topic Re: invalid tracking number AU post in Buying

invalid tracking number AU post

ytwo000 — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:09:00 GMT

I bought 5 times from the same seller in a period of 3 months and every time i check the tracking number they supply ( AU post site) it comes up as invalid. Even after delivery the number is still invalid.

Items are small and are posted inside an ordinary envelope with a 70 cent stamp and placed in my mail box without signing for or anything.

My question is, is this seller making up a tracking number just to be safe with ebay incase a sale goes bad ?

Anyone know whats going on ?

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

digupatin — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:20:10 GMT

@ytwo000 wrote:

My question is, is this seller making up a tracking number just to be safe with ebay incase a sale goes bad ?

Certainly looks that way.

An ordinary envelope, only a 70c stamp on it, not signed for, invalid number.

It won't protect the seller if the sale goes pear shaped. As long as the seller isn't charging you tracking, personally I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

ytwo000 — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:30:42 GMT

@digupatin wrote:

Certainly looks that way.

An ordinary envelope, only a 70c stamp on it, not signed for, invalid number.

It won't protect the seller if the sale goes pear shaped. As long as the seller isn't charging you tracking, personally I wouldn't worry about it too much.

They charge $2.50 even though they use a 70 cent stamp but i dont mind paying the $2.50 at all cause the items are cheap anyway. I dont know if they are charging me for tracking.

I'll keep buying from this seller but was curious to why tracking numbers are all invalid.

Thanks for the response digupatin

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

chameleon54 — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 23:05:08 GMT

At $2.50 your seller would not cover any tracking costs. My guess is, they are making up a tracking number to try to discourage unscrupulous buyers who make a practice of claiming they have not recieved their item and just claim their money back from paypal. This form of "online shoplifting" has become a serious problem particularly for sellers of cheap bulk items since ebay introduced its money back gaurantee some time ago. The false tracking wont protect the seller in case of a claim, but can act as a detterent to the shoplifters.

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

chameleon54 — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 23:49:49 GMT

@ytwo000 wrote:
@digupatin wrote:

Certainly looks that way.

An ordinary envelope, only a 70c stamp on it, not signed for, invalid number.

It won't protect the seller if the sale goes pear shaped. As long as the seller isn't charging you tracking, personally I wouldn't worry about it too much.

They charge $2.50 even though they use a 70 cent stamp but i dont mind paying the $2.50 at all cause the items are cheap anyway. I dont know if they are charging me for tracking.
I'll keep buying from this seller but was curious to why tracking numbers are all invalid.
Thanks for the response digupatin

Buyers should note that recent changes announced to ebays tracking number policies could make many sellers of small, low value items unviable. Ebay has introduced a box in the feedback section for buyers to tick yes or no to the question " Did your item arrive by ***** date " ( ebays estimated delivery date ) . If a buyer clicks NO, the sellers account may be impacted and their selling restricted.

The only way around this for sellers is to include tracking ( at an extra cost of around $3.00 ) to every envelope, even the 70 cent ones. This cost will need to be passed onto buyers. Sellers will also have to hand deliver these items over the counter at a post office, and require the AP staff to scan them in on the spot. This will have to be done within the sellers stated handling time. Sellers will no longer be able to just mail the envelopes in a red box after work or on weekends as the items are unlikely to get scanned as sent for several days.

Australia Posts recent announcement that ordinary mail will take several days LONGER to deliver is going to play havoc with sellers ratings for handling times.

All of this is shaping up for the PERFECT STORM that could see the Australian sellers of low value items, currently mailed in envelopes become unviable and leave ebay enmasse. It probably wont worry the big Chinese guys much though.

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

chameleon54 — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 23:54:16 GMT

PS I am already responding to changes by phasing out my cheaper items, priced under $15. I am the only supplier in Australia of some of these items so its already happening in my stores .

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

collect247 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:04:05 GMT

A letter can't be tracked unless it's sent registered postage,and they are a very sneaky seller IMO

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

mbselections00 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:25:02 GMT

No intention of being picky charmeleon, your points are spot on, but just for anyone reading this thread and considering using Registered Post, the individually purchased labels are actually $3.70 (a little less if bought in bulk box of 50) to which you still have to add the applicable post - which I would think in most cases would at least be $1.40 for Large Letter (and who knows what it will be in the future with the AP changes - they aren't saying anything about Large Letters - even my LPO owner/Manager doesn't know !)

Getting back to the topic though, I had noticed the Chinese have been adding false Tracking Numbers for months now, mainly on smaller orders - when the package arrives, it clearly states on the package UNTRACKED however, a Tracking Number has been uploaded (that said, there are many who do use valid tracking). I have no problem with most Chinese Sellers, but can only assume this nonsense was introduced there earlier & they have found a way to get around it If I've noticed, others have too I'm sure and have adopted the same principal - my concern is, the Chinese seem to be able to get away with just about anything - whereas we can't

Just my opinion for what it's worth (or not worth !) . . . . . . . . . . .

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

mbselections00 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:38:53 GMT

@collect247 wrote:
A letter can't be tracked unless it's sent registered postage,and they are a very sneaky seller IMO

Personally, there's no way I could charge $2.50 for postage and stick a 70c stamp on a standard envelope and then sleep at night, but hey, that's just me. Hahaha, I charge $1.80 for a padded envelope and feel bad ! But the postage costs $1.40, greedy bay get their 18 odd cents & the envelope costs say 15 cents and I allow 7 cents to cover printing & labels - but for for the small items I sell, it seems disproportionate.

I am sure I could try posting some of my items for 70cents in a standard envelope, but as they are not documents, that would be dishonest, not to mention they not make it through the system and the end result would be an unhappy customer. Plus with my items it just wouldn't look professional (important to me, but maybe not to others or some buyers).

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

bigbrickshop — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:54:37 GMT

mb, the rates for large letters (not priority mail) are included in the latest price increase submission to the ACCC and they are based on the same as now, 2x, 3x and 5x the standard stamp price.

Aus Post isn't announcing the priority rates for letters or large letters until they receive approval for the increase.

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

mbselections00 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 01:29:40 GMT

Thanks so much bbs, I was only aware there was a submission to increase the Large Letter up to 125g and beyond that, no-one seemed to know. Oh dear, very stormy days ahead for many of us who sell low value items I think - and so many hours needed to go exploring and setting up camp elsewhere Perhaps I am too optimistic, but we may be jumping the gun & it may not turn out to be as bad as we are all imagining.

That said though, I have always had 1 day handling time & I do post same or next day over the counter only (no red boxes - too many lost articles using them) & touch wood, despite the outrageous ebay guesstimates, have never had a neg or less than 5 stars for postage time - well to be honest I did once - to Russia, but as it was delivered within ebay's 26 day estimate (by 1 day !) they removed it, plus I had message evidence that I had been tracking the item & advising the customer every couple of days after they opened an INR. Must admit I was very lucky because it arrived the day the case was due to close - otherwise I guess he would have been automatically refunded - great system . . . . . .

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

chameleon54 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 01:59:37 GMT

The recent tracking number changes anouncement seems to be part of a wider push to eventually see all ebay items sent with tracking. This will not only affect domestic sellers of cheap items, but will decimate sellers who regularly trade with international clients.

At the moment I can send items overseas in an envelope weighing up to 250 gm. for around $8.00. With tracking this will increase to around $22.00. OS sales make up around 30% of my business, but this will slow to a crawl if items are required to be sent with tracking. With the postal services both in Australia and overseas being unreliable with regards to postage times, I may not be able to continue to sell OS.

Add to this having to manually edit 2000 listings to change postage cost settings ( weights of items vary and require different post costs ) and it is shaping up to be a major headache.

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

mbselections00 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 02:32:37 GMT

I am just a small seller & sell a lot of small items, and I do also sell overseas - not a lot, lol probably because I only show Registered post for overseas ! I do get the occasional messages asking if I would consider sending unregistered as it is soooo costly & I go by 'gut' instinct from the tone of the message (have refused a couple ), and have never had a problem with the ones I've sent unregistered, perhaps if it comes to the crunch you could try listing as Registered & 'hope' buyers message you ? Not ideal I know, but perhaps better than the alternatives.

I have also been slowly phasing out the very small items, but have blamed the almost non-existent sales as a consequence of doing so, it seems no matter what one tries to do lately it's a no win for us little guys

Re: invalid tracking number AU post

beautbots01 — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 05:59:23 GMT

Wow, have you checked out the proposed increase to prepaid envelopes. I use these a lot so will be stocking up if these go ahead.