Seller said she uploaded a fake tracking number.

[huatao1975]

Hello, I have purchased last week a tablet from apparently a Chinese brand but the seller appears to be their only Australian eBay store.

Yesterday, seller said this item will take another week to get here, and she would upload a fake tracking number for the time being. I understand this is what usually happens when the actual stock is located in China and told her it's fine I can wait. I thought the tracking number would be one of those "holding" tracking numbers which will remain idle for a few weeks until it reaches here then they send it to the post office / courier.

Today I found the tracking number shows movement in the postal system. Obviously that's not my item.

Their feedback are all positive for this year, although often complained about slow postage.

I don't usually purchase items located overseas, this one is an exception. Is it their standard practice to upload fake tracking numbers or should I be concerned?

Thank you.

[brickworksmarket]

There will always be someone flaunting the rules where ever you go.  Buyers that support these sellers are best off shopping with them and those that know an honest seller will continue to do their due diligence before purchasing. 

The only time I communicate with a buyer is when they select local pick up. Never has anyone said anything negative about ebay and most seam very happy to keep using it especially when they are saving money.

[chameleon54]

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@brickworksmarket wrote:

There will always be someone flaunting the rules where ever you go.  Buyers that support these sellers are best off shopping with them and those that know an honest seller will continue to do their due diligence before purchasing. 

The only time I communicate with a buyer is when they select local pick up. Never has anyone said anything negative about ebay and most seam very happy to keep using it especially when they are saving money.

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I regularly have contact with my buyers and there is definitely a greater degree of caution than several years ago. 

As to your comment "most seam very happy to keep using it especially when they are saving money. " 

While those who sell cheaper, readily available items at discount prices ( such as those you have listed ) may not be impacted, the only way to really know wether  "  most seam very happy to keep using it " is to look at ebays reports to the stock exchange where they have to accurately report what is really going on. The most recent third quarter 2023 report includes the following little gem -

eBay users

eBay had 129 million active users in 2023, a 6% decrease on the same date in 2022. Active users have been in decline since 2018.

Active ebay buyer numbers where in decline before COVID and despite the increase in online shopping due to global COVID lockdowns, eBay has seen its active buyer base continue to decline.  Falls in Gross Merchandise Volumes ( stuff actually sold on the site ) have been greater than 6% per annum in recent years. ( 17% fall in GMV in 2022 compared to 2021 ). 

eBays own figures show buyers are definitely not happy and are leaving the site in droves.

[springyzone]

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@chameleon54 wrote:

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eBay users

eBay had 129 million active users in 2023, a 6% decrease on the same date in 2022. Active users have been in decline since 2018.

Active ebay buyer numbers were in decline before COVID and despite the increase in online shopping due to global COVID lockdowns, eBay has seen its active buyer base continue to decline.  Falls in Gross Merchandise Volumes ( stuff actually sold on the site ) have been greater than 6% per annum in recent years. ( 17% fall in GMV in 2022 compared to 2021 ). 

eBays own figures show buyers are definitely not happy and are leaving the site in droves.

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I find the stats really interesting. I have a friend who is a medium/large seller on ebay but who also sells through 2 warehouses (which is where he allows pick up items to be collected). He has been saying for a while that ebay isn't what it used to be and it looks as if his instincts are right.

Must be a worry for ebay.

Although active user numbers are on the decline, I don't know if it is so much that buyers are not happy. Hard to say, although it doesn't help when customers strike dodgy practices such as being given false tracking numbers.

I'd suspect the fall in active users is because there are so many other sites to buy from these days. I have a few other friends who used to buy regularly on ebay but have moved to checking Marketplace now. As I also tend to do. Marketplace reminds me of the  ebay of about 2002.

I don't know that as many of the younger generation turn to ebay. My son is a regular Amazon user, but ebay, never.

[brickworksmarket]

I am still finding plenty of buyers around and have managed to increase my store traffic without having to use promoted listings. 

[huatao1975]

I gave my tablet a go.  I followed the YouTube video from channel "Crowne Prince" titled as "XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro Tablet Review + How to Install, Settings", and gave everything in the package another good look. Everything is what it should be.  Got warranty card and screen had its film on.  Pentip has no wear.

Setting up was straight forward although it does require PCs with an additional HDMI port or a laptop. Mine has Dual display port + HDMI + USB-C so it worked fine.

And here's my first sketch.  A cat. I didn't create the sketch, but it's based on an existing image from google. Overall I'm happy with its quality and value.

[domino-710]

Lovely - but forget the ' warranty ' bit.

[countessalmirena]

I would love to be able to draw well.

As it is, I’m notorious for having tried to paint a garden scene with tree, to which my sister asked “Why are you painting a green mitten?”

[chameleon54]

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@brickworksmarket wrote:

I am still finding plenty of buyers around and have managed to increase my store traffic without having to use promoted listings. 

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Do you have another store besides this one ?  

If not, have you had higher numbers of listings in the past ? 

genuinely interested - 

[davewil1964]

While I agree with you that some posters here like to turn minor stuff into total meladramas[sic] 

Pot, kettle.

[brickworksmarket]

This is a backup account which is a habit I have kept from the early days in case you had issues with your main account. Won't use my other accounts on here as I feel it mucks up your page views when people view but don't buy.