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?

[rich-nicinbristol]

Monday afternoon now, 4th August 2025. I’ve just been told by a post office in Dorset that the system is not working, with Post Office staff saying it’s an eBay issue.

I tried a separate post office 100 miles away this morning and was told the same thing.

Why oh why is eBay making things so difficult to sell now?

After 21 years of using eBay I’m just having more and more problems selling things on the platform, and now look8mg at easier alternatives.

[cradchri]

The post office in Dorset is lying though. Even if you buy a tracked label yourself from RM, it gives you the same YA tracking number which doesn't work.

It's a post office/ RM issue. I agree with your general sentiment of ebay but in this case, other than pushing RM on our behalf to fix it, not sure what more they can do

[sje1955]

Where is the banner?

[porschegurl]

I went to the post office on Saturday and my parcels were rejected then today again at 2pm and they rejected all 4 of my parcels then I spent an hour driving around trying to find a royal mail parcel locker.  The codes worked and was able to send the items which I'm relieved about for my buyers but now its only showing as dispatched on eBay and I'm wondering what will happen when the item is delivered.  The YA codes are not showing either so I'm not sure what's going on.  Despite contacting eBay customer services last Saturday I'm yet to get a reply or any guidance and this forum is my main source of information.  Ebay you really need to support you sellers in a better way otherwise will be migrating to other platforms!

[decor-mate]

Its not just ebay... The YA labels are also being created on RM's website....  its a Royal Mail problem... not ebay

[decor-mate]

Its Monday, and its not been fixed

[angemisspenelope]

Today my parcel did exactly the same thing.

label not valid.

label is clear and printed from eBay simple delivery

quite obviously not that simple!

when I questioned the post office they stated it was a fault with the Horizon system

and that they have had a number of these either being accepted but not giving a receipt 

or not accepting the label at all.

advised to try again tomorrow!

[sh-equestrian]

No, Monday 4th Aug 16.15pm. Still not working! I hate simple delivery, bring back the old system where I could migrate all my labels to Royal mail and pay for them there!

[fl-365543]

tried sending parcel earlier , same problem not being able to scan label to give me a receipt , came home and reprinted the label to see if my printer was at fault same happen when i went back .

tried messaging ebay but no responce as yet ? , i'll give it another try tomorrow....not had this issue before.

flint

[cradchri]

I presume you and a few others are using this thread to vent more than read and understand the issue. That's fine but even in the scenario you said you'd prefer, you'd get the same outcome, it's an issue with the changing from TQ to YA prefix. Why it's taking so long to fix, who knows, but the ebay bashing over this or (as others are doing, not you) the age old use of "not so simple is it" is getting boring 

[jaydoggyfrogg]

What is this mr bates vs eBay
Another Royal Mail it error
Still same I have 11 parcels sent now non show has been posted just were expecting your item
EBay did say all loses wil be covered when I phone them also Royal Mail said at counter all parcels will still be delivered and hopefully
Fixed before delivery scan
Sent from my iPhone

[t.bag54]

Asked my local post office if the labels are being accepted yet.  Answer No

[t.bag54]

This is the problem.  When will I be able to send my buyers their purchases.  Next problem will be messages stating "I haven't received my order"

[n0rbie]

Then they are not following instructions as they were all told on Sunday to start accepting them.

[goodibags]

To be fair, the trouble may be that the last time PO staff were 'told' to just go ahead and unquestioningly DO things several thousand ended up in prison for it.

[electribem]

Just to reiterate, eBay Simple Delivery Parcels ARE being accepted at Royal Mail Quad Parcel Lockers, just follow the on-screen instructions when you can get to one near you. 

[mywildart]

I have had this problem too. I left my parcels at the Post Office and at some point on their journey the tracking started to work and they were shown as delivered a couple of days later. 

[uco_25]

Did Royal Mail provide you any work receipt (minus the tracking number) or anything?

[n0rbie]

My post office created a manual proof of postage by typing the address into the screen, it printed out on the usual Horizon receipt.

I can see this morning that some of the parcels are now showing as having been scanned along the journey. Not all of them, but that is quite normal!

[gardener7186]

For me nothing. The person who scanned said the items would be on the system.  17 hours later they arent