Marked as Shipped?! Label created, but not actually shipped yet!

[dk_creations]

Marked as Shipped?! Label created, but not actually shipped yet!  Marked as shipped, even though the order has not actually been shipped yet. This happens when a shipping label has been created. Yes, this we buyers know! Today, I was actually notified of shipping, when the label was created. However, this time, the label was not even in the postal system yet! I have a screen shot. For example, if I signed a document, then put a stamp on an envelope and left it on my desk. Then, contacted the recipient, and falsely informed them that it had been posted. When in actuality, I had posted it 2 days later. Meanwhile, the recipient is distressed, because it had not arrived yet. In fact, had not even been posted yet. In what way, is this an ethical thing to do? I still remember when this practice was first implemented on ebay. It was one of the main reasons I stopped selling on ebay many years ago. I have written to ebay a number of times concerning this issue, to no avail. Recent, and past, search results (both on/ off ebay), have confirmed that this issues is unacceptable to many ebay buyers. Yet, ebay continues to ignore their buyer's need/wishes. Buyers want to know when their orders have 'actually' been shipped. Not, when the seller created a shipping 'label'. It is a waste of a buyer's time, money, & energy, and it is misleading, and inaccurate. To correct this, would be a simple programming adjustment. However, ebay simply does not care about their customers. Yes, this we buyers also know! Ebay only cares how much money they make. Both of which, also, are unethical. On behalf of all buyers, we request that this unethical business practice be corrected. We request that the programming be changed to inform buyers when their orders have 'actually' been shipped (i.e./e.g. when the PO/ courier have actually received the order). In essence, when the order has 'actually' been submitted to the PO/ courier. Ebay may think that only ebay sellers are important. Yet, without buyers, there would be no sellers. This is 2021, and time for same new and positive changes to ebay's reputation. What do you think?
Thank you for your time.
SM

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@dk_creations   The issue for the label not being in the system today may be because of the MLK holiday

I agree that it should say label created, not shipped when a shipping label is printed.  

[mudshark61369]

@dk_creations,

  "Today, I was actually notified of shipping, when the label was created. However, this time, the label was not even in the postal system yet!"

Well as you've been told already, today is a postal holiday, so there will not be a pickup or acceptance scan until tomorrow sometime. However, the seller did purchase postage or they could not have printed a label.

If you are getting your information from the ebay tracking number in the purchase history, that info comes 3rd hand from Pitney Bowes not direct from USPS, UPS, FedEx...

Back in December I had tracking info for a package I shipped show this on the P.B. tracking info.

12/11/20   Label created 11:31am

12/11/20   Picked up 4:26pm

12/11/20   Arrived at postal facility 6:49pm

12/12/20  Information received, awaits receipt by USPS.

 The package was sent USPS Priority Mail. The tracking number when run through the USPS site proved that. However, the order details said Parcel Select. Which as time wore on caused me no end of issues with the buyer.

If a seller is a high enough volume one they may use an automated system that generates a shipping label w/ tracking as soon as an order is paid for.  It may take a few days to be pulled, and the label attached, then put on a truck.

Some chinese sellers have an automated system, but the order is sent to a drop shipping location, then put on a private currier truck, and goes through several places before being received by an actual Postal facility and put on a plane. 

 "For example, if I signed a document, then put a stamp on an envelope and left it on my desk. Then, contacted the recipient, and falsely informed them that it had been posted. When in actuality, I had posted it 2 days later. Meanwhile, the recipient is distressed, because it had not arrived yet. In fact, had not even been posted yet".

Lets say the above is an ebay purchase, if the seller has a 3 day handling time, as long as it get an acceptance scan on day three it was shipped within their handling time frame. If it doesn't have an acceptance scan on day 3, the seller will get a late shipping defect, it may not affect the high volume sellers much but for a low volume seller it can hurt our rating badly.

[ronsam-197]

Sellers print the labels ahead of time before they ever get delivered to a carrier. You apparently know this so I don't get the "angst" over label created or shipped.

Not to forget that in these times carriers aren't necessarily scanning items accepted in a timely manner either. That doesn't mean they haven't been shipped (your definition).

[popblox]

While I agree it can be irritating, notifying buyers that their items have "shipped" when a shipping label is created is certainly not a practice limited only to eBay. I've been getting notifications all day that my online orders have shipped, but all of them are in the pre-shipment status.

Here's Macy's

And Target

I doubt there's anything unethical about giving customers their tracking information the instant it becomes available. Maybe it's not meant to be taken quite so literally.

[xd-9]

Exactly this!! I notice lots of retailers do the same thing so it’s not just eBay sellers

[popblox]

I know! It hasn't always been that way (except on eBay), but I can't think of anywhere that doesn't do it now.

[no_zero369]

@popblox 

Good point.  I too have seen this from online purchases.  What do you guess  that the reason we see so many online retailers do things like this is that the average buyer is impatient and feels better when they buy something and then the next day see it has "shipped"?  I suspect few catch the difference between shipped = label created or tracking number created and "shipped" meaning package got an acceptance scan. They are just glad item 'is on the way?"

[mccamira]

The options are to send you the email when the label is created or send it to you when the package gets its first scan. Ebay considers a package shipped when it gets its first scan. That can be misleading, though, as we have been seeing  a lot recently. Sometimes a package doesn't get scanned until it has been in the system for days.

Most customers probably want their tracking number as soon as possible so it makes sense to send it to you when the label is created. As others have pointed out, a lot of businesses do this. I can't think of anyone who waits until the package has a scan to send the customer the tracking number. And, you know, you click on it and it says the carrier is awaiting the package. Always. I don't pay much attention to those emails anymore. I go back and click the tracking number a week later when I'm wondering when I should expect the package.

[buyselljack2016]

This has been beaten into the ground in the past.

SELLERS have asked, and asked to get it changed.

eBay is not going to change what is happening.

Label is printed, it says shipped.

The text that buyers get with their notification has changed a bit, but some don't see it, some don't read it.

[mccamira]

It says your order "is being shipped", not "has shipped". Which I suppose is accurate enough. Shipping is an ongoing process 🙂

[safan80]

This should be changed not only because the sellers want it because the buyers need to be changed. Buyer need to know when to expect their packages.. I have had three packages that didn't go beyond label created until after they reached my door. 

[monster-deals]

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@dk_creations wrote:

Marked as Shipped?! Label created, but not actually shipped yet! 

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All that definitively means is the label hasn't been scanned.

Also paragraphs.

[joschl_5482]

I'm fairly certain many eBay "sellers" don't actually have the item when they sell it, but instead, are using the maximum 10 day shipping window to use the money the just received from you to order the item, or to process a drop-shipment. eBay should make sellers distinguish between creating a shipping label and the package actually being "tendered" to the shipper. That window should be much shorter... perhaps 3 days from when the tracking number is generated to the date it's in the custody of the shipping company.

[kh-laura]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.