Problems with "eBay Standard Envelope for eligible items up to $20"
Summary: doktorij is experiencing tracking issues with items sent through eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), where the tracking numbers either haven't updated or are incorrect. 1786davycrockett suggests the issue might be related to how the envelope is processed by USPS and recommends using specific types of envelopes and avoiding handing over items directly to postal employees. wward10 and kindsvater share similar tracking issues, with the latter suspecting a change in label design. tobaccocardyahoo highlights packing and printing quality as potential factors impacting successful tracking and has discontinued using ESE due to a high problem rate.
These items are supposed to be tracked but the last group I have sent do not show anything beyond the label being generated. They have ESUS prefixed tracking numbers and if you look at them you can find another number that should be a USPS tracking number starting with 95, but all but one have other numbers all ending in 00 (including a duplicate number for two different items!), and the single 95 prefixed number does not track (checked it at the PO as well). four of the items were in state/local and it's been over a week since they went out. Other items mailed the same time by ground advantage have all been delivered already. One purchaser is unhappy and I've done all I can think of to try and track the item. What's going on? Never had issues with these in the past.
kindsvater
·2 weeks agoSame. Starting to see this problem of no tracking. Buyers are happy to demand free products.
Regular flat envelopes, but I think eBay has changed the printing design of the label.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 weeks agoHow you pack is one of the key components of whether ESE tracking will work for you, and whether the order will be delivered.
The amount of ink or toner in your printer may also affect the results you see.
The tracking is read by the letter sorter, at high speeds. Anything which impacts the letter flow or readability of the bar code will affect your results.
I used ESE, determined that the 25% problem rate I experienced was unacceptable and discontinued the use of ESE. The insurance does not make up for the amount of time wasted.
If a buyer does not want to pay my price plus the cost of GA, I can wait for one who will.
1786davycrockett
·2 weeks ago@doktorij The eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is not "tracked" by USPS, since it is nothing more than another piece of contracted business metered mail.
If the ESE was packed properly, it should eventually show up in the buyer's mailbox, although it may be marked as "Delivered" several days before actually delivery -- the "Delivered" designation generally happens at the post office matching the ZIP Code address of the buyer's address, and NOT the actual residence address.
The ESEs have a better chance receiving an initial "scan" if they are mailed in the "Metered Envelopes" slot inside the post office lobby (if available), or any USPS "blue" box.
NEVER hand the ESE to any USPS counter employee: too many USPS counter employees seem to be unfamiliar with handling ESEs, and some even refuse to accept them, believing that the ESEs are "counterfeit" or "phony." Some counter employees may attempt to make you purchase additional postage, or may refer the ESE to as supervisor for further "action," or may set the ESE aside for "further investigation."
Did you send your ESEs in a regular plain white envelope, or did you use a bubble envelope or a stiff mailer envelope? It matters a great deal the type of envelope that is used -- if the envelope is too rigid, the ESE may be kicked out of the system as "non-machinable," and it is possible that these may never be delivered.
doktorij
OP2 weeks agoThe same 8x6 postcard mailers I've been using for 10+ years. I hand them off at the counter at the PO, we're rural there isn't a metered mail slot. I'm aware of using non-machinable, these have never been put in that category unless I added a stiffener of it was over 1/4" think. I always check, easier to fix before it's sent.
wward10
·2 weeks agoI'm having the same exact issue now. I can see where the package was scanned and now I have no tracking info. Obviously I have a buyer wanting to know about their package and I'm unsure how or what to do. Purchased the postage from Ebay so you would think they could help somehow even though its USPS fault.
1786davycrockett
·2 weeks ago@doktorij Those postcard mailers are too rigid for mailing with the ESE -- it's safer to use a plain #6 or #10 envelope.
And NEVER hand ANY ESEs to USPS counter employees -- that's just asking for trouble -- just drop you ESEs in any USPS "blue" box.
USPS has been clamping down HARD on the ESE lately -- so watch out!
fm2000
·2 weeks agoIt is tracking, in the literal sense. It is just tracking that can only be read by the letter sorting machines, it is not very reliable, and is on a completely different system than package tracking. Whatever slot you place them in, or whether you hand them to a clerk or not, they only get scanned when all the letters are dumped into the sorting machines at the hubs.