No Tracking Number Posted on eBay?

[kosmosattik]

I just bought something that shipped USPS Priority Mail.  The purchase record shows a delivery date range but no tracking number.  There's no tracking number on the order details page either.  Would this be a case of the seller using a non-eBay shipping service or is this something new with eBay labels?

I'm posting this under Selling because I'll be putting out some listings after a 10 month layoff, using eBay labels, and would like to know what to expect.

[heckofagame]

They may have purchased the label from a non-eBay source and neglected to enter the tracking number. If you purchase your labels through eBay, the tracking number is uploaded automatically. 

[toysaver]

Maybe it did not ship yet, the seller did not buy the label yet.

[mtgraves7984]

I'm posting this under Selling because I'll be putting out some listings after a 10 month layoff, using eBay labels, and would like to know what to expect.

@kosmosattik 

Off-topic... but you can expect a 30 day hold on your funds for a bit.

[cstpos]

@kosmosattik  I've noticed that as soon as you print a label on ebay, ebay does upload it on the sales record but they also send the buyer an email that "Your Item has Shipped". There are times when I know I will be working remotely at a customer location  for several days when the techs will have the order ready, so I would print out the label and packing slip so they could go ahead and ship even though I'm not there. Some of our items are 3 or 5 days handling time, but they buyer thinks it's on its way.

You could check your purchase details to see what the handling or estimated delivery time is. Some sellers choose to send without tracking, which I don't do. Tracking is the only proof you have that you sent the order. We have used our own Fedex account to ship occasionally, and I always manually add the tracking #. Good Luck with your selling!

[kosmosattik]

"Maybe it did not ship yet, the seller did not buy the label yet."

Oh, it as shipped.

[wastingtime101]

Could be a number of things @kosmosattik.

- Label purchased at post office, seller didn't upload tracking.
- Label purchased from a third party and the API failed to automatically update tracking, or a service that's not integrated with eBay was used.
- Seller didn't ship yet.

When you purchase labels through eBay the tracking is automatically integrated into the transaction.

[kosmosattik]

@cstpos 

"I've noticed that as soon as you print a label on ebay, ebay does upload it on the sales record but they also send the buyer an email that "Your Item has Shipped". 

Right, that's what I experienced as of 10 months ago.  I'm going to operate under the assumption that the seller is using an outside service and does not bother to upload the tracking number.

[km23_27]

try again

[duffy4444]

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@kosmosattik wrote:

...  I'm going to operate under the assumption that the seller is using an outside service and does not bother to upload the tracking number.

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     Get hold of the seller and tell them that you expect a tracking number today. It is sloppy and inexcusable for a seller not to make sure that tracking numbers are showing up in the sales record. I happen to use Stamps.com for all of my labeling/shipping/tracking on both eBay and Amazon, and they do an automatic post-back to both online venues of all the necessary information, so even if the seller is using a similar 3rd party service, he/she should always be checking to be sure the tracking number shows up for the buyer.

Cheers, Duffy 

[cstpos]

@kosmosattik  We ship a lot of orders and a package has shipped has always meant that a carrier has taken possession of it. The seller may have forgotten to upload it. You could ask the seller if there's a tracking number. I check the tracking on all my online orders so I know when to expect and so I can make a point to look for it at either of my home's entrances. Or bushes.

[dbfolks166mt]

      As others mentioned it is highly probable that the seller used Pirate Ship, Stamps.com or some other method other than going through eBay to purchase and print the label and did not upload the tracking number into the order. 

      Only once since I have been selling on eBay and purchased the shipping label through eBay has the tracking information failed to upload/integrate into the order information. 

      On an unrelated matter, but one which comes up on this forum often, if you have been on a 10 month hiatus and are starting to sell again be aware that depending on what you are listing and the value eBay may treat you as a new seller with regards to holding your funds for up to 30 days. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816 

[kensgiftshop]

If you just bought it, gotta give the seller some time to get it ready to ship.

Did you notice what their handling time was?

[fab_finds4u]

Shipping with tracking isn't  mandatory. To tell the seller  to give you something "today" that isn't  a requirement is a bit cheeky.  The item has an expected delivery date. That's the date you need to be concered  about.. 

[duffy4444]

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@fab_finds4u wrote:

Shipping with tracking isn't  mandatory. To tell the seller  to give you something "today" that isn't  a requirement is a bit cheeky.  The item has an expected delivery date. That's the date you need to be concered  about.. 

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   @fab_finds4u:

    The OP mentioned that the item was shipped via Priority Mail. Priority Mail always  gets a tracking number, whether it is done thru eBay, a 3rd party system, or going thru a counter postal worker at the local PO. Buyers are smart enough to know that they can expect a tracking number when their item is shipped, especially via Priority Mail. 

   It is totally inexcusable for a seller to fail to let his customer know what that tracking number is. It's also sloppy. The purpose of a tracking number is for the sender (seller) and recipient (buyer) to be able to see the status of the item, where it is, when it is out for delivery, and be apprised of any deviation from that. It's not "cheeky"... it's an expected part of successful online business and behavior. Although not mandatory, even eBay's seller performance metrics show a requirement for a tracking number upload, and can even contribute to dropping a seller out of TRS for not doing so.

Cheers, Duffy