eBay Standard envelope with tracking is not scanning right from the start.

[jeegster]

I've been purchasing and using eBay's Standard envelope and recently there has been a lot of these labels not being scanned right when I drop them off at the post office as if I did not send the item. I go directly straight to the post office to drop all of my items and have never used the drop boxes and a lot of these are not scanned. From eBay's standpoint I just purchased the labels and never dropped them off. On one hand I've never lost a shipment using USPS ground or Fedex or UPS when I purchase their labels from eBay. What is going on?

[1786davycrockett]

@jeegster 

The eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is considered by USPS to be just another piece of metered mail -- nearly identical to the hundreds of thousands of other pieces of metered mail which USPS processes on a daily basis. 

So the ESE does not receive a regular "tracking scan" -- instead, it receives a series of notifications along the way, with the first being at the USPS Distribution Center to which it is first sent -- and NOT your local post office, since the ESE can not be "scanned" by the USPS counter employees or the USPS drivers.

The ESE is then processed with other metered mail, occasionally (but not always) picking up additional notifications along the way -- until it is finally delivered at the post office matching the ZIP Code of the recipient's address on the front of the envelope -- but NOT the home address of the recipient -- so it may take several more days to actually be delivered to your buyer -- especially if weekends or holidays intervene.

For fastest service, drop the ESE into the slots marked "Metered Mail" in your USPS lobby -- and NOT at the USPS counter, or the USPS "blue" boxes, or handed to the USPS delivery drivers.

[jeegster]

I understand what you're saying but if it's been weeks since you last dropped it off at the post office... not the blue box and all it says is "Tracking number provided" it looks like I have not send the mail. It does not help when you are assured by eBay's customer service doesn't have a clue how to help.

[1786davycrockett]

@jeegster 

"I understand what you're saying but if it's been weeks since you last dropped it off at the post office... not the blue box and all it says is "Tracking number provided" it looks like I have not send the mail. It does not help when you are assured by eBay's customer service doesn't have a clue how to help."

Unless your buyers are indicating that they are not receiving their items, there is no need to worry too much about whether or not the ESEs receive shipping notifications.

As I had mentioned previously, the best method to mail the ESEs is by dropping them in the "Metered Mail Only" slot, located in the lobby of most post offices.  If they become mixed in with other USPS mail, it takes slightly  longer to sort them for the high-speed distribution process at the USPS Distribution Centers.

Unfortunately, eBay is not able to make sure that USPS is doing its job accurately and efficiently.  There have been many reports from around the country (including where I live) of multiple problems with USPS; and some of those problems have included issues with the ESE notification numbers.

So, once again -- if your buyers are not contacting you with issues, don't sweat it!

[lacemaker3]

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@jeegster wrote:

I understand what you're saying but if it's been weeks since you last dropped it off at the post office... not the blue box and all it says is "Tracking number provided" it looks like I have not send the mail. It does not help when you are assured by eBay's customer service doesn't have a clue how to help.

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Are you positive that your envelope met the USPS standards for machinable mail?

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/q201.htm

ESE envelopes have to be machinable, i.e. processed by machine. The tracking gets updated automatically as the envelope gets scanned while it goes through the machines. They don't get scanned manually. If the envelope is too rigid or stiff, too thick (> 1/4 inch) or not a uniform thickness the whole length, then it might get processed by hand., and would not get scanned.

Sometimes, sellers use top loaders or card holders that are too stiff or thick, so the envelope doesn't qualify as machinable.

[jeegster]

I wouldn't had brought it up if customers were not complaining. In several instances mails that I dropped off all in the same day we're not scanned and are now filing item not received.

[jeegster]

Yes, I'm positive I'm using machinable mail. The only items that were sent using USPS tracking via Ground advantage or First Class are the ones getting to my customers with 0 problems.

[1786davycrockett]

@jeegster 

"The only items that were sent using USPS tracking via Ground advantage or First Class are the ones getting to my customers with 0 problems."

Okay -- so what are the specific items that are causing the problems, and exactly how are you shipping them inside the ESE? 

It is possible that the items you are attempting to send are not flexible enough -- they need to travel through a series of automatic, high-speed rollers that will bend the envelope nearly in half.