topic Re: what information does the code <postage status> show in Selling

what information does the code show

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:42:04 GMT

Hi, Im trying to edit my automatic messages so when I enter the tracking number and carrier it fills it in automatically saving me manually emailing customers.

I normally message the customer when their item has been shipped and provide the tracking number manually.

I see there is a section "Manage communications with buyers" and there i can select to personalise "Order is updated with postage information" section.

When i add information and "preview" what it will look like it doesnt show me.

I just need to know the what information the code <postage status> will show.

I can't see in the drop down side menu, when scrolling through, which code to use that will just show the tracking number.

Re: what information does the code show

harley_babes_hoard — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:57:13 GMT

The preview only shows you how it will look basically (position) it will not show you the information you are writing in there nor will it show the item number, name or postage status. Just type your message and make sure it's correct. The rest you have to leave in the hands of ebay to fill once the sale happens.

The information you select will be what's on the message. If you can't see the scroll menu to select that then perhaps change browsers, I'm using firefox and it's showing fine.

Re: what information does the code show

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:01:36 GMT

Thanks for reply.

I need to know what information the codes to the side, actually fill in for you. It gives you a long list of things you can add to the message, but not a description of what will actually be shown.

Some are obvious - Like {B_LASTNAME} is the buyers last name etc,

But what {code here} do i need to add to the personalised message so it shows the tracking number that you have already updated their purchase with?

Whats the point of a "Preiview" screen .... if it dosent show you a preview of how the information you have entered will look when sent to someone else?

Re: what information does the code show

harley_babes_hoard — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:40:06 GMT

you don't need to add any codes or names etc. This information is filled by ebay. The preview is showing you the layout only.

Re: what information does the code show

thecatspjs — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:46:13 GMT

The standard message on post status includes the following.

Order updates

Recent updates to your order

Your item is marked as posted.

Re: what information does the code show

thecatspjs — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:48:08 GMT

There is another type that can be sent - not sure how to do it though it appears in email headed POSTED: WHATEVER THE PURCHASE WAS :

Posted To:

xxADDRESSxxxxxx

Estimated Delivery: 1-6 business days

Tracking: 6000696790009

Re: what information does the code show

harley_babes_hoard — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:49:41 GMT

As it says once you add the tracking number or mark the item as posted the buyer will receive the message with all the appropriate details included.

Re: what information does the code show

thecatspjs — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 23:02:31 GMT

There are at least two different types of ebay emails sent re post status information though - some with tracking details, others just the standard text without tracking details, even though tracking may have been uploaded by seller.

Sorry OP, I can only confirm that there are different types of emails that are generated and received - but agree the codes provided when tailoring your communiction provide no detail of exactly what will show.

Re: what information does the code show

bigbrickshop — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 23:14:59 GMT

We have a personal message in the auto Order Update but only use the B_FIRSTNAME field.

When you upload the tracking number it will mark it as posted and trigger an auto message to your buyer with a clickable link to their Order details page in eBay.

I don't think I've ever had an update message with the tracking status included in the personal message section. I did receive an auto Confirmation message a couple of weeks ago that included links to subscribe to the seller's newsletter, a link to their store and a link to their facebook page.

Re: what information does the code show

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 23:21:02 GMT

I know it can send it out automatically with all the relevent details - But I've always liked the personal touch of contacting the customer with your own messages.

All i wanted was to know was the {code} to use which automatically enters the tracking number.

I use a Courier that is not listed in the drop down menu when you enter the tracking number, even though i enter it in for the customer to see. There has been confusion in the past with some customers because of the name of the couriers i use.

Doing a personal message helps to explain where to go to obtain tracking information on the couriers website.

I use a standard message and just alter with their tracking number. But instead of bombarding buyers with automatic messages and my own, i saw a way to add the personal touch to the automatic message eBay sends, i thought that would be better! So, I found how to add the personal message... but just need to know the code that adds the tracking number relevent to their purchase in what i have sent them.

Re: what information does the code show

harley_babes_hoard — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:18:02 GMT

If you add tracking it automatically moves your sold item to posted and message is sent.. If you don't add tracking and mark it as posted same thing it moves your sold listing to posted a message is sent.

Re: what information does the code show

harley_babes_hoard — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:21:05 GMT

you don't need to know that. You add tracking details from your sold folder by clicking on the link under each item that says add tracking. You then add the tracking number and the supplier or courier which you used. Once you do that a message will be sent to the buyer with your personalized message and ebay add the name, item, item number, tracking number etc etc.

Re: what information does the code show

i-love-my-sheep — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:33:24 GMT

I never look at the 'your item has been posted' emails. If I want to check the tracking number I do that in my purchase history. I'm sure I'm not the only one that does that.

Re: what information does the code show

digital*ghost — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:57:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I just need to know the what information the code <postage status> will show.

As far as I know, it includes the tracking number if one was uploaded in order to trigger the item(s) being marked as posted. Some of mine also have a button in the email header to track the package without even opening the email, though that may depend on the carrier used and/or email system.

The following is a list of all codes and what information they display (that I know of) - my apologies for the redundancy in many of them, as quite a few are self-explanatory, as you know. 😄

{BUYERUSERNAME} Buyer User ID
{B_FULLNAME} Buyer name
{B_FIRSTNAME} Buyer first name
{B_LASTNAME} Buyer last name
{B_COUNTRY} Buyer country
{ITEM#} Item number
{QUANTITY} Qunatity
{FAVORITESLIST} Favourites list
{FEEDBACKLINK} Feedback link
{CLOSINGDATETIME} Closing date / time
{CLOSING$} Closing price
{TOTAL$} Total price
{S&H} P&H cost
{INSURANCE} Insurance cost
{TAX} Tax
{TAX_STATE} Tax state
{S_PAYMENT} Payment accepted
{PAYMENTINSTRUCTIONS} Payment instructions
{SELLERUSERNAME} Seller user name
{S_FIRSTNAME} Seller first name
{S_LASTNAME} Seller last name
{S_STREET1} Seller street 1 (i.e. first line of address)
{S_STREET2} Seller street 2
{S_CITY} Seller city
{S_STATE} Seller state
{S_ZIPCODE} Seller postcode
{S_COUNTRY} Seller country
{S_EMAIL} Seller email
{S_PHONE} Seller phone
{SALESRECORDNUMBER} Sales record number
{SHIPPEDDATE} Date posted
{PAYNOWLINK} Checkout link
{SHIPPING_OPTIONS} Postage options
{BUYER_NOTE} Notes to buyer
{OTHER_FEES} Discounts or charges
{REFUND_AMOUNT} Refund amount
{VARIATION} Variation details (i.e. the option(s) a buyer selected from a variation listing)

Re: what information does the code show

thecatspjs — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:10:42 GMT

Both parcels that I provided details for had tracking uploaded by seller.

I got two different ebay emails - one with tracking details with a different subject line

The other (the regular spam re being marked as sent) without tracking details.

So I am not convinced it is entering tracking details that actually triggers the more detailed tracking advice message content.

Re: what information does the code show

digital*ghost — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:28:52 GMT

But how would you know the seller's order of operations, so to speak...? i.e. Unless there is some kind of specific indicator, you wouldn't know whether the seller marked as sent then added a tracking number, or added a tracking number to automatically mark an item as sent.

Re: what information does the code show

thecatspjs — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:21:18 GMT

I suppose I have based it on an assumption that due the process of click and send or ebay labels - they can only be processed when goods are marked unsent, and the system marks it as it as sent. This doesn't account for post I have received processed in other ways though.

I will watch out for the next batch of marked as sent advice emails and retain them to check for clues as to the type of parcel actually being sent.

I think the tracking number one is a quite a good development - but would like to know what triggers it.

Re: what information does the code show

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 22:43:16 GMT

Thanks digital*ghost, that list is very handy to know.

Reading all the comments, sorry to be whiney if it comes across this way but.... I know that entering a tracking number will prompt a message automatically to eBay Buyer with the updated information.

But as I said, all I wanted to know was the code so I can "Add" that personal touch. As others have said in this subject -Most of the time, I don't pay much attention to the emails from Ebay, I take more notice of a personalised message from a seller though and I like the personal touch, it makes me feel like I am a valuable customer and want others to feel the same when I sell items to them.

As there dosent seem to be a specific code with just the tracking number/information that i can add - I will just adapt the personal message with all the clear details about the couriers we use. Like i said - It's not a company known by eBay, I've also contacted eBay to see if the company can be added and they are "reviewing" but unlikely to add as their list of couriers is extensive as it is!

Would be handy to be able to mess about with the codes in a trial preview where you see what every code says or looks like. The preview available as mentioned before - dosent do this. The only way I will fully be able to see what happens when I add a tracking number to a sale is to jump on one of my other eBay users or get a friend to purchase something and see what gets sent and how it reads by the looks of it!

Thanks for everyone that contributed - Didnt realise I woud get so many replies!

Re: what information does the code show

bigbrickshop — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 23:34:18 GMT

Off Topic, but is this new? Have we now got popups on the boards?

Re: what information does the code show

cq_tech — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 23:35:32 GMT

It would appear so, and it only took eBay 18 months to bring them back.