hi! I sold an item on VC, shipping from US. when I try to track the fedex label they provided me, it says This tracking number cannot be found, please check the number or contact the sender.
usually when I track their labels, I can see the address, the shipping time etc even before I ship. this time it looks like they didn't activate it and that it doesn't exist in Fedex system at all. I contacted VC, and they provided me the new one, which also cannot be tracked.
so my question is - can you please check your fedex tracking numbers of the items you haven't shipped yet? does it show that the tracking number cannot be found too? or does it show some basic info like the address and delivery time?
maybe it's just something new and now the tracking only shows information after it's scanned.
I am just scared that when I ship it, the package will be gone and fedex.com will not show it as sent.
I contacted
VC, and they provided me the new one, which also cannot be tracked. I don't think Fedex can do anything at this point till they see any movement. Maybe I'm just overreacting and it's gonna be ok when Fedex carrier comes to pick the package and scans it.
the problem is that when I used to sell something before and tracked provided label, it said that the label created, it showed the sender's and recipient's address and planned delivery day even BEFORE I shipped. when I track the label they provided me now, it shows that the number cannot be found. I can't even order free return pick-up I guess as I don't have any evidence that it is a return label generated by receiver.
I tried to explain them really hard on the phone, but they didn't understand what I say, what's the problem, and what's wrong with the label. they just shipped another one that's number also cannot be found.
I don’t use FedEx so I don’t know about them, but how it registers in the system just varies a lot between couriers.
Using VC’s labels from the UK, tracking information doesn’t start on Parcel Force labels with their tracking numbers until Parcel Force come to pick up the package from the Post Office where you drop it - which can be up to a couple of days if it’s at the weekend. So it’s normal there to get a “Package not found” message or similar at that point, until they pick up, unless you’ve gone to a main Post Office where they seem to pass things straight out to Parcel Force. You get a Post Office receipt when you hand it over but no tracking yet.
When VC sends a DHL label, I don’t have one right now, but I think from memory it doesn’t show up until I use the waybill number to book the collection in with DHL either over the phone or online, or take it to a DHL drop off point, at which point it will say “Shipment information received”, then “Shipment picked up” once the driver takes and scans it. Before booking the collection or dropping off, if I remember correctly, you’ll get something like “Your tracking query returned no results” on the tracking/waybill number until that point. It’s a different thing to the problem Gabs was having with the DHL system sometimes not taking the waybill number, that was a collection booking issue, not a tracking issue, I think?
this year VC lost my packages twice during one month, so I totally get why you're nervous. First problem was with Fedex - their carrier took the package and didn't scan it. my sister gave the package as I was out, so I couldn't control it. it never appeared and was never delivered

that was $1300 Valentino bag. I never found it and Fedex refused to assist cause I didn't have any proofs of shipment, and that carrier never appeared again. Second time it was a pair of $500 shoes that I shipped it by myself using USPS as it was right after the first loss and I was scared to use Fedex. VC allows to use your own labels. so it was scanned, and it was delivered, but VC said they never received it though tracking said they did. they refused to compensate as it was my own label.
Oh, what a disaster. I’m really sorry you lost out so badly with those two parcels. I think the difficulty with it is that in neither case is it possible to be definitive that it was VC that lost the parcel?
They should and do take responsibility if one disappeared on their label, but they’d say it’s the sender’s responsibility first to ensure they get a proof of shipping, or there’s no evidence it did disappear after shipping and they can’t claim on their insurance. I now always make sure I see the item scanned at collection, I (nicely) won’t let the courier go till they’ve scanned it in front of me or given me/signed a receipt. If it’s a Parcel Force label, I don’t like the time lag at the Post Office before Parcel Force picks up from there and the tracking begins, but at least I get a basic Post Office receipt. All very frustrating though. I would think that with a good, regular customer/seller they ought to use a little discretion and trust you and make a goodwill gesture, but I don’t suppose they are obliged to, and we just don’t know how many people they get trying it on. (ETA: Which I am absolutely in no way implying that you were!!)
The second instance shows the unfortunate worst case scenario with not using their label. I can understand not trusting FedEx (I do not trust UPS an inch), and I’ve sometimes thought of using/been tempted to use my own more trusted method for making returns to online retailers, but the minute you don’t use the label VC supplies, they’re no longer responsible, it’s not on their insurance. So get VC’s label, get proof of collection or dropping off, then it’s their responsibility if the item gets lost and you’ll still get paid. That signature sadly in reality doesn’t prove it was delivered there - and I agree it
should mean that - but if it had been on their label, they’d have had to take responsibility for it and chase it up with their shipping insurance. You got caught in between USPS and VC, and using your own label absolves VC of the responsibility, unfortunately. Every company that takes returns always stipulates that if you don’t use their label, it’s your responsibility, so I’d never risk it. Those labels they send have all the item references necessary for the next stage in the process on them, and I imagine their warehouse is pretty massive and busy, so anything that arrives outside the system is more at risk of getting lost. I’m not sure that VC could be held legally responsible even if a rogue employee signed and took the parcel; that would be an individual criminal thing rather than VC’s responsibility, I would think? Whether the employee could be considered representative of them when committing a criminal act (only conjecture such a thing could have happened)? Or at the very least a grey area. I’ve actually had UPS claim on more than one occasion they have my signature when they’ve just left a parcel on my doorstep when I wasn’t even in. They just did a squiggle. Someone could just as easily have signed and taken the parcel away, so it could be the courier who did it, or the courier left it impatiently (like UPS round here), left it outside a door, someone else took it. It happens. You’d think it wouldn’t be worth them risking their job, but who knows. The advantage of using the label supplied is that it’s their responsibility after that, so long as you have your proof of shipping.
You’ve had a couple of really unfortunate experiences there but I think it’s the exception rather than the rule. I’ve sent dozens and dozens of items to VC now using their labels, and never has a single one gone missing. A small order of mine went missing in the French postal system once on the way from the seller, and they promptly contacted me and refunded.