Unable to manually add tracking numbers to multiple orders from same buyer

[lapisconnection]

Up until yesterday I was able to manually add tracking numbers to multiple orders from the same buyer but today I am receiving this message. What is the best way to deal with this issue other than cancelling the orders and trying to explain to buyers how to combine purchases in the cart prior to paying, which isn't always as easy as it sounds?

"This tracking number is already associated with another active shipment."

[jaja_2942]

For each item in the combined shipment @lapisconnection add "420" and the last 5 digits of the item number ahead of your tracking number.

For  example, if your tracking number is 9400blahblahblah, and you have 2 more item numbers blahblah12345 and blahblah67890 to combine, the full tracking numbers would be:

420 12345 9400blahblahblah

420 67890 9400blahblahblah

Test them at the USPS.com website to see that they work.

[pjcdn2005]

If they used a guest ID for each purchase and the ID's are slightly different, ebay won't allow you to add the same tracking number. Some people have suggested that adding the tracking number in PP may populate it to ebay but I haven't tried that.

[disneyshopper]

If printing your shipping labels using ebay, when you have multiple items going to the same buyer, ebay asks if you wish to combine items.  You say yes, and all items are then listed.  Change the shipping method if needed, enter the weight/dimensions of the package, and then one tracking number is then associated with each of those items.