Ebay not allowing to upload tracking for item I had to purchase from a Ebay seller

[book_sleuth]

Hello,

I ran out of stock on one of my items and so had to purchase from an Ebay seller and drop ship to the customer. But when I try to upload the tracking number, it says: 

The tracking number is already associated with a different transaction.

I purchased and drop shipped the item from my same Ebay selling account. So in my purchase history it shows the item with tracking from the Ebay seller.

What can I do to upload the tracking to my customer ?

Thanks.

[a_c_green]

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@book_sleuth wrote:

What can I do to upload the tracking to my customer ?

I don't believe you can (and what you're doing in this instance is not drop-shipping, but retail arbitrage). I would just mark your item (i.e. his purchase from you) as Shipped (which it is), and then send its tracking number to your buyer in a message, so that he can follow its progress if desired, and leave it at that. I would not go drawing attention to the fact that you bought his item from another seller.

[inhawaii]

You can NOT buy your item from another ebay seller  and have it dropped shipped to your ebay buyer. 

I wasn't aware of it but it makes perfct sense that it will not let you upload that tracking number to your transaction. That tracking number belongs to a totally different transaction all together.  

How crazy would it be if anyone could upload ANY tracking number to their transaction?

[be_4101]

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@book_sleuth wrote:

But when I try to upload the tracking number, it says: 

The tracking number is already associated with a different transaction.

What can I do to upload the tracking to my customer ?

---

Try @book_sleuth uploading an aliased tracking number instead:

420 + Your buyer's 5-digit ZIP code + That tracking number

Test the combined tracking number at USPS.com first.

[wesk_36]

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@be_4101 wrote:

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@book_sleuth wrote:

But when I try to upload the tracking number, it says: 

The tracking number is already associated with a different transaction.

What can I do to upload the tracking to my customer ?

---

Try @book_sleuth uploading an aliased tracking number instead:

420 + Your buyer's 5-digit ZIP code + That tracking number

Test the combined tracking number at USPS.com first.

---

Interesting. 

The lights might be shipped UPS though since the shipper that the OP ordered from states this:

"Shipped via USPS or UPS (depending on location and package weight)" "Multiple Locations"

OP could also just contact the buyer to explain what happened and give them the original to alleviate any confusion.

[champlaintrading]

I think you have the book coming to you? If so in the future change your address to that of your buyer before you buy. That way you don't touch the product. But that still won't help with the tracking you need. You need to send a 4 ounce or cheaper first class thank you note or something that will give you a tracking number. You can also just mark as shipped, no scan not that bad as long as you don't have a lot.

[eleanor*rigby]

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@champlaintrading wrote:

I think you have the book coming to you? If so in the future change your address to that of your buyer before you buy. That way you don't touch the product. But that still won't help with the tracking you need. You need to send a 4 ounce or cheaper first class thank you note or something that will give you a tracking number. You can also just mark as shipped, no scan not that bad as long as you don't have a lot.

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@champlaintrading 

No, the book is not coming to the OP. S/he sent it directly from the seller to his/her own buyer. It's going directly to the OP's buyer.

Also, sellers lose all seller protection (what little there is) if they change the shipping address of a buyer. That's not the greatest advice to give the OP or any other seller reading this thread.

The solution you suggested of sending a bogus package is way outside of eBay policy. I would discourage you from recommending that option again on the discussion boards.

[threshold.sales.group]

The eBay system only allows a tracking # to be active for one transaction. As suggested, just mark the item "shipped" and you'll be fine.  

[inhawaii]

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@threshold.sales.group wrote:

The eBay system only allows a tracking # to be active for one transaction. As suggested, just mark the item "shipped" and you'll be fine.  

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You'll be fine provided your buyer doesn't claim that the item was not received. Then you'll be up that creek.

[eleanor*rigby]

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@inhawaii wrote:

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@threshold.sales.group wrote:

The eBay system only allows a tracking # to be active for one transaction. As suggested, just mark the item "shipped" and you'll be fine.  

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You'll be fine provided your buyer doesn't claim that the item was not received. Then you'll be up that creek.

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@inhawaii 

I wonder. Couldn't the OP then file an INR-style claim with Amazon?

I often make a purchase on Amazon as a gift for my nephew and his family. If it doesn't arrive, couldn't I, as the buyer of record, file an INR with Amazon?

[champlaintrading]

There's a reason I have NEVER posted on these boards before! Your user name reminds me of 7th grade English class which I hated!

I sell maybe 10/15 items a year to Ebay sellers that have run out of stock or can't find what they need, been doing it for many,many years.

As far as sending a bogus package, those were your words not mine. I said "thank you card" I'm done here never to be heard from again. First post ever on these boards and the last. Have a good night  ms*havisham (probably some dude) Hated the book!

[inhawaii]

In your case i think you could. 

But in the OP's case, didn't he say he bought the drop shipped item from another ebay seller?

If the buyer files a INR claim, how could the seller PROVE that it was delivered  to the buyer?  By providing someone else's tracking number? I don't think that would fly with ebay. 

[mam98031]

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@book_sleuth wrote:

Hello,

I ran out of stock on one of my items and so had to purchase from an Ebay seller and drop ship to the customer. But when I try to upload the tracking number, it says: 

The tracking number is already associated with a different transaction.

I purchased and drop shipped the item from my same Ebay selling account. So in my purchase history it shows the item with tracking from the Ebay seller.

What can I do to upload the tracking to my customer ?

Thanks.

---

You wouldn't be able to upload the tracking number because it was used on a package you ordered from another seller.

You need to be very careful here.  I know you were just trying to take care of your buyer, but you could get your selling account sanctioned because what you did it is against the Ebay rules for Drop Shipping.  That should be your first concern.  What you described is exactly what Ebay doesn't want seller's doing.

Drop shipping, also known as product sourcing, is when you buy stock from a supplier and work with them to send items directly to your buyers without ever handling them yourself.

Drop shipping, where you fulfill orders directly from a wholesale supplier, is allowed on eBay. Remember that if you use drop shipping, you’re still responsible for the safe delivery of the item within the time frame stated in your listing and for the buyer’s overall satisfaction with their purchase.

However, listing an item on eBay and then purchasing the item from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your customer is not allowed on eBay. Activity that doesn’t follow eBay policy could result in a range of actions including but not limited to: administratively ending or canceling listings, hiding or demoting all listings from search results, lowering seller rating, buying or selling restrictions, loss of buyer or seller protections, and account suspension. All fees paid or payable in relation to listings or accounts on which we take any action will not be refunded or otherwise credited to your account.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/drop-shipping?id=4176

[wesk_36]

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@champlaintrading wrote:

I think you have the book coming to you? If so in the future change your address to that of your buyer before you buy. That way you don't touch the product. But that still won't help with the tracking you need. You need to send a 4 ounce or cheaper first class thank you note or something that will give you a tracking number. You can also just mark as shipped, no scan not that bad as long as you don't have a lot.

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No, nothing is coming to the OP, it wasn't a book, it's solar lights, purchased from another ebay seller, and the OP dropped shipped it directly to the buyer.

[wesk_36]

"... the OP dropped shipped it directly to the buyer."

It wasn't "dropped shipped" either, just to clarify. It was retail arbitrage.