eBay

brccoins · ‎08-11-2023

I was a seller on ebay for 15 years and had to take a break. It's all different now, and I'm shipping orders through the USPS, not ebay shipping. I get messages from buyers saying ebay says they haven't gotten their packages yet, the ebay status just says tracking information provided, and in a few cases it says shipped. When I follow the USPS tracking status to USPS.com, it says "delivered". Why buyers don't realize they already have received the package is another matter, but does anyone know why ebay posts the wrong shipping status? This whole issue has gotten out of hand, I get 2 - 3 emails a week, and have had 3 cases filed against my store, even though USPS says the item was delivered. 2 cases were dropped after they "found" their purchased item, but I lost money on the 3rd (may be a dishonest buyer).

mtgraves7984 · ‎08-11-2023

If you're not buying your labels here, are you adding your USPS Tracking Numbers to the Orders?

ittybitnot · ‎08-11-2023

, and I'm shipping orders through the USPS, not ebay shipping.

@brccoins

If you are not using eBay labels, are you entering the tracking numbers manually on the orders?

If so, it may just be some sort of delay or disconnect with updating manually entered numbers and USPS.

brccoins · ‎08-11-2023

Yes, good point, but always providing tracking numbers. I Fill them in on the Orders tab, When I click on the tracking number it takes me to a ebay pop-up that has the incorrect status, but if I click the tracking number on that pop-up, it takes me to the usps.com site with the correct status. A couple of the buyers say they always just look at the ebay status, so either I'm not doing something correctly, or ebay has an issue.

brccoins · ‎08-11-2023

Yes, I am not using ebay labels and I always put in the USPS tracking number. I'm looking back at orders from a month ago and they still just say Tracking number added for the ebay shipping status even though they were delivered quite a while back. So you don't have this issue using ebay labels? I live in a small town and the PO needs my business.

mtgraves7984 · ‎08-11-2023

I live in a small town and the PO needs my business.

@brccoins

Well... you're standing a full inch taller ^^^ in my eyes! I love to support local businesses, too.

With that being said, I buy my labels on eBay (my regular carrier picks up from me), and I've not had an issue with shipping status as you're describing. (And with that being said... it had never occurred to me that buying postage through eBay was depriving my small town PO of revenue credit... duh.) Selfishly, I can't see past the Commercial rates I receive here, and since it's still working for me, I'll still buy my labels here.

brccoins · ‎08-11-2023

Okay, I may try the ebay postage. I mail 10x5 envelopes typically and if I use a label it's a half sheet. Does ebay print on multiple size labels or just full sheets? Thanks a lot for your help. I'll check with my postmaster, maybe they get credit if I make sure the "ship from" zip is enough for her to get the credit.

gurlcat · ‎08-11-2023

There's actually no such thing as "Ebay labels". Ebay is not in the shipping business whatsoever.
But you can buy labels THROUGH Ebay and they are USPS, and you get them CHEAPER through Ebay than through the USPS website or post office desk. Also your address and the buyer's address pre-load lickety split, no typing or writing. And the tracking number attaches to the order for you and the buyer to see. It's a win-win-win-win.
And no, your local post office will not suffer based on whether they sell you the label or not. It's a national company, not a franchise.

luckythewinner · ‎08-11-2023

@brccoins wrote:
I live in a small town and the PO needs my business.

Local POs get "credit" for any packages they scan, regardless of where the postage was purchased.

I would never pay higher postage rates thinking it would "help" my post office.

12345jamesstamps · ‎08-11-2023

I like the idea of going into a USPS post office and handing my package to a clerk and getting a receipt with tracking on it. I prefer the clerk to figure out the cost of shipping it and everything.

I guess sellers save money using eBay shipping labels...is the ink and the paper free or isn't it? And the time weighing the package and taking measurements of the package by yourself I guess it's easy to do?

And having the seller or buyer complain the shipping cost more than the original shipping label using an eBay shipping label...but that never happens right?

I do buy face value postage on eBay under face value so I guess I save some money.

fern*wood · ‎08-11-2023

What do you write out labels on and how long does that take? How long to make sure you enter the tracking numbers on the listing without any errors? You are not only missing out on the online discount, but you would also qualify for the top rated seller discount. It's like throwing your money away.

gurlcat · ‎08-11-2023

Wait, what gives you the idea that TRS sellers get a discount on shipping? I'm TRS and I know I get my final value fees discounted, but not labels to my knowledge. If it's in writing somewhere I'd love to see it.

gurlcat · ‎08-11-2023

I use flat rate shipping for the majority of my items so weighing/measureing are not needed, but even those that I ship calculated, putting the package on my scale and using my ruler definitely takes a lot less time than driving to the post office and waiting in line, lol. Also gasoline, hello.

brccoins · ‎08-11-2023

I dealt with ebay for 15 years starting in 2004 and either used the USPS app or went to a PO to purchase, then skipped 4 years, they wouldn't let me use my old ID with 1075 positive and 2500 transactions and kept all my proceeds on the new account for 6 weeks because I was "new", so I wasn't real happy about doing postage through them or anything else besides selling. I have a scale somewhere and will give it a try. Like you say, if it can save me some money it will be worth it, especially if it will stop all this shipping status nonsense from some buyers who don't realize they received something. I still think ebay is doing a poor job if they only correctly track items where the postage is paid for through them.

Thanks everyone for the help!!!

yuzuha · ‎08-11-2023

@12345jamesstamps wrote:
And the time weighing the package and taking measurements of the package by yourself I guess it's easy to do?

It takes approximately 10 seconds to weigh a package. Exact measurements don't matter unless you're getting close to hitting the threshold that would trigger dimensional weight, and most boxes have the dimensions printed on them anyway.

My PO never measures boxes when I ship over the counter-- they just put them on the scale to get the weight.