tracked labels printed from eBay

[pickture-this]

Hi. I hope someone can advise me on this. I have over the past few months posted out a vast amount of my greeting cards to customers via ebays royal mail tracking label system and yet not one of them has been scanned in by the royal mail. Every single one of them simply has Dispatched ticked and thats it. Even if customers have received their cards, it only says dispatched so what am I supposed to do if someone doesn'y get their card? The tracking number isn't being scanned so I can't do my job properly Aand I don't wish to lose my top rated seller status through this as it is not my fault.

Hope someone can please help.

[pixiesen2012]

how are you posting them?

they need to go over the counter at the post office to be activated into the system

are you sure you are paying for tracked postage?

your listings state 1st class, no mention of tracked.

[pickture-this]

oh Goodness me. Nothing said I had to hand them in to a post office counter? I have been placing them into the postbox opposite to where I live. I had no idea the post office had to scan them in to the system. I send out around 100 cards on some days and the post office by me almost certainly won't like this. 😞

[pickture-this]

I do all of the postage through eBay and their labels automatically give a tracking number, thus the tracked post.

[tobiasd4]

Of course you have to take to PO,
otherwise how can you prove you posted items.

As said, listing shows as normal post, so if paying for tracked, you are wasting money.

[redwick1]

It automatically gives tracking but they do have to be scanned by the Post Office
AS soon as they are scanned then the tracking is on the system.
How else would the tracking show?.
Why wont the Post office like it. If you are worried about it then buy your postage from the post office and keep them in business.
The few items I checked of your cards stated Royal Mail 1st class
That is not tracked

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-postage-labe...
It says
Royal Mail labels need to be used by the end of the next working day
If unused, make sure to void the label within 15 days, to get a refund
If you purchase an untracked service such as Royal Mail 2nd class, the reference number will be added to the tracking overlay. However, this does not mean that the service is tracked.

[pickture-this]

okay, sorry to have troubled you.

[redwick1]

It is no trouble at all and at least now you know what is happening and why.

[pixiesen2012]

the number on the ebay labels isn't a tracking number, it's a reference number, you are only paying for normal post, you aren't paying for a tracked service

[redwick1]

It probably would not be worth your while to send tracked
First class postage is £1.15 from the Post office
If you have risked it so far with no tracking have you lost any items?
RM is reliable as a rule although losses can happen.
You either stay with the ebay postage and carry on as you are
Or you could take to the Post Office to get them stamped and a proof of postage.
There may be a special way for businesses. Have you checked out the online RM site to see what options they give

If sent with a proof of postage you could be covered against loss
Or take into account that you may have losses

[pickture-this]

I'd say about 5 cards have gone astray in last few hundred sent out so not bad but with Christmas coming up, I think I may be best taking them to the post office to get them scanned in. My post office is only small and I know they'll pull a right face when I go in with 100 cards for them to scan through. I would like to keep the postage down as I don't want to raise my prices to cover extra postal charges.

[tobiasd4]

See if RM click & drop is of any use to you.
https://parcel.royalmail.com/

[pickture-this]

I have just spoken with our post office and they said no to me taking my items in to get them scanned. I can understand it as they only have 1 counter and I don't want to holding up a long queue. My other option is a post office that is a ten minute bus ride every day and even then, I'll be holding the queue up. Its the dropping off bit that's causing the problem for me.

[redwick1]

I think some post offices are a bit funny about just having to scan items when the postage has been pre paid to ebay.
Think they say you are doing them out of revenue and especially small PO

CAn you not just put the address on and take it too the post office to post
They put the stamps on and should give you a proof of postage ( I think if I remember correctly)

As tobiasd4 says Could you use Drop and Go

When I was selling a lot I used to use that. I addressed them filled in a form with all the items on.
Drop them off at the counter and the Post office stamps when they have time then gives you the form back next time you go in.Mine were parcels but it may be worth checking for envelopes.

I would not worry about holding up a queue
You are a customer and if posting many items over a time then you have every right to stand there and them deal with your items as you wish.
It is not unusual in my local post office to be behind someone with a stack of letters or parcels
That is what they are there for