Proof of Local Pickup -- issue

[oldspokeshome322]

I run an eBay store for a non-profit bike shop and we've offered local pickup since we opened our eBay storefront in 2017. I'd guess that we sell less than 5-10 items per year this way.

I recently noticed that our seller rating had dropped from Top Rated (which we've always been) to Above Average. Turns out that our "Tracking uploaded on time and validated" percentage dropped from 99.9% to 86.09% because a local buyer (one of our loyal volunteers, no less) has bought 16 items from us in the past six weeks and that eBay can't see that I've marked them as picked up (or somesuch) -- quite irritating.

Note: he always pays via check when he comes to pick up the items. I mark that the item's been paid and been picked up in the seller dashboard and everything seems to be fine on our end. 

I checked out: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/local-pickup?id=4181 

but he (to the best of his knowledge) neither receives a QR code or a 6-digit code and I cannot for the life of me figure out where to enter such a thing even if he gave one to me. We don't use the eBay app, neither does the customer. 

I've scoured the forums and see that there has been discussion (and a fair amount of grumbling and assertions that Local Pickup now requires using the eBay app) about this issue in the past year or two. Can anyone tell me if anything regarding how this "service" is supposed to work has been improved recently?

[oldspokeshome322]

@mr_lincoln Appreciate your in-depth response -- at least I now know that I'm not losing my mind, thanks for that.

I'm loath to reach out to customer service since the interactions often take ages and rarely seem to solve things. Were you ever able to have your LP tracking defects retracted?

I was not able to access that thread in the mentor area. Is there any chance someone with access could paraphrase the most useful information for me?

In our case, we don't use the eBay app because we're a non-profit (read: small, underfunded) that primarily relies on a landline and desktop computers for interacting with customers, volunteers, etc. Employees have the option of using their own phones but it's not required. Since I'm the only person who runs our eBay store (and I'm a flip phone holdout) using the eBay app is not an option.

We also have a state tax ID and a dedicated bookkeeper who's on top of our remitting tax on local pickup sales.

Seems like another issue resulting from eBay rolling out systems that have not thoroughly vetted. . . sigh.

[isaiah53-57]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@mr_lincoln @biggymoe 

Geez two of my favorite peeps here! My question is why not download the ebay app on your phone? Makes life so easy when doing local pickup, the QR code pops,  buyer holds up their phone to seller and sellers app reads it....than both phones get married and live happily,  opps getting ahead of myself 😆 🤣 

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Why? Couple things:

1st, have you read the "Privacy Notice" you agree to when you download this app? I value my personal information and refuse to give it to a company who has such a broad "use of information" statement. Those calls you get coming from a local phone number that are actually from foreign countries wanting your credit card info for useless extended warranties for your auto get your information from companies with broad use statements such as this. Same thing with the endless "fishy" emails you get trying to your info...And if a company wants to "sell" my personal information to whoever they want regardless of risk, where is my percentage??

2nd, I had the app at one time and several years ago got a message that the version I had was no longer viable and that I would need to download a new version?? You kidding me - what company creates an app that is not updateable to the point it becomes defunct?? Another fine technology offering from the company - I deleted it and never downloaded the new one - Don't trust a company like this as far as I can throw it...

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Great post!

Apps are nothing more than just more tracking and selling your information.

I keep my phone clean and secure as possible, but it doesn't matter! I received texts for the yesterday's elections for the last two weeks. Why is my phone number being shared with politicians and their party, but they can't seem to solve the issue of harassing spam messages and phone calls to consumers?

Has anyone ever had a verbal conversation with someone (with your phones nearby) and within an hour, the subject(s) you talked about interestingly pops up on your phone in some form?

Has anyone been to your local grocery store where you have their app and when shop around and then go to check out, you receive printed coupons or maybe sent coupons for the sections of the store you shopped, but did not buy anything?

I'm sure others can add their issues to this. It's just going to get worse as time goes on!

[mr_lincoln]

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@oldspokeshome322 wrote:

@mr_lincoln Appreciate your in-depth response -- at least I now know that I'm not losing my mind, thanks for that.

I'm loath to reach out to customer service since the interactions often take ages and rarely seem to solve things. Were you ever able to have your LP tracking defects retracted?

I was not able to access that thread in the mentor area. Is there any chance someone with access could paraphrase the most useful information for me?

In our case, we don't use the eBay app because we're a non-profit (read: small, underfunded) that primarily relies on a landline and desktop computers for interacting with customers, volunteers, etc. Employees have the option of using their own phones but it's not required. Since I'm the only person who runs our eBay store (and I'm a flip phone holdout) using the eBay app is not an option.

We also have a state tax ID and a dedicated bookkeeper who's on top of our remitting tax on local pickup sales.

Seems like another issue resulting from eBay rolling out systems that have not thoroughly vetted. . . sigh.

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@oldspokeshome322   No, the defect was not removed after I was advised here by eBay staff to contact CS ... I posted part of the reply I got from CS earlier on this thread.  It was a canned response, I know that to be true because it started by using my name but then in the body of the message they used another name so for the post here I corrected that.  They did however state that particular defect will NOT affect my Seller metrics so that is why I am a little confused with your drop in status ... 

To review, I got the defect when I did NOT send an invoice but marked the item Paid for and Shipped after the meet-up.

Then the following week (same Buyer) I sent the invoice, they never paid it but paid cash at the meet-up.  I marked it Paid for but NOT shipped and no defect happened.

Local Pick up has always been an issue with eBay ... 

[mr_lincoln]

kyle@ebay   Here is another good thread on the downside to Local Pick up ... 

[oldspokeshome322]

kyle@ebay . . . at least in regards to how Local Pickup currently works, especially for sellers who choose (for any number of reasons) to not use the eBay app.

Is there any possible way to have our store's unearned defects removed?