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]

Thanks for sending that link very informative,someone else has brought from my shop and i am not sure whether to print a label or not.

I hope we get an update regarding this issue.

[electribem]

Thanks for the replies and showing that I am not alone in this. Heads must roll @ Royal Mail and eBay for not dealing with this promptly. There is NO mention of this on the selling dashboard this morning under 'selling announcements'. I did however see a warning to use Collect+ or a locker. So thats exactly what I did. I trotted of to my nearest Royal Mail Quad Parcel Locker, followed the on screen instructions, scanned my prepaid label QR code, entered my email address and "Voilà" the locker door opened and and I popped my parcel in. A conformation email of the drop off came shortly after and it's all good. The email conformation. just like with the collection email conformation, acts as proof of posting. I suggest other eBay sellers do the same for today via Royal Mail until the invalid label debacle is FULLY resolved.  No point wasting time @ the PO if there are other alternatives. Wish I had known about this on Saturday. How rude. 

[camelfish]

Yes, same problem here in the west midlands, it started Friday for me and again today (monday). The system will not accept the barcode, the QR code or manual input of the tracking number. In the end they just threw the parcels in the bag and gave me a "proof of posting".

COME ON EBAY, I KNOW YOU MONITOR THESE POSTS.....GET YOUR FINGER OUT !!!!!!

[brainuk]

It's actually Royal Mails fault. It's their internal systems that haven't updated properly yet after they changed the Tracked 48 codes from TQ to YA.

[electribem]

Oops, just to clarify. The Quad Parcel Locker drop off conformation email IS NOT proof of posting. Sorry I got that wrong. The proof of posting comes when mister or misses postie SCANS the parcel after collection to officially register it on their system. Hope this helps. 

[oddacre]

Hello

Same rejection.  One tracked rejected invalid on Saturday. Got another label for it and it was rejected invalid Monday (today 4th Aug). Had to buy a label at more money. Another tracked also failed Monday.  Don't know what to do.

[brainuk]

Message your customers and tell them it's a nationwide Royal Mail issue and tell them it will be posted as soon as you can

[magman50red]

Just been to the Post Office still an issue would be nice if ebay informed sellers that there is an issue and let us know when it is resolved as you cannot opt out of simple delivery. Wasted journey and additional costs.

[dennisswifty2001]

I have exactly the same issue over the last two days. I have done the same as you, took a photo of the postage label on the parcel which they are telling me Royal Mail have rejected the QR code for 48 hours tracked delivery. Now, this is ok for proof of purchase but the issue that I can see arising is that if that parcel goes missing and say for arguments sake its value is £100.00 then that parcel will not be covered by EBay or even Royal mail insurance (i hope thats clear)

The other issue is trying to get EBay to resolve this is impossible, Constantly chatting to BOTS is not the way to get anything resolved. I am seriously thinking of changing to EVRi delivery but even they have horrendous issues with missing parcels.

[dennisswifty2001]

I have the same issues. I have been to Post Office this morning and clearly they have not resolved it because they are telling me the QR label is invalid and is not recognised by the system. That also means when i post it with just proof of postage the item will not be covered by EBays safe posting policy nor either with Royal Mail. WHat hope will I have if that item goes missing and its value is say (£100.00)? Will Ebay or Royal Mail pay me or the customer compensation? I think we all know the answer to that one.

Get it sorted EBay/ Royal Mail.

[dennisswifty2001]

Tried it this morning and still not being recognised by Royal Mail.

[dennisswifty2001]

They will if you have proof of the parcel being sent, but the minute something goes missing then you will have no proof you sent it. It will be all well and good having proof of postage label but I can see them not paying out if it is an high value item

[dennisswifty2001]

Mine is open 10:00 to 20:00 on Sundays.

[brainuk]

It's NOT eBay's issue. It is Royal Mail's new internal update that has not fully functioned.

[vauxhall-opel-brochures]

Hi, i just used my local royal mail parcel locker as my postoffice said the codes starting with YA not working.

Locker is easy to use, just scan your item, enter email address (to which you will get a conformation of postage) & pop it in the locker you need depending on size.

I posted 8 large letters and are all now showing on my ebay tracking plus have proof of postage emails.

Hope this helps as an option until the problem gets sorted

[brainuk]

It is Royal Mail's issue with their new internal update. NOTHING to do with eBay. It is the same if you go into a post office to buy a Tracked 48.

[justgrayjan]

Monday morning 10.00 still not working

[kat@ebay]

Hi All,

Thank you for your posts.

The Post Office is experiencing issues with Royal Mail T48 labels (print in store and at home). It is expected to be resolved by today the 4th of August. Post offices have been advised to still accept the packages. However if  your package is not being accepted there are alternative locations to send parcels such as collect + and lockers.

eBay has updated a banner to the site to advise users.

Thank you,

Kat

[chloec-1]

Same thing happened to me today 4th August at 11.00 .  5 parcels all rejected.  The issue is clearly not fixed by Monday.

[polinka.grhw]

But collect + will scan it and we will have a tracking updated? Sorry for silly questoon but never used collect + before.... thank you!