Problem with tracking numbers on newly purchases USPS labels

[eastlaneave]

There are multiple report of seller purchased USPS labels with a re-used tracking number that is recently delivered or in transit already.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/USPS-shipping-labels-bought-for-shipping-are-already-used...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/i-bought-a-label-yesterday-and-tracking-says-it-was-deliv...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/ebay-USPS-created-shipping-label-with-a-tracking-number-a...

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/Tracking-issue-USPS/m-p/35138809

[ebooksdiva]

Yep I have the same issue. Printed a label yesterday afternoon for an eIS package it shows delivered June 21st in North Carolina! 9400108105462966464986

I will be having eBay do a call back later today during business hours.

[toysaver]

I had three of 6 with used tracking numbers I was set to drop off this morning.  I went ahead and voided the labels and printed new ones.  USPS tracking now looks as it should but took longer to post.

[modulok!]

Is this still happening for labels purchased today Monday 6/23/25?  Or has it been solved?  Anyone?

[eastlaneave]

@modulok! 

I don't know if it is ongoing, it hasn't affected any of my labels. It only impacts some.

[eastlaneave · Accepted solution]

Here is the advice

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/Tracking-info-update/m-p/35140940/thread-id/507389

The ticket for reporting and refunds is Reference ID: ALERT16019

[vietbay]

I have the same issue. Printed a label on June22 afternoon for an USPS package it shows delivered June 17th in GA 

1. Delivered, In/At Mailbox

   LIZELLA, GA 31052
2. Tue, Jun 17

   7:00am
   Out for Delivery, Expected Delivery by 9:00pm

   LIZELLA, GA 31052
3. Tue, Jun 17

   6:49am
   Arrived at Post Office

   LIZELLA, GA 31052
4. Mon, Jun 16

   4:49pm
   Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility

   ATLANTA GA DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 30267
5. Mon, Jun 16

   3:49pm
   Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

   ATLANTA GA DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 30268
6. Mon, Jun 16

   10:14am
   In Transit, Arriving On Time
7. Sun, Jun 22

   3:13pm
   Tracking number provided

[vietbay]

And 1 more same issue. Printed a label on June22 afternoon for an USPS package it shows delivered June 17th in NJ  

1. 1. Mon, Jun 23

      5:09pm
      Delivered, In/At Mailbox

      WEST ORANGE, NJ 07052
   2. Mon, Jun 23

      8:05am
      Arrived at Post Office

      ORANGE, NJ 07050
   3. Mon, Jun 23

      6:15am
      Departed USPS Regional Facility

      KEARNY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 07099
   4. Sun, Jun 22

      7:47pm
      PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY

      KEARNY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 07099
   5. Sun, Jun 22

      12:00am
      In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving On Time
   6. Sat, Jun 21

      5:39pm
      Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

      KEARNY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 07099
   7. Sat, Jun 21

      5:24pm
      In Transit to Next Facility
   8. Sat, Jun 21

      4:09pm
      Departed USPS Facility

      PHILLIPSBURG, NJ 08865
   9. Sat, Jun 21

      1:10pm
      Arrived at USPS Facility

      PHILLIPSBURG, NJ 08865
   10. Sat, Jun 21

       11:49am
       In Transit to Next Facility
   11. Sat, Jun 21

       4:51am
       In Transit, Arriving On Time
   12. Fri, Jun 20

       11:01pm
       In Transit, Arriving On Time
   13. Fri, Jun 20

       6:09pm
       Departed USPS Regional Facility

       CHICAGO IL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 60130
   14. Fri, Jun 20

       9:47am
       Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

       CHICAGO IL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 60130
   15. Fri, Jun 20

       8:47am
       Accepted at USPS Regional Facility

       CHICAGO IL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, 60130
   16. Fri, Jun 20

       8:47am
       Estimated delivery date updated to Mon, Jun 23
   17. Sun, Jun 22

       3:17pm
       Tracking number provided

[eastlaneave]

@vietbay 

"We've identified a small number of USPS tracking numbers for eBay-purchased labels that show tracking activity—such as a 'Delivered' status—before the label was actually created. If you have an unshipped order affected by this issue, please purchase and use a new shipping label to fulfill the order. Since the original labels cannot be voided, we will refund their cost.

For any affected orders that have already shipped, we are working with USPS to ensure delivery is not disrupted. We will also protect your seller performance metrics, including tracking uploads, late shipments, defects, and negative feedback related to these transactions."

https://community.ebay.com/.../m-p/35140940/thread-id/507389

Report the impact to your account using this ticket ALERT16019

Use eBay's social media customer service to get assistance

- https://www.facebook.com/ebay

- https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

Just sent a private message to the page explaining what happened.

[retroenvy]

It is still happening as of today 6/24/2025. I wish they would get this straightened out! I have two packages so far that are affected. One appeared in the past few hours. Tracking is also at a stand still for my shipment from yesterday. It just says "Picked up".  Hopefully it shows they are moving soon. Does anyone have any updates as of 6/24?

[eastlaneave]

@retroenvy 

This is the only update that I have. Please report the issue as described below.

"We've identified a small number of USPS tracking numbers for eBay-purchased labels that show tracking activity—such as a 'Delivered' status—before the label was actually created. If you have an unshipped order affected by this issue, please purchase and use a new shipping label to fulfill the order. Since the original labels cannot be voided, we will refund their cost.

For any affected orders that have already shipped, we are working with USPS to ensure delivery is not disrupted. We will also protect your seller performance metrics, including tracking uploads, late shipments, defects, and negative feedback related to these transactions."

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/Tracking-info-update/m-p/35140940/thread-id/507389

Report the impact to your account using this ticket ALERT16019

Use eBay's social media customer service to get assistance

- https://www.facebook.com/ebay

- https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

Just sent a private message to the page explaining what happened.

[powderpuffprincess]

On 6/23/25 (Sunday night for Monday deliveries), we printed 30 shipping labels using bulk printing. The system encountered a glitch and displayed an error that prevented us from printing the batch.  Despite the error, we were charged for the full batch. In order to fulfill our orders promptly, we proceeded to reprint each label individually.

Of these 30 orders, four were affected by a serious tracking issue:

• The USPS tracking numbers for these four orders showed that the items had been delivered days before the actual purchase date—and to entirely different states (e.g., delivery to Florida rather than the actual destination in Kentucky).
• Because USPS showed the shipments as “Delivered,” we were unable to void the labels.
• We were forced to purchase new labels, email each affected customer to explain the situation and upadte them with new tracking number and  incurring double postage. 

Today, we printed the bulk labels with scan sheet. one of those customers opened a case for item not received, as the tracking from the original label still incorrectly shows a delivery prior to purchase to the wrong location. The item already shipped!

We have the following urgent questions:

1. Is this issue limited to bulk-printed labels, or can it also occur with individually printed USPS labels through eBay?

Are third-party shipping tools (e.g., Pirate Ship, ShipStation) experiencing this same issue, or is this specific to labels purchased through eBay?

1. This has been ongoing for three days, and while we understand USPS is reportedly experiencing technical issues, we need more clarity and guidance. We are currently absorbing the financial and operational impact, despite following proper procedures.

Please let us know how this situation will be addressed, including potential label refunds, seller protection, and ongoing platform-wide updates.

[eastlaneave]

@powderpuffprincess 

Text in red is from eBay, the source is the link shown.

I don't know if it is bulk shipping only. I know I do individual shipping and it did not occur to me, but that isn't conclusive. Maybe try individual shipping for 1-2 days. This should be resolved soon.

This issue is specific to eBay/USPS and I do not believe it would impact Pirate Ship.

UPDATE: "Transactions impacted by this issue will display accurate tracking events on eBay, although the USPS website may show tracking information from a previous shipment."

"We've identified a small number of USPS tracking numbers for eBay-purchased labels that show tracking activity—such as a 'Delivered' status—before the label was actually created. If you have an unshipped order affected by this issue, please purchase and use a new shipping label to fulfill the order. Since the original labels cannot be voided, we will refund their cost.

For any affected orders that have already shipped, we are working with USPS to ensure delivery is not disrupted. We will also protect your seller performance metrics, including tracking uploads, late shipments, defects, and negative feedback related to these transactions."

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/Tracking-info-update/m-p/35140940/thread-id/507389

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Additionally from me

Report the impact to your account using this ticket ALERT16019

Use eBay's social media customer service to get assistance on refunded labels

- https://www.facebook.com/ebay

- https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

Just sent a private message to the page explaining what happened.

[wastingtime101]

---

@eastlaneave wrote:

This issue is specific to eBay/USPS and I do not believe it would impact Pirate Ship.

---

Tons of great info from you on this discussion @eastlaneave .

Regarding the quoted sentence, that's not correct. This is not specific to eBay. It's a USPS issue and also happening with USPS labels on Etsy, Mercari, PirateShip, Stamps.com - and I think I saw reports of 1 other platform yesterday, but can't remember which one.

As eBay said, "it's only affecting a small number" which is correct in relation to the number of USPS labels being generated, but it does seem like eBay has been affected more than other platforms (Etsy coming in second). Maybe that's because eBay does more volume.

---------

Also, I don't think it's necessary for sellers to report to CS as eBay already said they will be automatically crediting those labels. kyle@ebay can correct me if my understanding on that point is wrong. I believe the only reason to contact CS will be if the buyer files an INR or leaves neg feedback.

[eastlaneave]

@wastingtime101 

thankyou for the clarifications!