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.         

[fixintoscrap]

eBay sent an email to impacted sellers, and apparently to the buyers.   Here is the seller email from today, Oct 4.

We wanted to advise you, at our earliest opportunity, that a small number of USPS shipping labels purchased through eBay between September 28, 2024 and September 29th, 2024 are experiencing a technical defect.

USPS shipments were incorrectly marked as “Delivered” upon the seller purchasing the shipping label -or-
USPS tracking details are missing once you purchase the shipping label which should upload tracking automatically. If you manually try to re-upload the tracking number, you may see an error: "Unable to Add Tracking. Tracking number already being used by a different seller."

These errors will not impact the delivery of the package. However, they may affect the accuracy of the tracking information your buyer sees. We have also notified any buyers impacted by these transactions to minimize any churn to you.

We are working urgently with USPS to resolve this issue, and in addition we will protect you from seller performance metrics like tracking uploaded, late shipments, defects and/or poor feedback involving these impacted transactions.

We appreciate your patience.

[bw14850]

I was affected by this. I sold an item on Sept 27 and purchased USPS postage through EBay  on Sept 28. I mailed my package (a $50 necklace) using the self service drawer at the post office. A week later, buyer said he did not receive. To my horror the tracking number shows a package with the same tracking number being shipped from a different city on Sept 24 to Puerto Rico.  I'm still trying to figure this out and hoping the package can be located.  My local postman said that when a tracking number comes up that has already been used recently, the postage is invalid and package is "dead". I filed with usps and talked to them but there is nothing they can do since the tracking says it was delivered. They even said they have a picture of the package that was sent to Puerto Rico (Which doesn't even look like the one I sent). They blamed eBay for the problem. I called eBay and they said it's USPS's fault. At this point I pretty much have to refund the buyer, but I'm pretty miffed no one will take responsibility and I have pay out of my own pocket for something that's not my fault. But I guess that's life. Anyone have any ideas? 

[bw14850]

has there been any update about what is being done for sellers that were affected by this? Or is it just going to be our fault because we didn't check our tracking numbers before mailing? 

[bw14850]

Yes, that information is not true.