Dispatched (Untracked), Postal service Royal Mail Tracked 48 ?????

[gwilliamb]

I have several times now bought items on ebay and when I went to track them my "Order Details" said:

Dispatched (Untracked),

But the "Tracking Details" said:

Postal service Royal Mail Tracked 48

I don't quite understand how the ebay system can think an item has been posted "Untracked" via Royal Mail Tracked 48. Can anyone explain, please? I have had at least 3 of these in the last few weeks. Luckily all arrived, except the one I am looking at now which was only posted yesterday so is not overdue.

I wonder if anyone can explain this seeming glitch in the system? It is a long time since I sold anything, but my recollection is that when entering the postage details the ebay system validated the service used via the tracking number, i.e. the two had to match. I am wondering how I can track items I have bought which have been sent via a tracked service if ebay doesn't tell me the tracking number. Also how sellers get paid now that ebay uses the tracking info to tell it to release the payment.

Thanks.

[**peaseblossom**]

eBay's new Simple Delivery should make the tracking automatic.    I think part of the problem is that some sellers don't realise they have to use the SD label and still buy their own postage.    They then have difficulty changing the tracking number on ebay so it remains untracked.   Their money is held for 14 days and then released.

[moldosgifts]

Also ebays tracking is rarely up to date if there is a tracking number check it on the carriers own site for more up to date info.

[sml192]

Has the seller actually uploaded the tracking number to eBay?

What postage method was the item listed with? 

[goodibags]

Also there was a major issue in the first weekend of August where the post office system was rejecting a new batch of tracking numbers. So potentially thousands of sold items may have entered the postal system untracked, even though tracking had been used.

I've no idea which details migrated over to Ebay but it's good to know they're being delivered too.

It may be reassuring for sellers to know (e.g. through feedback) that they eventually got there too. 😁

[gwilliamb]

No, my ebay purchase history shows no tracking number, which is why I looked in "view order details" and found the contradictory message that it had been posted untracked, via Royal Mail Tracked 48.

It is academic so far, but it raises the possibility that I can buy something, it can be sent via a tracked service, but if it does not arrive I have no way to track it.