Whyvare ebay are giving buyers tracking numbers for untracked delivery?

[old-car-magazines-and-brochures]

I have had a number of international buyers asking why the tracking number doesn't work and when I check their orders they had selected untracked delivery when given the choice of tracked or untracked at checkout.

If you look at the attached screenshot you can see that ebay have provided a tracking number for an item where the buyer had selected untracked, and when the buyers enter the tracking number on RM website it doesn't work and they can't understand why. 

I have spoken with ebay about this matter and asked if they could rename it an order reference number rather than calling it a tracking number, but weeks later they haven't done anything about it, as usual.

Which brainbox at ebay came up with this piece of nonsense?

[jimthing]

AFAIUI, these type of tracking numbers show when an item is DELIVERED only, not full tracking en route.

Also, they can often be entered on their own national postal services website (i.e. USPS for America) tracking page sometimes to see if/when delivery happened, along with or instead of doing the same on Royal Mail's own site. 

[old-car-magazines-and-brochures]

I see, thank you, I didn't know that. I still think they should rename it though as it implies there is a tracking number.

[watchfan700uk]

It is an issue and the only way to avoid it is do not use Ebay shipping so no false tracking number is uploaded. It is not so much of an issue with UK shippings as large letter rate non trackable numbers are often scanned at delivery which is useful if someone claims non delivery.