eBay filter to "US only," but it's not 100% accurate. In this case, I just assumed it was working, but it clearly was not.
eburtonlab
·11 months agoI have an extension in my browser that sets the eBay filter to "US only," but it's not 100% accurate. In this case, I just assumed it was working, but it clearly was not.
eBay allows filtering by Item location -- not seller location. The problem is that the Item location information is provided by the seller, and not all sellers provide accurate information. That is one reason why it is important to look at the seller's feedback page to see where the seller's account is actually registered.
eburtonlab
·11 months agoWhere do these sellers find tracking numbers for packages being delivered to my zip code within a particular time window?
I don't know how all scammers do it, but some accomplish that by having an inexpensive trinket or postcard sent with tracking to a local business address in your area.
Of course, if the buyer actually receives something, the buyer can file a "not as described" return within thirty days for a full refund. In fact, any buyer on eBay can file a "not as described" return, provided the buyer is willing and able to return exactly what was received.
If tracking shows delivery but nothing arrives and the buyer can obtain some hard copy documentation (email is not good enough) that says that the package was not delivered to the buyer's address or documentation that shows the weight or size of the package cannot possibly correspond to the ordered item, or the shipping date precedes the order, then the buyer may be able to contact eBay via social media direct message, provide that documentation to eBay and get help with "false tracking".
https://x.com/askebay
https://www.facebook.com/ebay
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
With "false tracking" if you go through a standard automated "item not received" case, on the other hand, you will lose the case because the seller can provide tracking that appears to show delivery. If you then appeal, you may have some additional options at that point. It appears that eBay has added a new appeal option regarding "delivery to another address", but I do not know how effective that is compared to contacting eBay via social media with documentation and explicitly mentioning "false tracking", which seems to work provided you can obtain the necessary documentation.
If you are unable to get help through eBay, you may have recourse through your payment method, though you should probably exhaust all your eBay options first since once you go through your payment method, eBay will no longer help with that transaction.
In general, you can avoid a lot of headaches by choosing to purchase only from established sellers that have recent and past positive feedback as a seller for selling items in the same category that you intend to buy. If someone is selling a dozen apple watches, but has no feedback, or only has feedback as a buyer, or only has feedback for selling dress patterns or fishing lures (actual examples I have seen), perhaps wait until they have a track record of positive feedback for selling electronics before you buy from them. And avoid sellers that appear to be registered in one location and ship from another, or low feedback individual sellers that sell bulky, quantity items with free shipping where it does not make sense that such an item could be profitably shipped via retail shipping.
cyraxote
OP11 months agoI received the items, so there's no need for a return.
As I said, I'm just curious about how they source the tracking number.
sdneped
·11 months agoWe usually don't understand the OP @cyraxote here on the boards unfortunately, as we're talking to ourselves.
Some of the plethora of tracking websites collect the numbers we foolishly submit, to sort and resell to scammers. The seller/scammer doesn't ship anything -- a trinket or a tristrangulation -- but just buys a tracking number of another person's 15-pound package headed to your zip code, to fake your delivery.