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Duplicated Tracking Number Error
This is less an ask and more a tell in case any other sellers are searching for an answer to this situation like I was 2 hours ago. I sold two small items this morning and sent off the invoice, which my buyer promptly paid, and I then generated a shipping label via eBay for Ground Advantage and stuck the package in my mailbox. By happenstance, I was checking tracking on some other orders and noticed that this particular package was showing tracking info that a label had been generated (by me) and in also another state, and said package had been accepted at a USPS facility in that other state.
I pulled the package from my mailbox (luckily my mail carrier hadn't come yet), had a minor nervous breakdown, contacted my buyer trying to explain everything and assured them I would figure it out. Then I had to call the USPS help center and finally eBay support. Both USPS and eBay get major kudos in that both agents I spoke to were able to immediately tell me what to do and resolve things which was awesome.
Long story shorter, if you buy a label, someone on another platform might also buy a label close to the same time from another vendor (say, eBay and Stamps.Com for example) and they are not supposed to reuse tracking numbers that close together (USPS does recycle tracking numbers but not on the same day) but it does sometimes happen. USPS agent advised me to contact eBay to void the label and make a new label and to absolutely not send the package using the current tracking number. eBay support told me they would void the label and I should get a refund within a few days and walked me through making a new one. My newly labeled package won't be able to go out until tomorrow, but my buyer was very understanding throughout.
This could have been really problematic if the tracking showed the package delivered (to some random place) and the buyer didn't receive it and who knows if the package would have ended up in limbo somewhere. I hope this was a one off and not some kind of issue with the switch to Ground Advantage but regardless I have nothing but praise for the agents I spoke to.
kh-stanley1
·1 year agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
largil_7
OP3 years agoThank you for all the info! I did get an automated email from eBay about my void request being processed in 1-2 weeks "if approved" by USPS which made me pretty sure the entire duplicate tracking number would make it be not approved since the other had already scanned.
elizabeth@ebay
Hi @largil_7, if that does end up being the case, please let us know. Often ours and USPS systems account for that, however, we definitely don't want you paying for a label in this case. So again, please reach out to us if you receive a letter of denial.
Thanks so much!
wastingtime101
·3 years agoYou may run into a problem @largil_7 with the refund because that tracking number was already used/scanned so USPS might deny the void request. If that happens you will have to contact eBay CS and ask them to credit you for the system error.
Generally, void requests take between 2-4 weeks before the credit is applied to your funding source so the advice you received of "a few days" is incorrect.
FYI @kyle@ebay this is the second report of eBay labels duplicating tracking numbers in the past couple days. In this case it was the same seller's previously used tracking number.
In this thread the seller @chpgts got another seller's already scanned tracking number:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Ebay-USPS-Shipping-Label-Error/m-p/33882933#M2247794
Can you escalate this to the shipping team, Kyle, as it's a significant issue, albeit not widespread as far as we know.
As a seller I would never notice if a tracking number was duplicated before I shipped because I don't typically check tracking on outbound packages unless there appears to be a significant delay.
elizabeth@ebay
Hi @largil_7 & @wastingtime101. Thank you for reaching out about this. Will get this reported, but we strongly recommend reaching out to our Customer Service agents here so a ticket can be created for each instance, as we don't have a current Alert for this.
chpgts
·3 years agoI was not able to void the label because the tracking already had a acceptance scan. How the package was scanned at 2:31 am is beyond me. I am waiting for a answer from USPS. If I did not catch this before shipping it would be very tough to prove the error is not mine and result in getting a defect and loss of monies. I think that Ebay should investigate how this duplicate shipping label can occur and fix it. It does make me feel that Ebay is a safe place to sell. I go out of my way (as I should) to have a happy buyer result.
buyselljack2016
·3 years agoUSPS provides tracking #'s.
This appears to be a problem with USPS.
bw14850
·1 year agoI was affected by this. I sold an item on Sept 27 and purchased USPS postage through EBay on Sept 28. Like you I don't check the tracking number. I mailed my package (a $50 necklace) using the self service drawer at the post office. A week later, buyer said he did not receive. To my horror the tracking number shows a package with the same tracking number being shipped from a different city on Sept 24 to Puerto Rico. I'm still trying to figure this out and hoping the package can be located. My local postman said that when a tracking number comes up that has already been used recently, the postage is invalid and package is "dead". I filed with usps and talked to them but there is nothing they can do since the tracking says it was delivered. They even said they have a picture of the package that was sent to Puerto Rico (Which doesn't even look like the one I sent). They blamed eBay for the problem. I called eBay and they said it's USPS's fault. At this point I pretty much have to refund the buyer, but I'm pretty miffed no one will take responsibility and I have pay out of my own pocket for something that's not my fault. Do you have any ideas what to do? Thank you
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoDon't depend on ebay to cancel the label. They are notorious for lying and/or not knowing what the heck they are saying. Go void the label now.
Go to ORDERS. Go to the bottom (on a desktop, I have no clue what it looks like on a phone). Click SHIPPING LABELS. Find the item label and click VOID. You only have a few days to void.
chpgts
·3 years agoOnce there is a acceptance scan you CANNOT void the label.