Ebay Standard Envelope Needs To Be Fixed!!! Please!!!
Summary: ojs2005 and seminolemowers2010 expressed frustrations with the eBay standard envelope shipping process, citing issues with tracking inaccuracies and items being marked as delivered when they had not arrived. seminolemowers2010 mentioned a 25% failure rate, causing customer complaints and misunderstandings about shipments. fm2000 suggested checking envelope flexibility as a potential solution, while christworks noted personal success with the service and suggested starting a new thread for further discussion. The overall sentiment is that improvements are needed to ensure reliable delivery and tracking.
We came to ebay when they started Ebay Standard Envelope for the great opportunity to sell low-end sports cards. It's been great and has allowed us to grow our business.
However, the lack of consistent scanning of the envelopes from USPS causes so many issues.
Having a tracking number to start makes the buyer feel as though they should see progress and they can keep track of their order. However, not all buyers understand that USPS doesn't scan everything, so they expect movement. So when there is no movement, they get paranoid. They message us, accusing us of not shipping the item.
Then as soon as they are able to, they open a case. As sellers, if we allow them to "ask ebay to step in" we get penalized for that, so we just refund them right away, because that's what any good seller would do. Now I'm out the money.
So then I file an insurance claim and get my money back. All of this can be avoided if one of two things occurred:
1. USPS scans the envelopes properly and tracking worked (I also get a ton where it says delivered but the buyer says they never got it)
2. Buyers aren't allowed to open cases for at least a month after the item was shipped. I know that seems like a long time, but 99% of the time, buyers get the cards AFTER the case has been opened and closed.
The amount of admin work for sellers and ebay on this is ridiculous and can all be avoided. I sometimes feel like doing stamps with no tracking would be better.
seminolemowers2010
·2 weeks agoI also have a problem approximately 25% of the time with the eBay standard envelopes, not arriving or not getting tracking at all
Sometimes the post office says it was delivered, and it never was. Sometimes the customer says it was delivered, but the post office says it was never delivered.
It’s very inconsistent
But it is an expensive
I would like to see the post office and eBay get the issue straightened out as customers complain and think we never shipped the item because there’s no tracking but we definitely shipped it
I’ve experienced these issues ever since they introduced the eBay standard envelope so they’ve never been perfect. Hopefully there will be a better resolution soon. Also sellers leave negative feedback because they didn’t get their product or there’s no tracking and they don’t think we shipped it, etc..
fm2000
·2 weeks agoAs stated below, check your envelope flexibility. A 25% problem rate is probably related to lack of flexibility, or less likely but possibly label printing issues.
christworks
·2 weeks ago · Edited@seminolemowers2010 This is a year old thread which the mods will likely lock. If they do, please start a new thread for further discussion.
As @fm2000 your issue is likely a packing issue. I've never had an issue sending cards, patches, stickers and more using ESE. I had one I was concerned about, but it made it without any issues.
It shouldn't be expensive. You are protected by eBay and can file for a refund if you refund the buyer through an INR.
bdmh-enterprises
·2 weeks agoI have a problem with less than 1% of the ESE I send. As said rigid packing is probably the problem. I suspect you are overprotecting the gaskets. If they're not flexible enough to survive just being dropped in the envelope, they shouldn't go in an envelope.
ojs2005
·Aug 11, 2026 at 2:01 PMAs a Buyer I HATE the ESE .... the tracking does not Allow me to be Notified when it has been delivered to my mail Box. Because the USPS tracking number listed does not work because it is missing (2) two Numbers. Also I believe ESE considers it "Delivered" when it reaches my local Post Office. Currently have one that says "Delivered".... Yesterday .... NOT to Me !!! Hopefully it will be in my mail box today.
I have (3) three others that do not show any movement what so ever.
brcollectibles_2008
·1 year agoIt is all good in when it works but the issue is the tracking. I have had 10% with issues. Ebay does not wait . Sold an $15 item 7 day open an case and they refunded buyer only to have card show up 2 days after. So he got his $ back, graded the card and sold it for $65. Ebay told me that my 1 time courtsey?? I guess im on the wrong end of things. Then again Im Honest
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoThe only possible remedy is that which you can do in changing your packaging.
This is a service designed to take advantage of unused capacity on existing sorting equipment for letter mail. No new investment by USPS is likely.
fm2000
·1 year agoAre you using top loaders? Are the envelopes flexible? Top loaders seem to cause 90% of issues with ESE. If the envelope is not flexible enough it is kicked out of the system, the letter sorting equipment does not scan it, and it can "disappear" for a while. Make sure your envelopes can easily bend around a coffee cup.
ESE is just first class letter mail (metered mail instead of using a stamp). Using a stamp instead will cost you slightly more, has no tracking at all and if the issue is how they are packed you will still have INR claims. Letters are treated the same, processed on the same letter sorting equipment, whether metered or stamped.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoHow are you packing your items? Most (not all) ESE scan issues are packing-related, though some are due to equipment at USPS facilities. See some general info below, maybe something in there will help.
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eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is a metered letter mail shipment so it does not receive traditional tracking scans. The clerk at the PO counter cannot scan it and you can't track it on the USPS website. The envelopes are scanned by sorting machinery at distribution centers along the way and tracking will appear on eBay.
Common reasons ESE labels don't get scanned include:
- Overpacking. Envelopes are too stiff. It's not recommended to use trading card top loaders or cardboard mailers, despite what it says on the eBay help page.
- Using ineligible packing material such as a bubble envelope.
- Placement of label. Label should be placed in the upper right corner with approx 1/8"-1/4" clearance from edges. If it's placed too far from the corner (like in the middle of a long #10 letter envelope) the machinery may not scan it.
- Placing items in the center of the envelope. The center of the envelope needs to be the most flexible part.
- Printer ink is not dark enough, or label color is too bright (stick to white labels if you can).
- Regional issues with sorting machines, volume processing, picky USPS employees, etc.
With ESE, a 'delivered' scan generally occurs at the last sort facility before it gets to the buyer, so typically the buyer will receive their order a few days after the delivered scan.
If a buyer files a not received claim, you do have insurance coverage and the claims process is outlined on this page: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=5308
goodnu9
·1 year agoI use top loaders or semi rigid holders to mail cards using ESE. No problem if packaged right. Even using a 4"x6" envelope. I also use Armalope envelopes for cards sold for $2.99 to $19.99 with nor problems.