Ebay Shipping Label Invalid
I purchased two shipping labels from Ebay. The first one scanned with no problem - the second one would not scan and I was told it was invalid. I cancelled the invalid label and created new label. When I brought it to the PO this morning - same problem - invalid label. This time I had a picture of the QR code and had the clerk print it out - still invalid label. The clerk entered it manually and it went through.
Just wondering if this is an Ebay glitch or a PO glitch. I usually have all my packages scanned and this has never happened before. If I dropped it off without having it scanned - it may or may not have been delivered and there would be no tracking.
Also, just want to give everyone a heads up that there could be a problem when scanning Ebay labels.
obtanium_enterprises
·1 year agoPossibly: USPS stepped up their response to the rampant counterfeit shipping label issue. Supposedly they've upgraded their tracking system to block intake of labels/packages with duplicate tracking numbers.
From my experiences though, it seems whichever package gets accepted first is presumed innocent. USPS should have a tracking data entry for when a legitimate label is purchased, date, time and location. While a counterfeit label won't have this tracking data entry. But that didn't matter, my most recent package was accepted and forwarded even though the one with the counterfeit label was already in transit from a far away city to another far away city. My package was intercepted and routed to a USPS facility for investigation, where it sat for a week, and was then forwarded on to the buyer. But of course meanwhile I had to send a replacement shipment because tracking showed delivery to a city other than the buyer's.
"Linus Tech Tips" just posted a video explaining the bogus tracking number scam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NpOw1Onf2I
ltldpr
·1 year agoHaven't watched the video, but will soon, so thank you!
I don't know why they assign a duplicate number in the first place. All this "smart" technology should be smart enough to not assign a duplicate number in the first place. Or am I misunderstanding how the fake ones are getting into the system?
obtanium_enterprises
·1 year agoThe video explains the bogus tracking number scam.
In the counterfeit USPS label scam, someone "photoshops" a completely bogus shipping label with a "valid" ("unused") tracking number. Sellers could be doing this themselves, or purchasing "discount" labels created to order. There are even sellers here on eBay with listings that seem to be offering such "custom services" for sale. Recently it was reported that some Chinese freight forwarder was selling bogus labels to legitimate Chinese sellers, scamming them out of their money and causing their shipments to be confiscated by USPS.
In my most recent experience, the bogus label/package was tendered to USPS in Atlanta, Georgia on 2/14. My buyer purchased my listing on 2/16, and then I bought the label from eBay on 2/16. I tendered my package to USPS in NYC on 2/18. I'm in NYC and my buyer is in Florida.
USPS tracking shows "a" package was tendered on 2/14 in Atlanta, GA, then movement toward its destination in Lititz, Pennsylvania, followed by "out for delivery" in Lititz, PA on 2/18. Next, tracking shows when I tendered my package on 2/18 in NYC, followed by when it departed my local post office. Finally, tracking shows "a" package was delivered in Lititz, PA an hour after my package departed my local post office. No other tracking entries are shown.
After days of arguing with mindless automatons in USPS I was able to meet a helpful manager who researched my package. USPS internal tracking is much more detailed, and it showed that my package had been intercepted at my regional sorting facility. After several days it was forwarded to another facility in Maryland where it languished again, and then was finally forwarded on to my buyer, who just received it.
Meanwhile, I'd had to send a duplicate shipment because tracking showed delivery in PA while my buyer is in FL. USPS tells me that the tracking on the website will not be updated to reflect my genuine label.
What USPS did point out is that my label has a label creation tracking entry whereas the counterfeit label doesn't. Someone just dropped off a package in Atlanta with "my" tracking number on it, bearing a label that wasn't created by USPS nor assigned a tracking number by USPS.
obtanium_enterprises
·1 year agoFWIW, I just did a quick search and found several listings like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/405193252726
It has the aroma of something...probably best not mentioned here.
Anyway, a $16.65 commercial rate ($19.15 retail) label for only $9.20, or as low as $7.82 if I buy four or more, plus $1.95 for "shipping" the label via eBay Message of course. As they say in Borough Park, "Such a DEAL!" (Oy!) Makes me wanna run out and buy a truckload of 'em! If I buy a hundred labels do I get a free USPS Postal Inspector?
Sigh... Obviously eBay is grossly overcharging all of us with their super special eBay seller USPS label rates.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year ago@gemini_magic Was the ineligible one going international? I had that error only once & if memory serves me right, it was international or maybe it had hazardous material. Hard to remember, but it's the only time in YEARS of scanning myself, that I've ever had an issue. The clerk scanned it fine.
I've never in all my years ever had a label that was 'invalid'. Sounds like maybe a printer problem.
gemini_magic
·1 year agoThe exact same thing happened to me today! I had 3 packages going out. Printed all 3 labels back to back. Two scanned as normal at the kiosk. The other scanned and said it wasn't eligible for pre-scan. Took it to the counter. She had the same issue. Did the same as you...went home printed another label. Same thing. I ended up just buying a brand new label outside of ebay so I could get the item moving. Hoping it was just a glitch! Guess we shall see when I try to scan my next sale.
carlmarxx
·1 year agoDid you report it the glitch to ebay.
onefootflipper
·1 year agoThe problem is probably with your printer or the post office/s scanner.
I sell full time 5000 plus packages a year between my accounts and have never encountered this problem. Of course I have also never handed my package to the person behind the counter either.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 year agoI do 25000 packages a year but really doesn't matter as just a couple months ago the 'tracking numbers' were 'used already' that were being printed by 1000's of sellers for an entire day.
Glitches do happen.
onefootflipper
·1 year agoI agree you can have a glitch, but this one repeated itself.