USPS Issuing Repeated / Recycled Tracking Numbers within same month

[cornergas81]

Before shipping out a package, sellers may want to use USPS tracking to check if the tracking number on the label is recent re-use of a previously "delivered" item.  Bottom line from a thread posted below, the package will move through to delivery but the status will not be updated for several days.  

Background:

On 6/24/2025, I mailed a package from a label created on 6/23/2025.  Later in the day, I received a message from eBay that it was delivered.  Checking the tracking number on USPS showed as "delivered to original sender" but also with a long line of recent activity for someone else's package.  

I found the below linked thread that this has happened before and thanks to recent posts, it appears that USPS advised one seller that "the package would be delivered but it would not show any movement until the delivery scan several days from now. "

This is a fresh post that relates to an earlier one that no longer accepts replies due to aging.  

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/USPS-Issuing-Repeated-Recycled-Tracking-Numbers/td-p/34703556...

[wastingtime101]

This was not an eBay issue; it was a USPS issue. The same thing happened with USPS labels on Etsy over the weekend. Read the post pinned to the top of this page here for an official update from eBay @cornergas81 .

"We've identified a small number of USPS tracking numbers for eBay-purchased labels that show tracking activity—such as a 'Delivered' status—before the label was actually created. If you have an unshipped order affected by this issue, please purchase and use a new shipping label to fulfill the order. Since the original labels cannot be voided, we will refund their cost.

For any affected orders that have already shipped, we are working with USPS to ensure delivery is not disrupted. We will also protect your seller performance metrics, including tracking uploads, late shipments, defects, and negative feedback related to these transactions.

Transactions impacted by this issue will display accurate tracking events on eBay, although the USPS website may show tracking information from a previous shipment."

[ebooksdiva]

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@cornergas81 wrote:

Before shipping out a package, sellers may want to use USPS tracking to check if the tracking number on the label is recent re-use of a previously "delivered" item.  If it is a re-used number, you may be want to cancel the label and create a new one (yes, trial & error).  

 
If the label is already used eBay won’t let you cancel….been there done that. 
I refuse to print anymore labels on eBay. 
I am buying postage at the post office, I use Media mail anyway so there is no discount for that. If I sell something that requires Ground Advantage I’ll use pirate ship…used that a couple of days ago without an issue. 

I have one unusable label that shows delivered on both eBay and USPS the day before I purchased it. I’m not holding my breath for a refund. Writing it off as a loss on my taxes at the end of the year. 

[cornergas81]

Thank you for sharing this & now see where my suggestion could end up with a collection of underfunded & unusable labels.  

[cornergas81]

Kudos to babclassics  for providing more tips on dealing with duplicate labels and need to seek refunds.

"If you have such labels you should contact eBay support and mention ALERT16019.  This will get your account added to the alert tickets as they process refunds for unused labels.  They will be processing refunds on duplicate unused labels if you did not use the label but it will take some time. If you did use the label, it still should be delivered and tracked. Here is what they said:"

"We've actually identified a small number of USPS tracking numbers for eBay-purchased labels that show tracking activity—such as a 'Delivered' status—before the label was actually created or the item shipped. For any affected orders that have already shipped, we are working with USPS to ensure delivery is not disrupted. We will also protect your seller performance metrics, including tracking uploads, late shipments, defects, and negative feedback related to these transactions. At this time no further action is needed from you. Your account has been added to the tech issue and it is currently being reviewed by USPS and our tech team. I would inform your buyer of the issue we are experiencing and that the carrier is still working on ensuring to deliver the item despite tracking saying delivered. It was my pleasure replying to you Doug. You can reach back out at any point to see if there are any new updates on this ticket"

[yuzuha]

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@ebooksdiva wrote:

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If the label is already used eBay won’t let you cancel….been there done that. 
I refuse to print anymore labels on eBay. 
I am buying postage at the post office, I use Media mail anyway so there is no discount for that. If I sell something that requires Ground Advantage I’ll use pirate ship…used that a couple of days ago without an issue. 

I have one unusable label that shows delivered on both eBay and USPS the day before I purchased it. I’m not holding my breath for a refund. Writing it off as a loss on my taxes at the end of the year. 

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The problem was happening on Pirateship too... it was a USPS issue, not an eBay one. A few of the people in my crane game Discord had it happen to them with labels they printed for sales on Mercari.

[laughingblueturtle]

Thank you for the fresh post. This also happened to me with a USPS Ground Advantage label purchased on 6/23. The tracking status on both eBay and USPS showed it was ‘Delivered’ to another state earlier on 6/23.

I chatted with an eBay agent, that I’m 90% sure was a real person, who told me they were aware of the issue and to go ahead and mail the item. 

I took the package to the post office on 6/25. I explained the situation, they scanned the barcode, and it was accepted without issue; no trace of the ‘Delivered’ status showed up in their system. 
Unfortunately as of today, 6/27, both eBay and USPS tracking details are still showing the incorrect ‘Delivered’ information…

[p2collectibles]

Had this issue on about 5-6 of my orders out of the total 21 packages I shipped out.

Some stated delivered ultimately on the ebay tracking progress and some are mis-shipped and bouncing around facilities...

Very frustrating from a seller standpoint if we LOSE the package (it being misdelivered) & LOSE on the money if that's the case, but my ebay representative stated that we as seller's should be covered but I hope they cover the buyer as well for whoever mistake this is on whether it's USPS or Ebay...