USPS Issuing Repeated / Recycled Tracking Numbers

[am135a]

Today (09/28) I purchased a Shipping Label (USPS - Ground Advantage).  Prior to placing the item in the mail box, I attempted to confirm the Creation /Status.  It indicated that the item had been "Delivered" - 2 days prior and the Tracking History was provided (To an address not related to my Buyer).  After Cancelling the Label - I purchased another Label - with essentially the Same results (Item currently enroute to different State). 

Ebay "Help / Customer Service" indicated that this issue is being experienced by quite a number of Sellers and that the current options are to Cancel the Label and purchase another from a Different Shipper or go directly to a USPS Office and purchase a Label directly from them (And lose the Ebay Discounted price).  The Undisclosed "Issue" will be addressed between Ebay and the USPS.         

[mtgraves7984]

This is the third such post I've read today. My heart goes out to you and the others. Good luck and good golly...

[jaslyns_vintage_finds_n_more]

I just checked  a label that I printed today and it did the same thing to me as it says the package is in Greensboro North Carolina and I did not even drop it off yet today. I checked two other labels from yesterday and they are good so this must have started happening sometime today. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

I purchased 5 labels today around Noon PST; checked all 5- all are ok per USPS.

What time did any of you do this? 

Care to give one of the tracking numbers? 

[jaslyns_vintage_finds_n_more]

Here is one from me.....I have not dropped this off yet and it says it's in Greensboro, NC.   Should I void this label as it's probably a live label from another shipment or should I let it go?

9400108105464590683474

[am135a]

I Cancelled both of mine, as I want my Buyer to have a Valid Tracking #. 

Somewhere in my Google research today, I saw that it was suggested that Once the Recycled Tracking # is Scanned by the USPS - it will "accurately" show the current status (And presumably track the item from there).  I would not trust that as a Buyer or a Seller.        

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@jaslyns_vintage_finds_n_more wrote:

Here is one from me.....I have not dropped this off yet and it says it's in Greensboro, NC.   Should I void this label as it's probably a live label from another shipment or should I let it go?

9400108105464590683474

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Yep; it says it in NC and their 'distribution center' which is DOUBLE strange and that area is 20' under water! 

I would 'cancel' and buy a label on either Pirate Ship or USPS.com direct- not sure if you can 'edit/change' it since you already bought one and it now shows on that sale) but you definitely do NOT want to use it. 

[jaslyns_vintage_finds_n_more]

Hello- Thanks for the reply.  Yes and another strange thing is it said the label was accepted at the Chicago IL Distribution Center which is also not likely as packages don't start out at Distribution Centers. 

I have messaged my buyer already about this. I am probably one of the lucky ones with only one label affected by this.  I am going to wait until tomorrow to see if this is resolved and very likely, I will be printing out a new label using another system or going into my local post office to have a label generated. I don't think I can void  this label anyhow as when a package already has scans, it can't be voided.

[sfau]

Just happened to me too.  The other label I bought it did not upload the tracking number to the item and when I tired to do it manually it said it was being used by someone else.

[takeseru]

This happened to me today, bought the label (via ebay) around 3pm pst that was delivered an hour prior to purchasing the label. I was able to get a refund with customer service on the phone and repurchase a new label (via ebay) without issue, the order will still say it's delivered thou but the buyer was very understanding

[robbie31415]

Work around for eBay not releasing the tracking is to add.

420 + destination zip before the tracking number.

You can enter it on usps all together to confirm it works fine before entering it on eBay.

Example 4209080894623837373737

94623837373737 would be example tracking

[jaslyns_vintage_finds_n_more]

Devon...

devon@ebay

This is a significant issue with many ebay sellers. Using Pirate Ship or the actual USPS site is an alternative but it does not give some our label discount. In addition, some labels are showing delivered and ebay buyers are filing INR's because of it.   Can this please be addressed immediately?  This is something that needs to be corrected as soon as possible and some type of solution needs to be supplied for all these tracking numbers that are out there that are not valid.  

Thank you.

[wastingtime101]

There are issues with eBay USPS labels today. This type of problem has happened before and it's usually resolved within a day or two tops. See if labels are back to normal on Monday and if they are not you can go to pirateship.com and get the same rates for all USPS services.

To void a shipping label purchased through eBay, go to this page, find the order and select Cancel from the Actions drop-down. The cancel option is available for 28 days.

It takes between 2-4 weeks to receive a refund on an unused, voided label as the carrier wants to make sure the label isn't used. You'll see the refund on your original source of payment (eBay funds, bank, credit card, etc) and the funds will appear in your account without an email notification.

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If the system will not let you void because there's already tracking you can contact eBay CS and have them process the cancellation, or you can wait it out as eBay will (if history is any indication) most likely take care of sellers and automatically apply label credits for impacted transactions. I'm sure eBay reps will post here on Monday with an update - they're not usually around on weekends.

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Tagging some sellers that posted about this on the Ask a Mentor forum: @fastpac @efail1978 

[fixintoscrap]

Same issue.  

There are many duplicates and we should encourage everyone to thumbs up this post and direct any other posts to do the same and follow this thread.  This approach tends to get the eBay forum moderators' attention.

Duplicates Include, at least

• https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/Shipping-label-shows-delivered-right-after-purchasing-label/m...
• https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/USPS-Shipping-Labels-newly-purchased-through-eBay-already-use...
• https://community.ebay.com/t5/Report-eBay-Technical-Issues/Shipping-Label-Issue-From-Yesterday/td-p/...
• https://community.ebay.com/t5/Report-eBay-Technical-Issues/Ebay-issuing-tracking-number-that-shows-i...
• https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/SHIPPING-LABEL/m-p/34705485
• https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/shipping/m-p/34705443

[fixintoscrap]

The three issues I have found so far with this tracking # reuse are to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Canada (via eBay's international shipping hub in Chicago).

Are other people's instances involving states like AK, HI, PR, US territories, or eBay international shipping?