A question regarding a purchase from UK to Australia

[buyerjal]

Hello!

I am new to Ebay, so I apologise in advance if this question seems to have a resolution that is clearly obvioua.

For now, I strongly prefer to keep the name/store of the seller anonymous as this person has been terrific with their customer service, friendly, and approachable - not to mention being a long term member with a 100% approval rating for the previous 12 months. 

On 6 September, I ordered an item from the UK based seller. The transaction was finalised to which the seller advised me that they had posted the item. All good.  I did ask the seller for a tracking number/ID as the tracking ID did not show up on the purchase itself in my purchase history. The seller gladly provided me with a Royal Mail ID. Since then, I have used the Tracking App on Royal Mail to get an idea of where the parcel is located. 

According to the App:

06:08 (10 September 2021)

Delivered and Signed

North West Midlands MC

After doing some research, I now realise that it is indeed a Mail Centre.

I have since contacted the seller to ask whether they have an international tracking ID. The seller has told me that they did not realise it was an international parcel and had only sent it as Second Class domestic mail. But, the order itself in my order history states that I have paid for Priority International Shipping. 

Questions:

1) Will my parcel be sent from the mail centre to Australia?

2) Despite being VERY friendly and helpful, how did the seller not realise I was from overseas if they accepted payment? 

3) Where did my seller actually send the parcel, if not Australia? 

[kopenhagen5]

If the seller has used the Global Shipping Program, they send the item to Pitney Bowes in UK which is then forwarded by them to you. The seller won't see your address.

If it has gone with the GSP then there will be one tracking number to PB and a new tracking number allocated when it's onsent to you.

On re-reading post, seller states it was sent via Royal mail so it seems it's still at the distribution centre and because of covid like USA having stopped sending to Aus, UK may have done the same until Australias backlog is cleared.

[buyerjal]

Thank you for your reply. In that case, would i be best to wait until later in the month to see if an international tracking ID is generated given the congestion in the dispatch of parcels from the UK to overseas locations?

[lynsh84]

Yes, be patient. The GSP can be slow at the best of times and it is NOT the best of times now.

[buyerjal]

No problems. A little frustrating that i don't have an international code, but it's fine. It was a cheap purchase so it's not the end of the world. Thanks, everyone. Once again, Rookie buyer here.

[lynsh84]

You cannot be given a new tracking number until the item has been repacked and given to the International Courier. That can take a few days to a few weeks.

[zanadoo_56]

It definitely sounds like a Global Shipping Program centre. 

Keep an eye out for updates from eBay - but be prepared for the possibility of long delays - about the parcel moving on again to Australia. 

You should get a new tracking number and if your parcel has been received by APG (Australia Post Global) you will eventually be able to track it on their website, and then when it is on its way to Australia by Aust Post.

Don't give up on it yet.  I've got a GSP tiny package due from the US and it sat at their mail centre in Erlanger for more than a week before I got any updates.  It still hasn't arrived in Oz but at least APG and Aust Post are tracking it.