Canada Post Tracking 18 numbers supposed to be 16

Summary: rewi-66 is encountering an issue with Canada Post tracking numbers when selling internationally from Canada on eBay. The numbers have 18 digits instead of the expected 16, causing problems with refunds and customer dissatisfaction. lotzofuniquegoodies suggests that eBay may assign shipment numbers instead of tracking numbers, which could be causing the confusion. They advise using a calculated rate shipping with discounted rates and adjusting settings accordingly. rewi-66 expresses relief at finding a potential solution and seeks clarification on making the correct settings changes. lotzofuniquegoodies provides detailed instructions, advising to segment shipping policies by weight and region and offers further assistance. Ultimately, rewi-66 plans to contact eBay for additional clarification regarding the settings.

Hi there,

I have been selling on ebay for about a year now. I have recently been selling more internationally from Canada. The tracking numbers that I have been buying through Canada Post on ebay have 18 numbers for tracking, but they are only supposed to have 16. I have called ebay and Canada Post multiple times with no resolution, they say they are going to fix it but never do. I don't have this issue with parcels in Canada or the US. I have been forced to refund buyers for their mistake. Not only am I out the final sale value, shipping and my time but also my items. I have angry customers and risk getting negative feedback. I am at my wits end and I hope someone here knows what I can do to fix this mess. Thanks for reading! - M

rewi-66

231 View listings

Posted 1 year ago·Last reply 1 year ago

8 comments

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

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@rewi-66 wrote:
Hi there,
I have been selling on ebay for about a year now. I have recently been selling more internationally from Canada. The tracking numbers that I have been buying through Canada Post on ebay have 18 numbers for tracking, but they are only supposed to have 16. I have called ebay and Canada Post multiple times with no resolution, they say they are going to fix it but never do. I don't have this issue with parcels in Canada or the US. I have been forced to refund buyers for their mistake. Not only am I out the final sale value, shipping and my time but also my items. I have angry customers and risk getting negative feedback. I am at my wits end and I hope someone here knows what I can do to fix this mess. Thanks for reading! - M

@rewi-66

Are you using small packet air for USA and Internationally? If you are eBay is assigning the shipment number not a tracking number. You can update and delete that reference. The UR tracking number is considered an untracked service. It only works to the USA within ebay and some random countries internationally.

Ebay is offering sellers access to a substantially discounted tracked service to the USA and a slightly discounted tracked shipping service to approx. 40 countries. You can turn on the option in your seller settings to show those discounted rates if you use calculated shipping vs Flat Rate. Calculated is much more accurate vs flat rate which will be an estimate at best.

Hope that will give you a place to start.

-Lotz

rewi-66

OP1 year ago

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Hi Lotz!

Thank you for this comment finally some answers! Where would I find the settings to change this? I am already using the calculated rate shipping with the discounted rates. Just so I understand there are only select countries that this small packet air tracking will work for and if its one of the countries that it wont track, it still shows up as tracking possible to the buyer and myself even when its not an option? Youre a life saver!! - M

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

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@rewi-66 wrote:
Hi Lotz!
Thank you for this comment finally some answers! Where would I find the settings to change this? I am already using the calculated rate shipping with the discounted rates. Just so I understand there are only select countries that this small packet air tracking will work for and if its one of the countries that it wont track, it still shows up as tracking possible to the buyer and myself even when its not an option? Youre a life saver!! - M

@rewi-66

Setting would be right here.

https://www.ebay.ca/ship/prf/carrier

Then you just have to make sure you have USA Tracked. Have to watch. The default on it is ships internationally. You have to click USA per listing. For small packages within Canada you want tracked. Up to 200 grams and NOT bulky you can use Expedited lite. Anything else needs Expedited.

Happy to help!!

-Lotz

rewi-66

OP1 year ago

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Thank you!!! thank you!!!! thank you!!!

I just want to make sure I am follwing your directions correctly. Here is a screenshot of where I changed the options from the link you sent! If this is correct, do I have to put in every shipping option I want to offer or only adjust for the ones that are being problematic? - M

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

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@rewi-66 wrote:
Thank you!!! thank you!!!! thank you!!!
I just want to make sure I am follwing your directions correctly. Here is a screenshot of where I changed the options from the link you sent! If this is correct, do I have to put in every shipping option I want to offer or only adjust for the ones that are being problematic? - M

@rewi-66

I personally don't use policies but a good place to start from the get go. Here is a screenshot of what I mostly use. You may what to check your settings.

In your example you have chosen worldwide with US tracked shipping. Unfortunately ebay set that up as the default. On USA tracked you will want to change to USA only checked off. And very important to remember Expedited lite in Canada ONLY works for up to 200 grams non bulky items. If it is bulky it will get cubed with dimensional weight which will cause final billable weight to be over 200 grams and not qualify for the service. You will need a policy for under 200 grams (for Canada/USA) and 1 for over 200 grams (Canada/USA).

-Lotz

rewi-66

OP1 year ago

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Is this in your shipping preferences or on an item when you are making the listing? This is what my shipping preferences look like currently. If this preset on ebay somewhere can you tell me how to get there? Or did you set multiple in the shipping policy? I see what you are saying about an american package on an international spot! Thanks again!

lotzofuniquegoodies

·1 year ago

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@rewi-66 wrote:
Is this in your shipping preferences or on an item when you are making the listing? This is what my shipping preferences look like currently. If this preset on ebay somewhere can you tell me how to get there? Or did you set multiple in the shipping policy? I see what you are saying about an american package on an international spot! Thanks again!

@rewi-66

It's from a currenly running listing. Most of my listings will look like that. Services can depend on value or weight. Yes. That is a strange default to have set up by eBay.

-Lotz