2 packages shipped with eBay counterfeit shipping labels
I shipped two separate packages using eBay shipping labels, both involving FedEx smart post.
The labels had both a FedEx and USPS tracking numbers. FedEx package tracking showed a successful handover to USPS, but then the USPS didn’t update on delivery date. After 7 days I submitted a missing mail request. USPS informed me after a few days that they were actually being held due to being counterfeit labels and the packages are not going to be delivered or sent back. The tracking #s shows it's being held due to unpaid postage. Buyers did not open a case despite my encouragement, as I was attempting to resolve the issue as soon as possible. The buyers finally open the case shortly before 30 day deadline. To my extreme surprise eBay sided with the buyers and told me to contact USPS like I have not done so! I have been calling USPS every day in hope of reaching someone with different views. But no success. I am out $200 and I feel like a victim and frustrated. I wasted so much time just going round the circle on the phone. Have you ever been in a similar situation? Is there a way to make eBay understand that it was their counterfeit label that caused all these problems.
redelebut
·1 year agoThat's incredibly frustrating - you did everything right.
It's unfair that eBay sided with the buyers when the real issue was the counterfeit shipping label. You shouldn't have to lose money or spend hours chasing USPD because of a label problem from eBay's system. They really need better protection for sellers in situation like this.
wini9681
·1 year agoYou can try sending lots of feedback to ebay.
ryry-jj
·1 year agoBtw, the OP has some very nice items, good presentation in the pix, I feel bad if they lose these items 😞
wastingtime101
·1 year agoYeah, I absolutely hate having to deliver bad news to sellers that drop off packages with the wrong carrier. ðŸ™
immoptions51
·1 year agoi had a UPS fake tracking ID, seller profile was made in Germany and they use a USA state , but they shipped out my package from a different state OHIO. i had UPS invetigate it and told me the tracking number i had was for a person down the block from me. how does a UPS tracking Id get 2 different shipping addresses???
seller profile is memeber since 2023 and only sold 1 item ? RED FLAG seller.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoYour issue is not at all related to the topic of this thread. I suggest clicking the below link to start a new thread @immoptions51 where you will receive assistance on how to deal with the same zip code tracking scam.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/forums/postpage/board-id/bidding-buying-db
ryry-jj
·1 year agoBreaking this down, you purchased a FedEx label, and then ultimately delivered it to US Post Office whether because the Walgreens person told you to do that, or you just did it. These labels have not only confused sellers, but often, when taken to an annex, those people seem to hand off to the USPS out of confusion as well. I would need to see full detailed tracking at the FedEx level, then being handed off for the "last mile" to USPS to think otherwise...it is just too common of wrong carrier drop off situation by sellers
In these situations, you will not be getting your package returned
wastingtime101
·1 year agoHi @10-bubblegum . Sorry to hear you got caught up with this and sorry to report this was your error and you are responsible for refunding the buyers.
Please read this post as it has all the info you need:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/Reminder-FedEx-Ground-Economy-packages-can-NOT-be-dropped-off-at/td-p/34973783
Bottom line: you paid FedEx, not USPS. USPS cannot accept FedEX Ground Economy (formerly SmartPost) packages. This rule has been in place for a full year. When you drop off to USPS they will claim either unpaid or counterfeit postage, seize the package, and destroy it.
In addition, FedEx delivers Ground Economy packages end-to-end and only hands off to USPS for final leg of delivery if it's a PO Box or military address.
eBay does everything they can to inform sellers, including posting warnings on the label page (on website and app), but they cannot force sellers to read the warnings or drop off with the correct carrier.
The problem stems from FedEx. They were supposed to update their labels back in January to remove USPS and they never did.
10-bubblegum
OP1 year agoThe warning is effectively useless by its tiny font size that makes it easy to overlook.
USPS has been used by me for shipping for years and not FedEx.
2 years ago I moved and the post office is nearly 20 miles away round trip from my new place.
Postal Annex was sometimes used, but I was not satisfied because packages frequently did not ship until the following day.
Recently I realized that a nearby Walgreens accepts packages from FedEx, making drop-offs much more convenient. A few packages were scanned by Walgreens with recipes and delivered on time. So in a couple of days I took the package with the counterfeit label to Walgreens. Employee was unable to scan the item and instructed that it be taken to the post office instead. That is exactly what happened with the second package
wastingtime101
·1 year agoIt's not a counterfeit label. It's a legit FedEx label but the package was erroneously dropped with USPS. Tracking confirms it was never in FedEx's possession. Sorry to hear the uninformed Walgreen's employee gave you wrong advice. Write this off as a loss when you file your 2025 taxes. Always ship with the correct carrier.
rockinthreadsrecords
·1 year agoI had 4 packages have the same issue around the holidays. I was on the phone daily for months and got the run around. Not one package was delivered or returned to me. I know a lot of sellers had this issue around the same time. Ebay just more or less stated it's my fault. I gave up using FedEx after that. Even if you drop it off at a FedEx location, there are still issues. They need to do away with the USPS#s on the labels to avoid this confusion. Seems very shady. What do they do with all these packages that have so called "Counterfeit Labels"? I don't see why they just can't bill you extra and have them returned. This is refreshing my anger.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoFEDEX is supposed to pay USPS for their portion of the delivery.
The relationship between FEDEX and USPS is not what it once was, when FEDEX did much of the USPS long haul shipping. UPS replaced them in that function.
Since they renamed SmartPost to FEDEX Economy the service which was never great became terrible.
There have been other reports of USPS not paying any insurance claims on FEDEX Economy.
Many USPS employees have had a negative attitude to FEDEX and Smartpost since it was created.
This is not an Ebay problem.
The solution to the FEDEX problem is not to use FEDEX services other than the premium Express service which is no longer what it once was, either.
The only people who use FEDEX Ground/Home or Economy are doing it solely because of price, and you get what you pay for or LESS than you paid for.
lacemaker3
·1 year ago@10-bubblegum
Please share the tracking numbers involved. Usually, we can see some clues in the tracking history, to explain what happened.
10-bubblegum
OP1 year ago9261299998825420752362
9261299998825426573633
10-bubblegum
OP1 year agoFedEx tracking 61299998825426573633
USPS tracking
9261299998825426573633
FedEx tracking 61299998825420752362
USPS tracking 9261299998825420752362
lacemaker3
·1 year ago@10-bubblegum, thanks for sharing the tracking numbers.
@wastingtime101 already explained the problem here and here.
You purchased a FedEx label, but it never got scanned by FedEx. So FedEx won't pay USPS for their share of the postage, (the last mile) which these packages aren't supposed to be handed off to USPS anymore anyway. The only scans available shows them in the hands of USPS, who never received payment. If you are going to use FedEx shipping, you will have to find a reliable way to make sure that your packages get to FedEx.
I'm sorry you got bad information from the Walgreens employee.
monica-sells
·1 year agoTry the facebook or instagram customer service. You may have better results.
Wonder why the USPS is simply not charging the account (you) for the postage shortage. (even if you are under the impression you paid that portion). I do not completely understand the "Smartpost" sequencing. I do know you initiate those at FedX, not USPS, and as I understand it (what I have been told) the USPS leg is paid by FedX (whom you remitted the initial funds to)
I may be wrong...
@wastingtime101 can chime in and help.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoDid you drop the packages off at FedEx or USPS?
USPS is no longer accepting packages with a FedEx shipping label.
chapeau-noir
·1 year ago"FedEx package tracking showed a successful handover to USPS"
10-bubblegum
OP1 year agoWalgreen employee could not scan it and instructed me to take it to USPS, and that is exactly what I did
10-bubblegum
OP1 year agoA few packages that I took to wallgreens were scanned and delivered with no problem. It was the counterfeit label that she could not scan and advised me to take it to the post office.
lacemaker3
·1 year agoThe Walgreens employee was mistaken, as @wastingtime101 said.
The package needed to be given to FedEx, not to USPS. That is what caused the whole problem.
10-bubblegum
OP1 year agoUPDATE:
One of the packages has been delivered to the buyer today! The case was closed in my favor.
The second package is still being held by the post office and is closed in favor of the buyer.
How can this be figured out?
untod
·1 year agoEither USPS will deliver it, or they won't - there's nothing to figure. If they deliver it, you should get a tracking email from them. If you do, message the buyer to "please write REFUSED on the mailpiece and drop it back in your mailbox unopened". I did, and mine came back in 4 days, after USPS took it on a 67-day tour of the US.
USPS never billed me for any "unpaid postage", nor refunded any.
To those who said that USPS seizes/destroys the mailpieces; that would be illegal. But if they were going to, they could do that AT the dropoff point - it doesn't have to go around the world. And if they scan it at the dropoff point (like they do), they could simply contact the sender or return it directly to the sender's return address (like they did with mine) withOUT taking it anywhere. If the label is counterfeit, they'd know that at the first scan. If it's for another shipper, they'd know without scanning or carrying it.
10-bubblegum
OP1 year agoI called ebay for a second lost package hoping to re-open the case. I was told the closed cases can not be re-open.
My concern is why two packages with seemingly identical problems receive different treatment. The package that was delivered went under review for 3 weeks and the second INR was declined in 3 days!
It is hoped that the buyer is honest and will return the package to me if she ever receives it.
Thank you for your advice.