eBay/USPS reusing tracking numbers after only a few weeks!?!

[ohdeercustomdolls]

I shipped out 20 packages today - June 21st - and had a buyer email me saying they just got a notification that their package was delivered on May 28th to an address is a different state. I checked the tracking, and sure enough, they're right. I double checked the labels I printed today and 6 out of the 20 labels have tracking that shows the packages were delivered to various addresses in May of 2025. It appears that tracking numbers are being recycled extremely quickly which is causing concerned buyers.

I hope that tracking eventually updates with the correct information. I'll post updates.

[gator08041971]

That seems strange to me.

I have yet to encounter an issue like this in 20 years on the platform.  Either as a seller or a buyer.

Hopefully its rare or its isolated to certain areas, maybe in relation to USPS high traffic zip codes or something?

[ohdeercustomdolls]

I haven't encountered this issue before either and I've shipped thousands of packages via eBay. To never encounter this and then see it 6 times today is concerning. Hopefully it's a glitch that will be corrected quickly. I've reprinted the labels and the receipt showing payment for the labels to bring to the post office on Monday to see if anyone there can help.

[dy60609]

Not to me, but has been reported here many times.

This happened not so long ago. Past few months.

I think ebay ended up giving some label $ refunds for the USPS error.

[ohdeercustomdolls]

Do you know if the packages still made their way to the buyers?

[dy60609]

do not know

here is a thread where USPS reused the #'s too soon

USPS Issuing Repeated / Recycled Tracking Numbers - The eBay Community

[ohdeercustomdolls]

I've been on the phone with 5 different eBay customer service reps over the last 45 minutes, with no help. The customer service reps keep saying they're going to transfer me to the shipping department, but it isn't working. I've been incorrectly transferred to Trust and Safety once, the Account Security team once, and disconnected 3 times. It's very frustrating. The last customer service rep was also hung up on by the shipping department, so I guess that makes me feel a bit better!

The best they could do was add a note in my account. I expect I'll receive 6 account defects for late shipping, and lose 6 INR cases. It sucks because it's several hundered $ in sales.

[soh.maryl]

Aren't tracking #s issued by the carrier, not eBay?

If so, seems like you'd be on the phone to the USPS or whoever you used to ship your items.  

[ohdeercustomdolls]

It's a glitch specifically between eBay and USPS. It only occurs when buying labels from USPS using eBay's label generation system. It apparently happened last fall, and it's a glitch they're aware of.

New update, if you track the packages through eBay's app or website, the proper tracking info is shown, but if you track via the USPS website, it shows the tracking info for the previous use of the tracking number.

[babyers88]

I had this happen yesterday for the 1st time ever that I can think of, I printed a label but the item still showed it was not shipped, checked everything over and sure enough the tracking showed it was a used tracking number, canceled the label and created a new one. hopefully this does not keep happening.

[glorybells]

The only problem I’ve had with tracking is items not getting scanned like they should.  The issue you’re describing has the potential to cause some very serious problems for sellers.

[rayblaster]

This happened to me today 6/22/25 on 2 different packages.  Tracking shows already delivered in a different state.   I tried canceling the labels, but it won't let me because it states it's been delivered.😠

[cheeznonions]

One of the four USPS labels I printed on Ebay today has tracking that claims the package is already in transit, shipped 2 days ago from a different state. I chatted with Ebay support and they told me to contact the carrier. My Ebay account will not allow me to cancel the label because it thinks the package has already been scanned. Can't call USPS on Sunday either. I think the only solution would be for Ebay to refund the postage for these labels so the sellers can use the funds to print new labels (which hopefully, then, would not have the same error).

[cheeznonions]

I just talked to a different Ebay support rep. Ebay will not refund the postage.  They told me to bring the package to USPS and explain what's going on because they are aware of the issue and will still accept the package. I am reluctant because I'm guessing the tracking will never read as delivered to the correct zip code due to this error. Also, how would the buyer be able to track it? 

[vjquan]

I had this issue this morning. Called Ebay and the customer rep voided the label and my account was refunded right away. As soon as I hung up to create a new label, the same happened with the second label! Each label was used recently too, about two weeks ago, both originating at some Chicago distribution center. Fortunately, when I called back, I got the same rep. She advised to use the label as is, but I refused. She voided that label once again for an immediate refund and ended up purchasing a label outside of Ebay. Maybe I'll just do that from now on.