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

[kyle@ebay]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

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@eastlaneave wrote:

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

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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.

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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.

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Hey @wastingtime101 that is correct!  No need to reach out to CS for label credits.  Only if there's a claim or a feedback that needs to be addressed. 

[wastingtime101]

Excellent - thank you for confirming, Kyle.

[ca42388]

I've only had one so far, the delivered another state. Seller purchased on the 24th, I shipped on the 25th, delivery notification on the 26th. Buyer opened case for not arrived, which was my prompt to look into it.  I saw it went to another state, but nothing added up. So I went to my post master, whom contacted the wrong state post master. They are looking into it. The post master felt it's stolen tracking numbers. What I don't like and feel comfortable with is the drop off was on the 21th, (days before my purchase) at my post office location.

I reported it as a technical issue with the ticket alert16019, which I think thats where there is no follow up from them and reached out on facebook message last night, which I'm still waiting for a reply.

I have seen a few others like yours unable to cancel the labels due to it showing delivered.

This issue is not good and in my opinion in not just a technical issue, but an internal fraud issue, which I hope I am wrong. How can the duplicate tracking number be dropped at the post office I use?

I do know the USPS can tell if the same tracking number is used and if both are delivered. Monday I am hoping they can tell me my buyer got their package. 

I hope ebay resolves this quickly and you and everyone that has pending refunds is resolved. 

[loft_km]

We have the same issue.  5 of 12 packages sent 23 June, showed delivered a week before purchase. 3 have resolved and were delivered. 2 going to East Coast show differing status (depending on whether you look at USPS tracking or Ebay). One still shows delviered on USPS at completely wrong address and the other shows insufficient address in TX, again completely wrong location.  Neither has been delivered and trying to submit a help request via USPS goes in circles, with one saying it was already delivered and the other saying it's still in transit.  What a mess. Customers are not happy and no help from eBay or USPS at his point. If someone has resolved this in some way - please pass on info so we can duplicate resolution.

[eastlaneave]

@loft_km 

eBay is protecting you on these transactions. Additionally, should you need to report anything to customer service, use this ticket ALERT16019

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

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

[cobra_viper]

I'm dealing with the ALERT16091 issue at the moment...Ebay wants to blame USPS and USPS wants to blame Ebay and nobody is willing to help solve the problem.

[cobra_viper]

UPDATE:  As of this afternoon I am now dealing with a third buyer who has not received their order that was shipped with shipping labels purchased through Ebay on June 21st.

1 st Buyer - Package was delivered 3 days ago.  The tracking number did update with new updates on the day of delivery. 

2nd Buyer - Package is missing.  The tracking number isn't showing any updates for June/July 2025...all it shows is tracking info from May 26 - 29th.  I didn't mail my package until June 22nd.  The buyer has not received it and USPS has called me several times today to look into the matter.  As of right now, they do not know where the package is.

3rd Buyer - Buyers tracking number is showing old tracking info as well as new updates while in transit.  It currently looks like the package is stuck in St. Louis, MO.

This whole ordeal has been very frustrating...

[loft_km]

Wondering what happens if the items are never delivered.  The eBay tracking for one of mine mailed 23 Jun shows the package was attempted delivery in Texas on 30 Jun with insufficient address (this is the package going to Boston, MA) and there's been no update since. I opened a find package request on USPS and have had no reponse.  The buyer hasn't recieved the item.
The other package also mailed 23 Jun going to MI - Ebay tracking shows it going in circles around the US and now at numerous locations in Florida since 29 Jun with no progress toward MI. This customer needed the item this week for a trip. I submitted a service request to USPS and they emailed that they'd try to find the package and strike through the tracking number and process manually, but didn't indicate how tracking would be done or how delivery would be confirmed. This package also appears to be lost in the shuffle and may never arrive. If it ever does arrive, there may be no confirmation and the buyer has said it will be too late for them to use.
So, how will compensation be made in these cases.
Is there a comprehensive list of the tracking numbers affected to ensure we're covered or some place to identify our affected tracking numbers to request assistance for issues like my 2 above?

Thanks,

Karla

[cobra_viper]

Also (in case anyone else tries to reach out to Ebay customer support through Facebook) they will not help with this issue.  I have talked to 4 different service reps through Facebook and all of them  could not do anything about this issue.  They all said Ebay is aware of the issue and is working on getting it taken care of...but that they didn't have a time frame on when the issue would be resolved.  

I feel like they are stalling until the issue eventually goes away because everyone will eventually give up because nobody will do anything about it.  USPS told me to file a claim but since the tracking already has a "delivered" scan on it, the claim will more than likely get denied since they have proof of delivery on their end.  This whole ordeal is **bleep**.  

[cobra_viper]

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@eastlaneave wrote:

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."

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That is false.  Ebay is not showing accurate tracking events.  I shipped a package on June 22nd to Minneapolis, Minnesota and the updates on Ebay are not showing the correct information.

kyle@ebay - My screenshots shown below are evidence that the tracking on Ebay is not updating with the correct information.  I have already reached out to USPS and they said they have no record of me ever mailing a package with that tracking number on it and my order details page clearly shows the tracking number as well as the buyer's location of where the item was supposed to be shipped to.

[cobra_viper]

kyle@ebay - Here is another example of the tracking on Ebay not being correct.  This was the first buyer to contact me about the shipping problem.   Ebay is showing that the package was delivered to Middletown, Ohio on June 28th...which is not the correct information.  The buyer (who lives in Jamaica, NY) messaged me on June 30th to let me know they received the package.  The tracking on USPS.COM does show that it arrived at the Jamaica post office on June 30th...but it never updates with the scan showing the package was actually delivered.  Nowhere on Ebay's tracking does it ever show any updates for Jamaica, NY.  

This is a huge problem for sellers because we have no proof that our items our getting delivered to the correct addresses which leaves us wide open for claims and chargebacks.

[eastlaneave]

@cobra_viper 

Thank you for your updates

I see Kyle posted an update here

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

For Item Not Received cases where we have been asked to step in and help, we’ll place the case on hold while we work to update accurate tracking events. We’ll only close the case once the tracking information is accurate."

The original message said

We will also protect your seller performance metrics, including tracking uploads, late shipments, defects, and negative feedback related to these transactions."

If you have negative metrics or had to refund the buyer, please follow up with Customer Service again.

[cobra_viper]

UPDATE:  I drove 14 miles this morning to go talk to the local postmaster about this issue.  He was able to provide me with a GPS coordinates sheet that shows exactly where the package is right now.  It is not lost, it was mis-sent to California (as the Ebay tracking shows) and was relabeled in California and shipped back out to go to Minnesota.  

With that being said, both Ebay and USPS.COM are NOT showing these additional (new) updates.

My advice to everyone having this issue is to go talk to your local postmaster and see if they will do the same for you.  That way you have concrete evidence to show your buyers that you did indeed ship their package and that it will get to them.   

[cobra_viper]

kyle@ebay

UPDATE:  

1 st Buyer - The package was delivered.  The tracking number did update on the day of delivery.   To this day, the tracking number on both Ebay and USPS does not specifically state that the package was ever "delivered".  It only updated with the "out for delivery" scan on USPS.COM on the day of delivery and I only know that it was delivered because I contacted the buyer and they let me know that they did receive the package.  The Ebay tracking information never updated with any new information while in transit.

2nd Buyer - The package has finally been delivered after 2 full weeks of being missing.  There were no new updates to either Ebay or the USPS.COM tracking number information.  I only know that it was delivered because the buyer was kind enough to message me to let me know that they had received it today.

3rd Buyer - This package is stuck in St. Louis, MO limbo.  It keeps bouncing between 3 different USPS sorting/distribution stations.  It's like they can't figure out where it needs to go to...which is Texas.  The tracking information on Ebay shows new updates, while the tracking information on USPS.COM only shows the old/already used information from when the tracking number was previously used on another package back in May 2025.

[cobra_viper]

UPDATE:

3rd Buyer - The package is out for delivery today.  The tracking number is updating through Ebay, but not on USPS.COM.  

This ordeal will finally be over.  To say it has been stressful has been an understatement. I did end up sending a buyer a replacement when we thought package 3 was lost...so I took a $32.00 loss for Ebay/USPS's mistake with the shipping labels...and there is no way I can get the items or the money back.  For me this has not been a good experience.  I'm not in business to take losses on money and merchandise...but it is what it is.  

I'd also like to say that I am disappointed with both Ebay and USPS over this issue.  Ebay customer service didn't do anything to help me with this situation.  They just kept blaming USPS and telling me that they were working on getting the issue resolved.  I spoke with 4 different U.S. based customer service reps through Facebook and none of them were the least bit helpful in regards to this situation. 

USPS was willing to help.  If I went to the local post office, they would provide me with print outs of the GPS locations of where the packages were along the way.  That's great, but the tracking did not update on USPS.COM like it was supposed to.  Without proof of delivery, sellers are left hanging and buyers can easily get their money back whether it be through Ebay or a chargeback.