"Shipping Label Created" causes negative effects for Buyers and Sellers alike.

[maxi314]

I am repeating the concern that the creation of a shipping label causes needless strife for all.  I am not an eBay seller, but I do read the policies, and, as a buyer, although limited, the fact of the "creation" of a label causes eBay software? to "think" that label creation equals "shipped."  It does not, and this trigger with eBay should be changed to indicate actual shipment.

As most of you must know, once a shipping label is created, should a buyer wish to alter an order, a simple act becomes complex, and is often refused on the basis of label creation - not actual shipment.  Shipment might not, in fact, occur for days.

Yesterday, knowing this I told a seller to keep the money I had paid for an item because I wanted to stop the shipment.  It isn't that I had that money to throw away, but it was the only route that would not cause a headache, and one that avoided using the non-rational "start return," for an item that has neither been actually shipped, nor received.  Asking to cancel the order, after label creation, would yield a negative response.  (You cannot "return" something you have not received).

Yesterday, the seller used was not a 'huge" seller, but the label was created within a few seconds of placing the order, most likely through the eBay label purchase system, as I understand it.  This needs to be changed.  Meanwhile, I am far more reluctant to order anything from eBay.

[maxi314]

I just now read  that, "when you print your labels on eBay you can save up to 30% with pre-negotiated USPS rates.."  So, adding to the problem is this tremendous incentive to sellers to utilize that service.  (I certainly would, if I was a seller).  Two problems with this:  as a buyer, shipping costs are based on straight vendor costs - whether USPS, or UPS, and that factors into buying and costs.  To learn that there can be up to 30% less cost to sellers, must put buyers in the position of offering less money for an item, because the stated shipping costs may well be, "inflated."  This isn't good.

[house*of*paws]

Hi @maxi314 

eBay doesn’t do the shipping … so has no way to know when an item is put in a mailbox or brought to the post office.  [Packages don’t always get scanned ‘accepted’ when dropped off.]

Buyers aren’t allowed to cancel an order after a label has been created … and buyers can still only ‘request’ a cancellation before the label has been created.

Nothing about an order should need to be ‘altered’ after it is placed.  If the buyer is one who frequently wants to make changes after they’ve paid for an item … then eBay is not the best platform to shop.

A seller pays for a shipping label as soon as it’s ‘created’ … and must wait 2-3 weeks to get refunded if they void the label.  That’s why eBay doesn’t permit buyer ‘alterations’ after a label has been purchased.

It’s actually one of the very few ‘bones’ eBay throws to sellers.  [I’m a ‘buyer only’ in case you’re wondering.]

[mudshark61369]

@maxi314,

Many of the larger volume sellers use an automated system that generates a label once payment is received. It saves them time and effort to do it that way.  Lower volume ones often do not print labels for hours after a purchase depending on their handling time.

  "As most of you must know, once a shipping label is created, should a buyer wish to alter an order, a simple act becomes complex, and is often refused on the basis of label creation".

I would be interested to know what a buyer would alter about a transaction? A seller is not going to print a label until they have been paid.  When you commit to buy, you enter into a contract.  Once you pay for those items, if you want to delete any or add items, it means changing the contract and that you cannot do without the seller's permission.  Also if you want to cancel outside of the 1 hour limit, the seller loses some money.

The things to do to avoid issues are to fully read item descriptions and seller's terms of sale if posted on the listing page.  Carefully study the photos and if there are discrepancies or other questions, message the seller asking the seller to clarify.

   Only after you are sure you want to purchase the Item(s) then pay for them.  That is why there is a Watch List and the Cart. You do not have to pay for anything in either of them until you are absolutely sure you want the item(s). 

  "Shipment might not, in fact, occur for days".

Generally the delay happens when you buy from a high volume seller often located in another country, many of whom use automated label printing systems.   Often they send the order with its label to a warehouse where the order is pulled, boxed, and shipped, Sometimes packages are taken to the actual shipper by a courier service.  If the final delivery is being done by the USPS fore example, the tracking number does not show acceptance or update until received by the international shipping partner.

[maxi314]

Why are such concerns viewed as an attack on sellers,  or cause for admonishing buyers, when it is within the power of eBay to fix the problem. And it is a problem.

[maxi314 · Accepted solution]

Again - why admonish buyers - or sellers.  This is an eBay system - USPS and other vendor issue.  And "shipped" means "shipped."  Not label-created.  There is no disputing that fact.  But your explanations are valuable.

[myangelandmyprincess]

Items showing shipped and unable to be cancelled or changed is a standard practice among most online shopping.  

[kathiec]

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@maxi314 wrote:

Why are such concerns viewed as an attack on sellers,  or cause for admonishing buyers, when it is within the power of eBay to fix the problem. And it is a problem.

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Modify that to say it's a problem for you. I honestly care not one whit about what the tracking says. I do a BIN or win an auction, I pay, and if I don't receive it within a few days of the last estimated delivery date, I open a not received case. But then if I need some kind of alteration I arrange it with the seller before I make the purchase.

[house*of*paws]

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@maxi314 wrote:

Why are such concerns viewed as an attack on sellers,  or cause for admonishing buyers, when it is within the power of eBay to fix the problem. And it is a problem.

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https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/How-is-this-not-fraudulent-to-have-an-order-cancellation/td-p/3...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Premature-Shipping-Notifications/td-p/32733197

It's been clear from your multiple threads on the subject that your main concern is having the right to cancel (or 'alter') your orders up until the moment your package has been scanned 'accepted' by a shipping carrier. 

[You called it 'fraudulent' for eBay to have denied your request to cancel if the package hadn't actually entered the shipping system beyond the creation of a label.]

While you've repeatedly stated that your point of view benefits "buyers and sellers alike" ... sellers do not actually benefit by buyers having an easy time changing and cancelling orders, as it just makes more work for them.

You have already argued your point ad nauseum in your last thread ... picking apart every poster's opinion that disagreed with yours.  I don't know why you felt the need to bring up this subject yet again ... but I want to recommend that other posters read through your prior thread before deciding whether to respond to this one.

But do have a great day!  🙂

[janet9988]

BUYERS who wish to cancel within 2 min OR ask to change the order "causes negative effects for buyers and sellers."

[maxi314]

Your entire response was based on faulty assumptions.  The issue remains:  "Shipped" means in transit.  Period.  Not "shipping label created."  

[maxi314]

No, Superstar, I will not modify my comment; it is a problem for everyone.  To receive notification that an item has shipped, when only a label, purchased from eBay has been printed, is false.  "Shipped" means "in transit."  If I write a letter, address the envelope, put postage on it, but it remains on my desk, it has not yet been sent.  There is no way to quibble about that fact.

[maxi314]

I was being courteous in responding to replies.  I was also attempting to discern where, and if, my thinking was erroneous.  I do not pretend to be "visionary."  "Shipped" is "shipped."

[maxi314]

Superstar - "Shipped" is "shipped."  In transit.  If a buyer makes a mistake in ordering, (or someone's cat walked across the keyboard), and knows it within 2 minutes, but meanwhile, receives the instantaneous notification from eBay that an item has been "shipped," that order should be null and void unless the package has been received at the shipping agent.

[fab_finds4u]

Why do you use "Superstar" and "Visionary"" to besmirch? 

eBay hangs those crappy names on us; we have no choice, just like you didn't  pick "Scout" under your user name.