Item marked as sent, but it hasn't been.

[monkeyinabag]

I stopped buying so much on eBay a couple of years ago because of this, and it still seems to be an issue.

I have bought an item on the weekend, and it was immediately marked as sent, tracking number was provided, but the item wasn't posted, just stuck at "Tracking Number Provided"

When I shop on eBay, I often select local stock, because I don't want to wait an extra month or so for items to arrive from China, but it seems that sellers get around this by claiming it is local stock, then generating a tracking number, then waiting for the item to arrive from O/S before fulfilling it.

There is a premium paid for AU stock due to the quicker shipping, so this is a scam. 

eBay are no help, even removing negative feedback when this happens.

Do I at least have the option to block a seller that does this from my search results? So I can at least not get scammed by the same seller twice?

Is there anything else I can do? Do I just have to accept this as a part of doing business here? Cause it absolutely sucks, especially when it's kids presents before Christmas.

[gutterpunkz05]

Tracking details changed a couple of years ago, to distinguish between a label being generated and the actual lodgement with carrier.

[twyngwyn]

and Search will be refined: Get Ready for eBay Search Refinements in 2024 (ecommercebytes.com)

....but I've heard this a thousand times....maybe this is where they NEED to use AI??

[twyngwyn]

hey gutter, I have NEVER generated a label, but as soon as I upload tracking, item disappears, and is marked as 'SENT'.....it should be a simple fix, LOL....wave that magic wand 

[davewil1964]

What is the EDD? THAT will tell you whether or not the item is in Australia.

[twyngwyn]

I have received items quicker from o'seas than here, sadly......especially when not using A.P. (sad but true)

[gutterpunkz05]

Hi twyn,  I dont use ebay labels, but as soon as i generate a label via AP it is uploaded to ebay with the tracking number.   As soon as you click the tracking number,  it tells you when the label details were  supplied  and then will show item lodged with carrier or similar when it is actually lodged.  It was introduced a few years ago, as at that time as soon as a label was generated tracking would show as sent.

Note generating a label is not considered a valid tracking event, so sellers have no protection until the item is physically shipped.

[twyngwyn]

so....it's an all round stuff up?? It doesn't matter what we (sellers) do??

[springyzone]

Some simple fixes

1. Try not to buy from sellers registered in China, even if their stock is listed as in Aust. Why give overseas sellers the business unless you really have to?

2. Check the estimated arrival date of whatever you want to buy. If it is more than 7-10 days away and you are living in a metro area, there is something fishy going on.

3. If the estimated arrival date is reasonably close so you buy, but then the date passes and you have not received the item, go straight into an ebay claim for item not received and don't close it till you have a refund. There is no need to wait and wait for a month or so. You really don't have to worry too much about tracking numbers or when the item was actually lodged at a PO (although those details do show in tracking). The estimated delivery dates are what you hold the seller to.