eBay Simple Delivery Labels Invalid When Scanned At The Post Office 02/08/2025

[electribem]

Today was a nightmare. I went to the Post Office as usual to send of my eBay item only to be told the label could not be be scanned as the system says it is invalid. I have never had this problem before. I assume this must be a mistake so I head off to the next local Post Office and try there. The puzzle starts to unravel a little. Here too I get an invalid scan but the customer service agent informed me that the system is rejecting the label based on the tracking number prefix of YA. So I come home cancel that label and regenerate a new one on the Royal Mail website but this time I use the QR code option to scan at the Post Office. Here the label  pops out of their machine but still there is an issue. The customer services agent says he cannot give me proof of posting as the system is still rejecting the new YA prefix label and there are now notices going around to Post Offices to be beware of eBay generated labels. So he takes a picture of the label using my phone and then gives me a session receipt. What good that will do if the parcel gets lost I don't know. What the hell is going on? Earlier this week all my Tracked 48 labels had a prefix of TA. Why the change now? Anyone else experienced this today?

[karenpixie912]

hi i have had the same issues today aswell your not alone,it drives you mad doesn't it.i spoke to an ebay agent online and he told me the labels are ok,its royal mail's fault.The problem should be fixed by monday.he told me to contact my buyers and explain that there are tech issue.i am not sure what to believe but we have to give the benefit of the doubt i suppose.The whole thing is ridiculous.lets hope its sorted soon,so frustrating.

[buntyandthebean]

Hi

I've also had the same issue on five parcels today and I also went to two post offices. The first had no idea whether the problem was with my label or their system, however, the second one said it was an issue with their system. What are we supposed to do now?

[karenpixie912]

hi  buntyandthebean i might try my local postoffice in the morning.if still no good i will wait until monday  if still does not work i will contact ebay again and go from there.i am going to let my buyers know just i case.hopefully/ebay will sort this glitch out but i am not sure at this point.It would be nice to know though if anyone else has tried posting again and the labels are now working.IF ANYONE IS READING THING PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THEY ARE.Thanks!!

[goodibags]

It's a good thing that under Simple Delivery Ebay will be handling absolutely everything. So sellers (and buyers) can relax and no longer have to worry about anything to do with the postage handling and delivery side of things. Phew! 😉

[buntyandthebean]

Sounds the best idea - good luck!
Sent from my iPhone

[buntyandthebean]

You have to have had the parcel processed by the post office first to qualify, so don’t be tempted to post without a receipt x
Sent from my iPhone

[ninetendo_ds]

I am having this problem as well. I wonder has it been resolved yet or is there any indication when it will be resolved. I have been in touch with customer services and basically just been told to wait.

[karenpixie912]

hi i'm not sure either i just went to the post office this morning but they still dont scan,ebay told me to wait until monday.but i am not sure if were being fobbed off as they say.ebay should put a an announcement on their website to help us all out.my post office told me this morning that people are taking photos of the code and sending their parcels but thats not proper proof.i will try tomorrow if not i will purchase and claim refund.👍

[jaydoggyfrogg]

I’m having same issue 

invalid code

going on holiday had to leave parcels

at my local post office and will call in in morning before I go on holiday 

this is a major problem 

who is to blame don’t get a straight answer

[buntyandthebean]

I was told by an eBay advisor earlier today to take them to a collect + collection point, so I tried to do just that.
They don’t accept Royal Mail parcels!
No one is taking responsibility at the moment
Sent from my iPhone

[housemartinsy8]

I dropped my 48 hour Royal Mail tracked parcel off at the local post office on Thursday 31 July using a label I'd printed at home.   The guy there is on the ball, so as the scan was not working he typed in the tracking number on the label and gave me proof of postage (thank goodness).  However, I've been checking the tracking and it's showing only that the item has been 'Accepted at Parcelshop'.  It should have been delivered yesterday so who knows where it is.  I've messaged the buyer and if his parcel doesn't arrive by next Thursday, I'll send the item again via Royal Mail but independently, i.e. not via Ebay, and make a claim for compensation from Royal Mail.  Ebay taking total control is a bad move in my opinion.

[pinkbedivere]

I’ve also had this today. They would not scan and it said invalid barcode on my eBay simple delivery parcels . 🙄 But I’ve left them at the post office anyways and they popped them in the postage sack and have given me manual printed proof of postage’s - I’m assuming they’ll get scanned elsewhere along their journey and hopefully the problem will rectify itself at some point with eBay/Royal Mail in the next few days. If it doesn’t, then I guess I’ll be receiving them all back. What a complete *bleep*e show this all is with eBay these days… 🤦‍♀️

[edwardian-dreams]

how comes so many posters have post offices open on a Sunday 

[pinkbedivere]

I don’t know, just lucky I guess, it’s a Morrisons small shop, they have a PO counter that’s open when they are open. 🤷‍♀️

[badger1-0767]

Belated the CO-OP takes post on a sunday, and yes it may not go till monday

[badger1-0767]

co-op takes mail and parcels on a sunday as stated before this wont be collected till monday

[edwardian-dreams]

Ok that makes sense, thank you, I have a corner shop not too far with a counter in it too, I wrongly assumed people meant they went to THE post office 

thanks everyone else 

When is a post office not a post office ? or when is a convenience store a post office 🤭

hmm so this means the problem still,, hasn’t been sorted though I read would be within 24 hours yesterday

I’ve a bunch of YA labels to post for my son in law tomorrow (not eBay related) because he’s away , that he printed yesterday ..I suppose I just have to keep 🤞

[goodibags]

Hardly any post offices left these days. They're more likely just a counter inside another shop, which may or may not open on a Sunday.

And I'm not sure about the 24 hours pledge. Given that these random 'glitches' often end up favouring Ebay (e.g. sellers buying their own postage labels or just sending an item with a supposedly 'tracked' label but without any actual tracking) I have a hunch the palaver may go on for a bit longer.

Can we say it'll definitely be sorted by the end of this month? Ok then, September? 😁

[n0rbie]

This happened to me on Saturday too, and there is no progress shown on the tracking references.

Do we know for sure if they will process through the network and get to the customer?

As I have a lot more to send today and I don't want to drop them off if they are going to all be claimed as lost!

Edit: Found good discussion on this here, and it's not isolated to eBay labels - https://www.reddit.com/r/royalmail/comments/1mfmipw/uk_glitch_this_morning_royal_mail_bought_3/