Pitney Bowes on line tracking..... where? how do I find a link to put what MAY be a tracking number?

[flyology]

Ebay Global Shipping program....... appears to be a big fail for my experience so far. I don't know if the seller had done a number on me, the tranport company or both. I have lodged a dispute with paypal, and now there is an email address for Pitney Bowes (there was not one previously) and what MAY be a tracking number. BUT...... I cannot find anywhere on the Pitney Bowes website to enter the number and see if it is a legitimate tracking number......... I can only find a search field have entered it in that and it comes back with nothing............. eBay was great 10 years ago, it has steadily gone down hill with scammers, (both sellers and buyers) and it appears little is being done about it.

[chuangbuyingthings]

PitneyBowes and the eBay Global Shipping Program (GSP) is a complete rip off, which authorities need to investigate.

I recently purchased a laptop with tracked/signed for postage.  

The seller apparently wasn't even aware he was signed up to the GSP .. he was given a different address to mine.  He was given PitneyBowes Kentucky transhipping address by Paypal/eBay.  

Seller shipped it USPS but to the PitneyBowes/PayPal/eBay address he was given, rather than the address I have registered with eBay/PayPal.  

Computer took two weeks, with days sitting with PitneyBowes, which signed for it as the recipient.  But then held onto it for c.4 days before handing off to FEDEX, which another couple of days later handed it off to Australia Post.

Item received in a broken, damaged and open box.  Turned on.  Four carriers.  Photos taken.

$52 premium charged by PitneyBowes/Paypal/eBay.

The seller wasn't even aware they were signed up to the PitneyBowes/Paypal/eBay GSP.

Sellers apparently have to OPT OUT, and it isn't immediately visible to them that they have been automatically signed up.

Only recourse I had was to complain about the seller (as a buyer, there is no way to lodge a complaint about the GSP.  And if you lodge a complaint, it is taken as being against the buyer but with postage included).  

Gave the seller all the info and requested he lodge a complaint about the GSP as the seller.

Check all eBay purchases from the US, and tell sellers to OPT OUT.  Do NOT buy anything from eBay that uses the GSP.  You are paying a massive premium for a significantly substandard service.

Google “PitneyBowes complaints”.

And try and find some simple way to complain about some aspect of the incestuous PitneyBowes/Paypal/eBay tie-up.  

The only obvious option is complain about the seller.  Not the Service Provider.

Simply disgusting.