First post here.....I NEED HELP......eBay shipping tracker not working and I'm getting hit hard !

[cleverkatcreative]

So, I've tried to contact eBay 4 times now.....no success.  Either they act like it's been taken care of, or they just don't have anyone to help me.  They keep sending me a canned response that doesn't fit my issue.

I have a buyer who's routinely purchasing multiple items that total around $500.  She demands I ship priority FULLY insured (I'm happy to do that).  Ebay only offers up to $100 shipping---so I must physically take these items to the post office.

I also add signature restricted, as this buyer has had items stolen.  A side note, due to covid, these folks are signing FOR her (maddening all on it's own since this added feature is about $5.00).

Anyway......so for whatever reason eBay tacking system isn't registering these packages. For each and every item I have been charged as "no tracking updates".  For around 60 items now.  My percentage is down to 85% !!!

I have babied my feedback and ALLmy stats for the 10 years selling here. I've never shipped a late package even once.  This just has me in tears......watching my score fall into the depths and have zero recourse.

What can I do? is there any help for me here? thanks for listening......it felt good just to type all this out.

[penguins_dont_fly]

@cleverkatcreative 

It doesn't help for those that aren't updating now, but buying labels on Pirateship (even if just for this buyer) would eliminate the need to have to go to the Post Office to get special treatment for her shipments. It would also save you money.

And the tracking would auto-populate into her order.

[supercharger-parts]

I just called about the one package I had that was listed as "uploaded on time but no carrier scan"  I had two orders that shipped together, I did purchase my shipping label on eBay.  eBay tracking shows that I purchased a label and it shows delivery, nothing else. 

USPS shows at least 6 scans.  So I called and told the agent that I don't know why eBay can't see the scans, but USPS shows them as scanned by the carrier on time. 

The agent put me on hold to check and then came back and told me that USPS did an update and that is why my tracking number did not get updated.  He added my tracking number to a list of others that are to be corrected.  He said the metrics are updated once a week so I will check back next week to see if it's corrected or I will call again.

I don't know if you asked them to look at the actual tracking on USPS, that way they don't have to look at screenshots.  It would be easy enough to see that the tracking delivered to the zip code of the buyer, so it's not as if you are just giving a bogus tracking number. 

I'm sorry that you are having such difficulty getting appropriate resolution for this issue.  Keep at them, it's crazy if you can show the scans on USPS for you to have this going on.  So you are emailing them?  Did you try to call them or have them call you?  Did you try Facebook messenger or Twitter?  You might get a live person via Facebook messenger or a DM thru Twitter. 

[no_zero369]

@cleverkatcreative 

I have read this far into your thread and can no longer sit by idle.  I am scared for you.

imho some buyers are not worth the aggravation.  As a eBay seller you are not required to sell to anyone as you CAN block buyers.  It sounds like you are all twisted up like a pretzel over FEAR of what this buyer might do.  Personally life is too short to have that kind of aggravation.   Maybe it is your choice to deal with a potentially difficult buyer and provide them top-level customer service that others won't do?

But shipping stuff before being paid sounds like a business practice that is fraught with pitfalls.  If at some point a situation blows up, you took the risk.  You don't "have to" do anything, you choose to do it this way for whatever reason.  If one is financially dependent on ONE buyer that is "unusual" in their practices then you are a slave to that person and their whims.  A business with a substantial amount of their revenues to one or a limited number of buyers is a risk and needs to diversify its buyer base.

I suggest a deep long hard look at your business plan, the risks taken and ways to reduce or mitigate those risks.

Hope you can grow out of this! 

[fern*wood]

---

@fern*wood wrote:

---

@hgitner wrote:

i spoke to ebay and scan sheets do lower your metrics when they are not uploaded..... my metrics..

---

That report is showing numerous packages that received no carrier scans by the postal service anywhere along the way.  If you had a valid tracking number unloaded on time, then even a delivery scan would have qualified.  

I'm not familiar with using postage stamps and then getting a tracking number at the post office.  Do you pay extra for that?  Are you able to track your items to delivery with those?   It seems those numbers are not being scanned.

A scan sheet is a different thing.  

---

Let me clarify a bit.  A scan sheet would get you an acceptance scan, but my point is that it seems those tracking numbers you are using aren't getting scanned at all.   I don't use a scan sheet, but my tracking numbers are scanned by the postal employees so my metrics are met.   For that report you show, you don't even have to get an acceptance scan to meet the metric as long as you get a scan somewhere along the line. 

[ra_201044]

---

@no_zero369 wrote:

@cleverkatcreative 

I have read this far into your thread and can no longer sit by idle.  I am scared for you.

imho some buyers are not worth the aggravation.  As a eBay seller you are not required to sell to anyone as you CAN block buyers.  It sounds like you are all twisted up like a pretzel over FEAR of what this buyer might do.  Personally life is too short to have that kind of aggravation.   Maybe it is your choice to deal with a potentially difficult buyer and provide them top-level customer service that others won't do?

But shipping stuff before being paid sounds like a business practice that is fraught with pitfalls.  If at some point a situation blows up, you took the risk.  You don't "have to" do anything, you choose to do it this way for whatever reason.  If one is financially dependent on ONE buyer that is "unusual" in their practices then you are a slave to that person and their whims.  A business with a substantial amount of their revenues to one or a limited number of buyers is a risk and needs to diversify its buyer base.

I suggest a deep long hard look at your business plan, the risks taken and ways to reduce or mitigate those risks.

Hope you can grow out of this! 

---

They aren't shipping anything before getting paid. They are allowing the buyer to bid on multiple items, and once they are done, then an invoice is sent for the combined total and then it's paid for and shipped.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@no_zero369 wrote:

@cleverkatcreative 

I have read this far into your thread and can no longer sit by idle.  I am scared for you.

imho some buyers are not worth the aggravation.  As a eBay seller you are not required to sell to anyone as you CAN block buyers.  It sounds like you are all twisted up like a pretzel over FEAR of what this buyer might do.  Personally life is too short to have that kind of aggravation.   Maybe it is your choice to deal with a potentially difficult buyer and provide them top-level customer service that others won't do?

But shipping stuff before being paid sounds like a business practice that is fraught with pitfalls.  If at some point a situation blows up, you took the risk.  You don't "have to" do anything, you choose to do it this way for whatever reason.  If one is financially dependent on ONE buyer that is "unusual" in their practices then you are a slave to that person and their whims.  A business with a substantial amount of their revenues to one or a limited number of buyers is a risk and needs to diversify its buyer base.

I suggest a deep long hard look at your business plan, the risks taken and ways to reduce or mitigate those risks.

Hope you can grow out of this! 

---

I think the OP is being quite adult enough.  And they never shipped anything without payment - they've been doing this for a while.

The problem seems purely digital and pertains to this one multiple order to a repeat customer, which means their metrics are getting beat up.  Since they sell lamp work beads, one order can amount to quite a few listings.

They want to fix this.

[no_zero369]

Ok looks like I miss read the part about shipping without payment.  My bad.

Still one buyer causing this kind of stress?

[ra_201044]

---

@no_zero369 wrote:

Ok looks like I miss read the part about shipping without payment.  My bad.

Still one buyer causing this kind of stress?

---

Well, it's ebay not dealing with the tracking # on multiple listings that is causing the stress. But the OP has a good customer there and doesn't want to lose them - but they also don't want an ebay glitch punishing them for doing the right thing.

Seems like they have a nice niche market - and make some beautiful glass beads. Wish they did dogs, though, instead of cats. Of course, being a guy, nothing I would wear, but the craftsmanship seems awesome and the auction ending prices reflect this.

[popblox]

My apologies in advance if someone has already mentioned a similar solution! I have a ton of issues with the eBay tracking not updating for International Orders, the status usually just sits at "Shipping Label Created". At any rate, after weeks of turmoil with CS over the phone, I finally found the most effective solution was to send a request through the "Appeal a Defect" method:

https://www.ebay.com/help/returns-refunds/returns-refunds-sellers/appealing-decision-seller?id=4369&...

Here's what I say:

RE: Inaccurate tracking information

ITEM NUMBER:

ORDER NUMBER:

[CARRIER] TRACKING NUMBER:

The ebay tracking does not accurately reflect the current or past status of the package, here is the link to accurate tracking: […INSERT EXTERNAL LINK…] Please click on the link to verify the information. May I kindly request a removal of this defect since I have provided sufficient documentation to support my claim that this item was shipped on time to the buyer?

I use EasyShip as my tracking link, a link to the status of the item on usps.com would probably suffice in your situation.

[xedicl-0]

---

@hgitner wrote:

ebay wants you to buy your labels from them......

---

It's actually about purchasing the label online so that ebay has electronic proof the label was purchased, versus a seller entering a tracking number that could be inaccurate (even if copied and pasted, ebay has no way of verifying the legitimacy).

One can purchase the label off a third party shipper (such as stamps.com or pirateship) so long the seller activates the ebay connection so that when the label is purchased the third party automagically sends the information to ebay.

One might wonder if the post office would connect to ebay electronically if a label is purchased online...

Yes, the scan sheet is important but it only works if ebay has a number to compare it to, and that number must have been entered electronically by having purchased the label online (either from ebay or through a third party that connects to ebay).

[chapeau-noir]

---

@no_zero369 wrote:

Ok looks like I miss read the part about shipping without payment.  My bad.

Still one buyer causing this kind of stress?

---

One buyer with apparently many orders.  Again, the OP sells lamp work beads, so one person may purchase multiple listings, and given the quality of the lamp work, at least at the listings I've looked at, will come back for multiple orders. If these multiple orders are not showing up in the shipping metrics, this creates a lot of damage.  So yeah, if eBay drops the ball on one buyer for a seller who sells many smalls, it will be stressful.  Hitting 85% with eBay's draconian policies is stressful, particularly for a very small seller.

ETA: I weigh in on this because I have many repeat buyers myself, and they also purchase multiples. I'm familiar with the scenario.  Repeat buyers are gold - every merchant knows this.

[cleverkatcreative]

Oh, now I get what you're saying Penguin.....using Pirateship automatically registers on eBay? yes, that would eliminate a few headaches.  Will look into it for sure.  Thank you!

[cleverkatcreative]

Supercharger, you're getting further than I did.  Well done there.  You said :

"I don't know if you asked them to look at the actual tracking on USPS, that way they don't have to look at screenshots.  It would be easy enough to see that the tracking delivered to the zip code of the buyer, so it's not as if you are just giving a bogus tracking number. "

Yes, I begged them to look at the USPS website.....I never even offered a screenshot (although I was admittedly on the heels of doing just that).  See, this is the conundrum.  It's like they are missing folks who should be a liaison for sellers like us who SERIOUSLY CARE about their business.  I'm one !

I've called and emailed both.  I am going to also today try the Facebook and Twitter ideas.  And since I've now collected a few other examples....maybe that'll help my case here? we shall see.  It's "hope" anyway 🙂

[cleverkatcreative]

Hi no_zero.....I think somehow you gathered a false impression? this buyer HAS paid for everything I've shipped.  No problems there.  She has received all packages and is happy with them.

Now......yes......you are correct that I'm "twisted like a pretzel about what this buyer might do".  Hence my going to the trouble of adding the signature restricted add-on.  But that's for BOTH of us.  She has many negatives left for sellers and her reply was "package stolen".  Apparently without appropriate insurance & safeguards.

I wasn't about to let that happen to me.  As I've said, I've treated this business with loving care for 10 years now.  My sister also sells the same items I do and said she'd never allow folks to do the things I do (sometimes) but I'll tell you what.......in 10 years......this is my first issue.  The very first.

My problems are with eBay.  They are not seeing any tracking updates (that I can see).  I've been charged with every single item I've sent her as being "shipped late" or "no tracking updates".

My tracking upload percentage went from close to 100% down to now 85%.....all based on this ONE buyers sales. But the serious problem is that they were ALL shipped within 24 hours of payment.   Now I'm in danger of losing my seller status that I've worked so hard to keep flawless.

I do agree there are a few changes that need to be made. But holy smokes, I would NEVER send even one single item before I'd secured payment.  I'm right with you there !

But "growing out of this"......how shall I do that when I need water and sunshine......and eBay is supposed to be at least a part of that (in this circumstance for sure)?

[cleverkatcreative]

LOL, wait.....I do make some dog beads (with a cat usually) 🙂 

But yeah, I'd like to keep every buyer because my traffic is SO slow....most lamp workers did a mass exodus of eBay when the Chinese resellers were allowed to flood in.  These sellers left to Etsy.  I stayed here.  And waded through despite most of the foot traffic plodding off to Etsy.  You get it.

As does @chapeau-noir .  Spot on.  I only sell 15 items a week.  It will take me many moons to salvage that 85% back up.  I haven't counted each bead, but there are at least 60+ sent to her that this situation has stemmed from.  And it's ALL her sales.

I do really rely on my sales here.....which is why I've babied all these metrics as if my life depended on it.  I love selling here and having the freedom to work from home.

@popblox THANK YOU LADY.....I did take a screenie of how you handled that and will try that today, too.  I tried this already when I saw it coming (before my percentages REALLY dropped).  Right after the first time I saw an unfair drop I called.  I've been trying to call ever since.  My reply was something like :

"well right now your seller status is still fine.  You can't appeal until there's a problem with your status."

I begged them to look at the USPS site.  I kept getting a weird canned sort of reply that didn't even reflect my exact issues.  I will now keep trying every single avenue mentioned here in this thread.  It's too hard watching something I've cared for for 10 years to simply go up in flames.

You guys.....I apologize for sounding so melodramatic.  But geez.....why is this so hard?  I've treated eBay very well over this span of time.  Very well.  Now this?