Item location policy
I am an active eBay seller seeking clarification regarding compliance with eBay’s item location policy.
In one of my recent transactions, I listed the item location as 10007, New York, NY, USA, which is where I generated the shipping label. However, based on the FedEx tracking details:
Shipment information was sent from ZIP code 10007
The package was dropped off at a FedEx facility in Staten Island, NY (10308)
My concern is whether this situation could be considered a violation of eBay’s item location policy. Specifically, I would like to understand:
Does eBay consider the label creation ZIP code (10007) as the valid item location, or the physical drop-off location (Staten Island, NY)?
If the item was handed over to FedEx at a different ZIP code than the listing location, does this count as a mismatch or misrepresentation?
I want to ensure that I remain fully compliant and transparent with buyers. Any clarification or guidance from experienced community members would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and support.
a_c_green
·5 months ago@shopfynix : Actually those are two different data points. Item Location can be 10007 if that's where your stock resides; the Ship From ZIP location identifies where the package was shipped from, to show that the postage paid was calculated from that starting point. As others have said, the rule of thumb is that if the first three digits of the Ship From ZIP match those of the origin post office, you're probably fine. (I assume FedEx and UPS are similar, although I don't use them.)
Check your addresses stored on this page: https://accountsettings.ebay.com/uas/addresses
You can store more than one Ship from ZIP location and pick the one you want to use at shipping time. If I remember right, it's a "sticky" setting that will be retained indefinitely until you choose a different one. They now require a full address for each Ship from ZIP location to store, so put in the street address of whichever facility you'll be using for that ZIP.
There are occasional stories here about local post office clerks refusing packages with a Ship From ZIP for some other nearby town (matching first 3 digits but not all 5) on the basis of their not getting "credit" for handling the package. In reality, it's the Acceptance scan that lets the system know that they were the office that received the package.
If they don't bother to do an Acceptance scan themselves, they are simply shooting themselves in the foot. If the package gets to the origin sort facility without any initial scan, the "Accepted at Origin Sort" scan will assume that the package did indeed enter the mailstream from the Ship from ZIP location, which may or may not be accurate.
luckythewinner
·5 months agoIn 20+ years of reading this board, I do not recall a single instance where a conflict between the label zip code and the drop-off location zip code was every an issue with eBay or with a buyer.
I used to print at home and drop off three towns away where I worked all the time, although I used USPS .
So from a policy standpoint, I think the question is probably an academic one unless Fedex somehow objects.
caldreamer
·5 months agoPhysical drop off location is what is important (not where you printed the label). FedEx wants to be sure they are paid the correct amount.
onlinecentral
·5 months agoThe policy was that the first 3 digits of the origination and drop off zip codes needed to match. I have not read any discussions in recent years where a mismatch was an issue for a seller. You might be getting a waiver for living in a tri-state area of NY, NJ and CT.
The USPS is notorious for not giving packages the initial Acceptance scan, locally. Many of my packages have gotten their first scan out of state. eBay has never challenged me about those missing initial scans.