What is going on with USPS and Ebay with their special letter option for items less than $20?.
I have been using Special Ebay rate for many of my sales. On my sales at the end of July, 4 have not yet been delivered. From the tracking they seem to be stuck in various stages of delivery. I have already filed missing items with USPS. One of them was found and mailed. I cannot get Ebay to acknowledge there is a problem with that particular mailing option. Other items sent that way were received.
4 comments
postcardcountry
·11 months agoRight now I have one ese I know was delivered. Tracking does NOT show it delivered.
I know it's delivered because I have received very positive feedback from the buyer.
ese has reinforced my belief that the USPS lacks conformity across the country and some places get it right and some places get it wrong.
1786davycrockett
·11 months ago@postcardcountry
"ese has reinforced my belief that the USPS lacks conformity across the country and some places get it right and some places get it wrong."
With over 33,000 USPS branch offices in the USA, this should not be a surprise.
And several USPS employees have previously stated on these boards that they have been instructed by their supervisors to "skip" some delivery steps, in order to comply with the latest "Deliver For America" cost-cutting guidelines.
Apparently, speed is more valuable to USPS than delivery confirmations.
1786davycrockett
·11 months ago@shirleyd232009
Were the 4 eBay Standard Envelopes (ESEs) in question too rigid?
If the ESEs are too rigid, they will not be able to zip at high speeds through the USPS roller systems -- if the ESEs get kicked out, they will be marked as "insufficient postage" and returned to you -- or (worst case scenario) delivered to your buyer marked "postage due."
In addition, USPS can not "track" down "missing" ESEs, since the ESE number is not an active delivery number used by USPS. Other ESE users may be able to suggest a more viable method for tracking ESE numbers.
wastingtime101
·11 months ago90% of items shipped with eBay Standard Envelope receive delivery scans. The bulk of items without scans are a result of items not meeting the physical requirements for the service, for example being too rigid.
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.
- 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, just like you'd place a postage stamp. If it's placed too far from the corner (like in the middle of a long envelope) the machinery may not scan it.
- Placing items like coins in the center of the envelope. The center of the envelope needs to be the most flexible part. Items should be secured off to the right - opposite side of the label barcode.
- 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; sometimes 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