eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

[BeenBurned]

I bought a bag on ebay and tracking shows it is stuck in pre-shipment stage since 1/18. I contacted the seller and she said she also sent another package at the same time to another buyer and theirs finally tracked yesterday to the next facility.

She said she contacted the post office and has not heard back from them yet. Has anyone had anything stuck in pre-shipment phase and then lost?

I wouldn't worry yet. I've only had one package fail to be scanned at all in the years I've been selling. I have had one recently that was never scanned upon delivery. I have had several that never got scanned until delivered, but that hasn't happened lately. I believe that most post office locations are better about scanning at different stages. The label may have been damaged, making scanning difficult.

I shipped some things out Friday or Saturday and they didn't move at all over the long weekend. I expected them to be delivered on Tuesday since they had all that time to get to their location but they didn't.

The holidays are the worst but it also happens at other times.

In fact (as a seller), I had 5 "late shipment" dings removed from my own account because items weren't scanned until delivered so I got dings for not shipping in time. When the CS person saw delivery, she knew items were shipped in a timely manner since they got there either before or by the expected delivery date.

My guess is that you'll receive your package too.

 

[MKB0925]

I wouldn't worry yet. I've only had one package fail to be scanned at all in the years I've been selling. I have had one recently that was never scanned upon delivery. I have had several that never got scanned until delivered, but that hasn't happened lately. I believe that most post office locations are better about scanning at different stages. The label may have been damaged, making scanning difficult.

I shipped some things out Friday or Saturday and they didn't move at all over the long weekend. I expected them to be delivered on Tuesday since they had all that time to get to their location but they didn't.

The holidays are the worst but it also happens at other times.

In fact (as a seller), I had 5 "late shipment" dings removed from my own account because items weren't scanned until delivered so I got dings for not shipping in time. When the CS person saw delivery, she knew items were shipped in a timely manner since they got there either before or by the expected delivery date.

My guess is that you'll receive your package too.

Thanks so much for all your replies! I have never had this experience before so I guess we will wait and see...

 

[whateve]

Not a question but an observation. For the first time ever, I had a seller send me a copy of their post office receipt showing the postage they bought for my package. I wonder if they had some trouble with a buyer that would prompt them to do this. Maybe they want me to see how much they paid for shipping so I won't complain about the cost. They also uploaded tracking so it really wasn't necessary.

Also, did you see the new USPS rates? First class is no longer flat rate!

 

[BeenBurned]

Also, did you see the new USPS rates? First class is no longer flat rate!

Off to look!

ETA: OMG!

 

[Catbird9]

Not a question but an observation. For the first time ever, I had a seller send me a copy of their post office receipt showing the postage they bought for my package. I wonder if they had some trouble with a buyer that would prompt them to do this. Maybe they want me to see how much they paid for shipping so I won't complain about the cost. They also uploaded tracking so it really wasn't necessary.

Also, did you see the new USPS rates? First class is no longer flat rate!

Yes, I saw that, first class parcel rates (under 1 lb) are now "zone dependent."
Do you know if eBay has published their new discounted rate schedules yet? The shipping calculator is still using the old rates.

ETA: you can download the 2019 USPS rate schedule here:
https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January 2019 - Notice123.pdf

 

[whateve]

Yes, I saw that, first class parcel rates (under 1 lb) are now "zone dependent."
Do you know if eBay has published their new discounted rate schedules yet? The shipping calculator is still using the old rates.

It probably won't change until the rates actually change. If you go to the USPS website and look at commercial pricing, I think those are the same rates that you'll get through ebay.

 

[Cookiefiend]

Thank you so much for both clearing it up and for stating pretty much what I thought but couldn't figure out how to express in a good way.

Could I ask for a bit of advice?
The scarf still hasn't been delivered. The seller used Colissimo International, and currently ebay says "Votre colis est arriv� sur son site de distribution" as of January 19th and that the scarf is still in transit. The seller contacted me to ask if I had received the scarf, I replied that I had not. I have tried to get information from the La Poste tracking site, but can't get any information. I asked the seller if she could see anything, last night she sent a message saying that it was on the way back to her and that CI had tried to deliver it but no one was there.
What? My mother in law has been stuck at the house since the 18th due to the weather... she hasn't gone anywhere!
The seller says that since it's on the way back to her, that when she receives it she will see what I want to do.
Ebay says it's still in transit.
I have told the seller in response that Ebay says it is still in transit and that I will wait until the last delivery day they show (Feb 4th) and go from there.
I don't know what to think, so I thank you for any suggestions and for listening!

 

[Cookiefiend]

Could I ask for a bit of advice?
The scarf still hasn't been delivered. The seller used Colissimo International, and currently ebay says "Votre colis est arriv� sur son site de distribution" as of January 19th and that the scarf is still in transit. The seller contacted me to ask if I had received the scarf, I replied that I had not. I have tried to get information from the La Poste tracking site, but can't get any information. I asked the seller if she could see anything, last night she sent a message saying that it was on the way back to her and that CI had tried to deliver it but no one was there.
What? My mother in law has been stuck at the house since the 18th due to the weather... she hasn't gone anywhere!
The seller says that since it's on the way back to her, that when she receives it she will see what I want to do.
Ebay says it's still in transit.
I have told the seller in response that Ebay says it is still in transit and that I will wait until the last delivery day they show (Feb 4th) and go from there.
I don't know what to think, so I thank you for any suggestions and for listening!

HA! My mother in law just texted me and said it was delivered!

 

[whateve]

Could I ask for a bit of advice?
The scarf still hasn't been delivered. The seller used Colissimo International, and currently ebay says "Votre colis est arriv� sur son site de distribution" as of January 19th and that the scarf is still in transit. The seller contacted me to ask if I had received the scarf, I replied that I had not. I have tried to get information from the La Poste tracking site, but can't get any information. I asked the seller if she could see anything, last night she sent a message saying that it was on the way back to her and that CI had tried to deliver it but no one was there.
What? My mother in law has been stuck at the house since the 18th due to the weather... she hasn't gone anywhere!
The seller says that since it's on the way back to her, that when she receives it she will see what I want to do.
Ebay says it's still in transit.
I have told the seller in response that Ebay says it is still in transit and that I will wait until the last delivery day they show (Feb 4th) and go from there.
I don't know what to think, so I thank you for any suggestions and for listening!

HA! My mother in law just texted me and said it was delivered!

That's great news! I had an item I sent show that it was being returned to sender when in fact it actually wasn't. The buyer received it the next day.

 

[noshoepolish]

Not a question but an observation. For the first time ever, I had a seller send me a copy of their post office receipt showing the postage they bought for my package. I wonder if they had some trouble with a buyer that would prompt them to do this. Maybe they want me to see how much they paid for shipping so I won't complain about the cost. They also uploaded tracking so it really wasn't necessary.

Also, did you see the new USPS rates? First class is no longer flat rate!

I just raised the prices on my free First Class shipping items $1 to cover zoned shipping.

That seller probably got dinged by someone. She probably lives on a coast.

 

[BeenBurned]

I just raised the prices on my free First Class shipping items $1 to cover zoned shipping.

That seller probably got dinged by someone. She probably lives on a coast.

The rates don't change until the 27th.

 

[whateve]

The rates don't change until the 27th.

Which is tomorrow. If you make a sale today, you won't be able to ship until Monday, most likely, so the new rates will be in effect.

 

[Catbird9]

Which is tomorrow. If you make a sale today, you won't be able to ship until Monday, most likely, so the new rates will be in effect.

If you bought your postage label before midnight tonight (old rates), but didn't take it to the post office until Monday (new rates)...then what???

 

[whateve]

If you bought your postage label before midnight tonight (old rates), but didn't take it to the post office until Monday (new rates)...then what???

When you buy your postage on ebay or paypal, there is a box that asks what day you are planning on mailing, so you shouldn't make that mistake. I wonder if they will let them slip through in the first few days.

 

[BeenBurned]

If you bought your postage label before midnight tonight (old rates), but didn't take it to the post office until Monday (new rates)...then what???

When you buy your postage on ebay or paypal, there is a box that asks what day you are planning on mailing, so you shouldn't make that mistake. I wonder if they will let them slip through in the first few days.

I believe there's a grace period.