eBay standard envelope not working

[trendytreasures-57]

Hi, so I shipped an item in an eBay standard envelope last Thursday (whenever I mailed it). I put it in the bin with some other packages. Now my other packages were scanned and on their way. But the envelope shows no tracking updates or nothing; now over a week later. I tried contacting the buyer to see if they got it yet, twice, and I have not seemed to get an answer. How should I handle this? 
Definitely will not be sending anything through envelopes after this. 

[bdmh-enterprises]

ESE is letter mail. You can't put it in with packages. They need to go in a mailbox or PO letter slot. While someone may find it and get it back in with the letters it's likely lost among the packages.

You should read the ESE help page, they are very different from packages..

[trendytreasures-57]

So what am I supposed to do now? 

[12345jamesstamps]

Never contact buyer.

It probably didn't get scanned and was delivered.

And sometimes it takes days before a scanned as 'delivered shows up.

An honest buyer will do nothing if it didn't get a scan...but a dishonest buyer...there's no telling what might happen.

[buyselljack2016]

What did you sell that qualified for ESE shipping?

Different account?

[worldcoinauctions]

I would be patient and wait. If you get a not received case you may end up having to refund. At least you won't be out much since the item can't be over $20! If you get any scan at all and have to refund, ebay will make you whole, there is a form to fill out, and last time I used it the payment had to go directly to my paypal.... but it is there. 

I've noticed delays in tracking posting so it may yet show up.

[folioliis_thrift]

I wouldn’t worry too much about it! 🙂 ESE isn’t tracked the same way your typical packages are tracked. USPS can’t manually scan the envelopes. As I understand it, only tracking updates ESE items will get are from when they get processed through the sorting machinery. Others might be able to explain the process in more detail, but that’s how it’s been explained to me. 

 
I ship a lot of cheap cards via ESE, and have had some items get multiple tracking updates as well as a ‘delivered’ scan, while others don’t get a single scan the entire time. But (knock on wood lol) I haven’t had a single complaint or INR case yet, and some buyers have even left me positive feedback (which, to me, confirms they got the item).
 
I also personally would agree with the other comments on here that say you maybe shouldn’t contact the buyer and ask if an item was received. You might be a good person trying to do the right thing (and most buyers are too, at least in my experience!) but not everyone is. Someone might take advantage of the situation and say they never got their item even if they did, so they can get a refund and keep the item by claiming it was lost in post. Hopefully your buyer will just see this as you being a good seller who’s open to communication if any issues do happen to arise!

[trendytreasures-57]

It was Nintendo switch finger grips that qualified. 

[1786davycrockett]

@trendytreasures-57 

"It was Nintendo switch finger grips that qualified."

Except that Nintendo switch finger grips do NOT qualify for using the ESE.

Here is the current list of items which qualify for using the ESE --

Eligible categories

As of Nov 2023, four additional categories are now eligible to use eBay standard envelope, expanding the service to eight categories. See the full list of category paths.

• Patches
• Stickers & Decals
• Greeting Cards
• Seeds
• Trading Cards
• Coins & Currency
• Postcards
• Stamps

[trendytreasures-57]

Whenever I listed the item, it was eligible because it was small and the category let it. If I put a different category it wouldn’t allow ESE obviously. 

[1786davycrockett]

@trendytreasures-57 

"Whenever I listed the item, it was eligible because it was small and the category let it. If I put a different category it wouldn’t allow ESE obviously."

Nintendo switch finger grips have NEVER been eligible for use with the ESE in ALL the years since the ESE was created.

You can't just use the ESE because the item which you are sending is "small" -- that is not allowed under ESE regulations.

You also can not use the ESE for your "BRAND NEW! - WXIBEN UVDTF Flower Waterproof Cup Wrap Different Kind of Designs!" -- those items are also not allowed for use with the ESE!

If your items runs afoul of the USPS sorting machines, your items will be returned to you marked "Insufficient Postage" -- or (worse yet!) they will be delivered to your buyers marked "Postage Due."

Better read the instructions for using the ESE again -- the list of eligible categories is more stringent than you are apparently aware.

[wastingtime101]

---

@trendytreasures-57 wrote:

It was Nintendo switch finger grips that qualified. 

---

Here's the thing @trendytreasures-57 . The category itself is on the ESE list because people list stickers in that category.

But the finger grips do not qualify. Physically they do not meet the requirements.

In addition, you sold those with buyer paid $5 for Ground Adv shipping, so you cannot downgrade to eBay Standard Envelope service. You should be refunding the buyer the difference of about $4 for your error. If the buyer files a non-receipt claim you'll have to refund in full.

Your envelope won't get scans because it should have been shipped with package service.

Note below requirements such as uniform thickness, not too rigid and more.

[trendytreasures-57]

They paid for ESE. I took off ESE of that listing cause of this. 

[1786davycrockett]

@trendytreasures-57 

But you still have ESE listed as the shipping method for your "BRAND NEW! - WXIBEN UVDTF Flower Waterproof Cup Wrap Different Kind of Designs!"

Once again - this is NOT allowed for shipment under ESE.

[7catsprinting]

The problem with these "community forums" is everyone wants to reply when they have no idea what is going on.

We can confirm for at least a week now none of our ESU's are getting scans anywhere along the route.

We do not know what is going on, but it is not working.

In the past one out of 10 doesnt work but now it is just not working.