Why does Ebay consider an item to be shipped when the shipping label is created

[shar1gre]

Hi everyone, I realize that when I purchase an item and the shipping label has been created the tracking information  automatically indicates that the item has been shipped.  Some sellers may create the label and let the item sit at their location for longer than ideal before it finally get to the courier. I think,  saying that the item has been shipped should only occur when the item is in the possession of the courier. I also sell on a small scale here and my goal is to get the item to the shipper within a reasonable time. When the item is out of my hands I no longer have control, I have done my part and do not want to be the weak link in the supply chain. What is considered a reasonable time may vary from one person to another, but anything longer than 4 days cannot be considered reasonable especially if the seller is offering priority shipping.  The courier still needs a certain time to deliver the item due to logistical reasons.

Most sellers are very efficient and I do understand that some sellers may drop off to the courier on specific days during the week or they have other commitments besides selling on Ebay. For some reason I have observed that it is usually the seller with a few items listed that takes the longest to get the item to the courier. 

[bonjourami]

You are preaching to the choir here, sellers have objected to this for many years. If your item doesnt arrive a day or two after the estimated delivery date, file an inr. And sellers that dont ship within their time frame are given defects and their accounts are permanently suspended.

[stephenmorgan]

I do not see that the label being created automatically indicates that the item has been shipped.

I see that the label was created with date and time and the item was picked up or if I take it to the USPS it will say USPS in possession of item.

Either way item is not shipped just because a shipping label has been created.

[simba6]

It's not the sellers doing that. It's eBay and sellers can't turn it off.  As soon as you purchase a paid label through eBay they mark it shipped.  Sellers have wanted to choose when it's marked for many years but, eBay won't let them.

[mudshark61369]

@shar1gre,

I agree in general, but in some instances an item may not get an acceptance scan. Especially, at this time of year when packages get dropped of in the outgoing bin at the P.O..  It isn't that unusual for packages to get no updates until it gets a Delivered scan.  

It doesn't matter to me if there is no updates at all, unless the last estimated delivery date has passed. 

[mudshark61369]

Had to take a call and forgot to add.  Some items coming from China and other countries get a USPS tracking number but no acceptance scan until the package arrives in this country.  Those were shipped but ebay only allows 1 tracking number to be uploaded.

[pburn]

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@shar1gre wrote:

Hi everyone, I realize that when I purchase an item and the shipping label has been created the tracking information  automatically indicates that the item has been shipped.  

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It is the industry standard to send purchasers an email indicating an item is being shipped when the label is generated. All the online retailers from whom I purchase send the same email notice. 

You'll notice the email from eBay says, "your order is being shipped," not "your order has been shipped." A subtle but important difference.

Here are examples of emails I've received from other retailers lately. In each case, tracking showed a label had been created, but the item hadn't even reached the shipping facility yet.

Exciting news! Your order  has shipped.

Your tracking number is #########

Please note that the tracking number may not be active for up to 24 business hours.

Your items are on the way!

Your order is on the way. 

[house*of*paws]

Hi @shar1gre 

If you read the message that eBay sends buyers when a seller has created a shipping label ... it says:

Hi ____, your order is being shipped!

That is NOT the same as saying 'Your package has been shipped.'  It is saying that your package is in the process of being shipped.

That's the best that eBay can do ... as eBay has no way of knowing when the package is actually brought to the shipper.  USPS often doesn't scan labels as 'Accepted' when dropped off at the post office ... so eBay can only notify buyers when a label's been created or the seller marks the order as 'shipped'.

Sellers are not likely to wait days to ship packages, since a label is good only for the 24 hours of the date on the label.  Many postal workers won't accept packages with late dates ... so sellers don't typically take the chance of getting a package returned to them by mailing late.

[chapeau-noir]

eBay can change the language with an 'in transit' step after the 'shipped' step, the 'in transit' being activated when the acceptance scan is generated. Might help clarify things.  Another site where I sell just did that.

[oneblindcat]

I just picked up an item from the Post Office that never got past the "Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item" stage. Apparently it never got scanned at all, not even when placed in my PO Box.

Not the first time it's happened.

[sepenn]

Got article since "Item Shipped" is definitely getting out of hand and seems to be getting more commonplace by the day.

[fab_finds4u]

The PO will accept a label a couple of  days past the shipling date on the label but not more than that. You're actually supposed to mail it on the shipping date on the label.

The seller with 5 days handling, for example can create a label as soon as you pay and select the shipping date on the label 5 days away. Although the label is made in advance it doesn't mean it shipped. It's begun.

[kh-gary]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.