Need help retrieving tracking number on returned delivered package

[kathy507]

I made a mistake and shipped a buyer the wrong item.  The buyer received it and immediately opened a return through eBay.

I freely admitted I made the mistake, so  I accepted the return and had ebay issue a return shipping label.  (I have never had to do this before so was surprised at how easy it was to issue the return label.)

Yesterday I got an email from eBay saying the package had been returned.  Literally a minute later, I got a message from the buyer asking for the refund.

When I went to the case details, the tracking number showed it had been delivered to my mailbox, so I issued the refund--only to discover when I got the mail that the package had not been delivered to me.

Since the case was closed, it seems I cannot now access the tracking number on the returned package so I cannot ask the post office where they delivered it.  My nearest neighbor does not have it.

Does anyone know how to recover that tracking number?  When I go into the item details, all I can find is the statement that it was delivered to me.  I tried accessing the number through my ebay account since the fee was paid out of that, but that was unsuccessful too.

Please don't tell me I should not have refunded before getting and looking at the item.  The buyer has been rather impatient and somewhat hostile, so I just wanted to end this.  In any case, it seems eBay would side with a buyer pretty much on any return, and this was not a really expensive item.  But I would like to have it back for my collection.

Any help would be appreciated.

[a_c_green]

Are there any transaction confirmation emails (of any kind) copied to your outside email account that might have that label number quoted? 

In the oriignal transaction details of your PayPal account, is there any additional mention of the buyer's refund or return that might lead to showing the tracking number associated with the return?

Worst-case scenario: maybe Customer Service can find the transaction for the return label that was issued for the dispute.

[duggmills]

Is there a bar code on the package that can be read by the post office to track?

[kathy507]

I tried accessing the number in all the ways you mentioned except customer service. The notification about its delivery did not have a tracking number either. The PayPal account shows under the details that it has been refunded but no tracking number either. The eBay account shows no tracking number for that transaction either. I will try customer service if it does not show up soon.

[kathy507]

Since I don't have the package, I don't have the bar code and that does not appear to be registered anywhere on line that I can find.

[a_c_green · Accepted solution]

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@kathy507 wrote:
Since I don't have the package, I don't have the bar code and that does not appear to be registered anywhere on line that I can find.

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Unfortunately the following will not help you this time, but...

Go to usps.com and sign up for a free MyUSPS account. One option you can set up is automatic notifications (by email or, I think, text also) for inbound packages coming to your street address, even if you don't know the tracking number, or were not even expecting a package. This works very well, and gives you several heads-up messages on the day of delivery: Arrival at Post Office, Sorting Complete, Out for Delivery and such. It is especially useful in the holiday season, what with porch pirates and all.

[kathy507]

Your suggestion of going to the USPS site was perfect!

The post office did have it in the system under my log in at USPS.

It appears the carrier got confused. It seems the return package was scanned as delivered but when the carrier picked up the outgoing packages from my mailbox the returned package was picked up with the lot so it went back into the mail system. It is still somewhere out there (the tracking number shows it went back to the sort facility in a nearby town) but now the local post office folks have been alerted and will check on its progress. Per the postal worker, it was not marked return to sender, so hopefully it will wind it way back to be by early next week or sooner.

Thank you so much for your advice!