Return Service Shipping Tracking Not Updating

[Anonymous]

Hello, 

I had an ebay return that I opened. The seller sent me a return shipping label. 

The label was a "first class return service" as it said on the label.  (but it is a different tracking number to the one that was originally used to deliver to me) 

I dropped this off at the post office in a drop box on Tuesday, it is now Thurday evening and it is still in pre-shipment phase and not scanned. 

When I look at the return on eBay and ebay website tracks the number - it says accepted and In Transit. I do not beleive it since the USPS still shows pre-shipment 

Should I be worried? Or does the return servive not track all the way? What can I do about this? 

Thank you

[hafoster]

The return tracking on the returns page is the one that matters --

and then when it shows delivered back to the seller --

the seller has 6 business days to refund.

@Anonymous

eBay has a different, internal feed of the manifest --

and why the USPS website doesn't always update the same scans.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot hopefully it does get delivered !!

[Anonymous]

@hafoster

Just a clarifiction if you have a moment please. I have uploaded a screenshot of what I refer to below: 

The USPS tracking on eBay also shows Pre-Shipment - BUT the 3 bars that show the state have moved to Accepted and In Transit. So it is a bit wierd - should I be looking at the green bars as per th screenshot or the eBay tracking notes right below it? 

Thank you 

[hafoster]

Nope, that's the wrong tracking number --

did you keep a copy of the return label you printed?

[Anonymous]

@hafoster

Yep I have the shipping label downloaded on my computer. I just checked. The tracking number is the same. as the one show on the screenshot. The ebay information shows pre-shipment (as does USPS) but the green bars show in transit. 

Attached the shipping label to this

9400115901640277895529

Thank You

[hafoster]

How much is the transaction?

Your seller is making sure --

that they get the item back --

but that you won't get a refund.

@Anonymous

It will deliver in St George tomorrow.

But because your tracking never scanned --

exactly like this example never scanned:

You do not have the additional "make changes to the tracking" link --

that shows in this example that did scan:This is yet another leaky loophole in eBay's watertight returns flow.

[Anonymous]

@hafoster

This was a $43 transaction. 

How is the seller making sure they get the it but not issue a refund?

What are my options to get a refund? If the seller is trying to pull a fast one I can go through PayPal if there is a way to prove they got the item. 

Thank you

[hafoster · Accepted solution]

See if you can update the tracking number at this URL:

https://www.ebay.com/rtn/Return/ReturnsDetail?action=updateTrackingPage&returnId=50XXXXXXXX

Replace 50XXXXXXXX with your 10-digit Return ID number.

Then enter the tracking number with the last 2 digits as "12" instead of "29".

Tracking History

January 12, 2018
1:30 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility,
PROVO UT PROCESSING CENTER

January 12, 2018
12:37 pm
Departed USPS Regional Facility,
SALT LAKE CITY UT NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 12, 2018
6:49 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility,
SALT LAKE CITY UT NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER

January 11, 2018
12:25 pm
In Transit to Destination,
On its way to SAINT GEORGE, UT 84790

January 10, 2018
9:25 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility,
SEATTLE WA DISTRIBUTION CENTER  

January 10, 2018
4:38 pm
Departed Post Office,
ISSAQUAH, WA 98027

January 10, 2018
11:22 am
USPS in possession of item,
ISSAQUAH, WA 98027

January 8, 2018
12:49 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item,
SNOQUALMIE, WA 98065

[Anonymous]

@hafoster

i see the following error message when I go to the URL 

You are not authorized to perform this action at this time.

However when I enter the following tracking number it works (I only changed the 29 to 12) 

9400115901640277895512

Why on earth has the tracking information changed in this manner? Was this a USPS bug/feature or a seller scam? 

Thank you HUGELY for your help!!!!!!!!!

[hafoster]

It's your seller, making sure your return tracking never starts tracking.

@Anonymous

Try again and remember to replace the 5XXXXXXXXX with

your Return ID -- a 10-digit number starting with "5" -- in these URLs:

http://postorder.ebay.com/Case/ReturnShippingDetails?id=5XXXXXXXXX

https://www.ebay.com/rtn/Return/ReturnsDetail?rmvHdr=false&srcAppId=null&action=updateTrackingPage&retryRefund=false&returnId=5XXXXXXXXX

https://www.ebay.com/rtn/Return/ReturnsDetail?rmvHdr=false&action=uploadTrackingPage&retryRefund=false&returnId=5XXXXXXXXX

Otherwise call eBay (Google the number) to update the tracking number.

[thatisrathernice]

@hafoster Crazyiest thing I learned all day. How is it even possible for a seller to do that?

[hafoster]

Vacations for everyone if we talk about it.

Let's just help @Anonymous correct the tracking number on the returns page.

[Anonymous]

@hafoster

none of those links worked. 

I will call ebay later today and have them update the tracking number. 

First the seller sells a repackaged item with missing parts and then fudges the tracking number. Thats messed up. 

This seller is a power seller and has sold tons of stuff. 

[hafoster]

Be careful not to confuse the eBay rep:

Get in, change the tracking number, get out.