Seller provided a tracking number that didn’t match up with what they told me.

[kyasha161]

Okay, so I purchased a item that was almost $600. The seller seemed friendly and seemed to know what they were doing.

They told me they would be shipping the item out on Jan. 22nd with priority mail which would likely reach me on the 23-24. I haven’t received anything yet.

But I’m a little weary because the tracking they provided shows that it was shipped on the 18th and then delivered to the community mail box on the 20th.

I’ve messaged the seller but have yet to get a response.
Am I freaking out too early? Is this a scam? Since they provided a tracking number am I screwed out of buyer protection??

Help?!

[marnotom!]

Tracking, shmacking.

Is there online evidence that the item was delivered to you? Is that community mailbox really yours?

[kyasha161]

The tracking number provided was for Canada Post. And according to their online tracking it was delivered to my city. But there is no info beyond that. I may end up calling Canada Post tomorrow.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@kyasha161 

Your item may be in your town and if that is the case it will go out for delivery on Monday. Canadapost does not routinely deliver on the weekend. Occasionally it happens with the xmas overload.

-Lotz

[marnotom!]

Good points by Lotz.

Also, with tomorrow being Sunday, I’m not sure that you’ll reach anyone at Canada Post by phone.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@kyasha161 

Before "freaking out" you may want to check your community mailbox. That you can do any time you like as long as you have a key for it. With your order details it should give you a window of when to expect delivery. The seller should also be showing where they are located and that will help you judge. Transit times can vary depending on the actual service it was sent.

Was your seller in Canada and across town or a far coast? Was it coming from the USA somewhere. Packages coming from International locations will need to clear customs. Delays can happen. In Canada there is a service called Priority Post. It is a premium service.  In the USA Priority is a generic term applied by most sellers. To get  real Priority either the seller is paying for it or you are.(If it says free shipping they just built it into the purchase price.)

-Lotz

PS. Another thing that can and does happen is a seller will package a parcel and drop off at the local post office. If the driver picked up already it would not get picked up that day. In this case it is all moot if your tracking shows community mail box. Just info for next time.

[kyasha161]

Well I would hope it would show up but it makes no sense for it to read as delivered on the 20th? Which would have been Wednesday. Two days before the seller told me he was intending to ship it.

[kyasha161]

I have checked the community box. There is nothing there. Canada Post states it was delivered on Wednesday the 20th. The tracking was updated before I ever even saw a possible delivery window. It was literally only 6 hours from their city to mine. In the same province.

I’ve been reading some other older threads and I’m starting to worry I may have fallen into a dummy mail scam. Where an envelope is sent to your city and postal code but not your actual address in order to trick EBay and PayPal to rule in the sellers favour if you end up opening a claim.

[kyasha161]

I tried to talk with the virtual assistant on Canada Post and apparently someone should be available on Sunday 9am - 9pm. I don’t know when that changed but I’m kind of grateful.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@kyasha161 

If you look at the tracking information  at the Canadapost website it should display something similar to this.

7:40 am

Delivered to your community mailbox, parcel locker or apt./condo mailbox

Calgary, AB

If you click at the top you would be able to check for a delivery confirmation. It's an extra tab. If the information is not matching your delivery location then it would be time to contact canadapost for further investigation on Monday.

-Lotz

[reallynicestamps]

Canada Post does not deliver on Saturdays (23) or Sundays (24).

So it is unlikely to arrive before Monday the 25th.

Is he in the USA? Make that Tuesday at the earliest for a Friday (22) shipment.

Forget what the seller told you. He has no control over the mail-- or any other courier.

What date did eBay give you for delivery?

There will be a window and you cannot open a Dispute for 24 hours after that window.

The seller is..... optimistic.

But I’m a little weary  (sic) because the tracking they provided shows that it was shipped on the 18th and then delivered to the community mail box on the 20th.

If you have tracking that shows delivery, you have a right to be nervous.

Especially since the seller is "uncertain" when he shipped.  Did he give a tracking number for the second shipment?

Go to your local postal outlet/post office. Ask if the parcel was left there by the carrier.

The carriers are supposed to leave Notices when they can't leave the parcel -- size being the consideration-- but carriers make mistakes.

If it is not at the PO, have the postmaster/clerk/manager check the tracking number for the address it was sent to.

If it is not your address, the seller is trying a scam.

While you are there have the PO check the new tracking number for its last location.

[reallynicestamps]

Where an envelope is sent to your city and postal code but not your actual address

That doesn't work in Canada.

US five-digit zipcodes cover large areas. I've noticed most of my customers have the more precise four digit addition nowadays.

Canadian postal codes cover a smaller number of addresses. My own only covers about 10 houses. Some apartment buildings will have many codes - some for just one floor.

Your community mail box bank may have two different codes.

You can put the code that first tracking number is addressed to here:

https://www.canadapost.ca/info/mc/personal/postalcode/fpc.jsf

and you will get the addresses it covers.

[retroman_studios]

First, it's possible the seller may have entered the wrong tracking number, it does happen.

However, that being said......

I've heard of a scam like this before. They have a means of using recycled tracking numbers that happen to have a delivery near your location. If you don't hear anything you may need to get Canada Post to open a ticket and contact eBay to inform them you believe the seller uploaded fraudulent tracking.

By the way, when you look at the seller profile, take a look at the history of feedback. Can you see a pattern of selling? Or has it been mostly purchases then suddenly they are selling high ticket items? Do they still have items listed? It may be a highjacked account.

Look at the selling history. Go to items for sale for that seller, then choose sold listings. You will see what sold recently. Sometimes you can see a pattern.

[kyasha161]

He lives 6 hours from me, in Canada, same province. I know eBay originally had an estimated delivery but it has since disappeared and now it only displays as ‘delivered’. And now that I’m checking PayPal, it shows shipped on the 20th in the invoice but has the same tracking number that shows it delivered that very same day.

I guess I have to head to the PO if the seller doesn’t respond. I wish this wasn’t happening during a lockdown though.

[kyasha161]

Unfortunately, I wasn’t smart this time around after years of buying on eBay with no issues. This person has no feedback. I’m really hitting myself on the head this time.

[kyasha161]

Yes, it shows my city and I go in that format. And above it confirms it has been already delivered on the 20th.

[kyasha161]

I’m not sure what you meant here with ‘second shipment’. There was no second shipment or new tracking number, only the one.

[cumos55]

A Parcel with a value of $600  requires a signature when the parcel is delivered......

[kyasha161]

Would this work in my favour if I had to fight for a refund if this all goes horribly south?

I’ve received other things during this lockdown that were pricy and no signature was ever required. They’d just drop it at my door and run, one of them didn’t even knock.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@cumos55 

@kyasha161 

Ebay is still wanting sellers to purchase signature option even though CP is not providing that service. (Exceptions below). It's similar to sending something as a guaranteed service. CP is not paying out for late. Only for permanently lost. After they have time to investigate.

We understand some people are reluctant to sign for an item now, and we have adjusted our processes. Where possible, and to avoid contact, we will not ask customers for their signature, except for the following products:

• Proof of Identity (POI) items
• Proof of Age (POA) items
• COD items
• Items with customs due
• Registered MailTM
• XpresspostTM Certified

All other signature items will now be left at your address. The same applies to customs items that have been prepaid in full online but still require a signature.

For POI, POA, COD items, items with customs due, Registered Mail and Xpresspost Certified products: we will leave a delivery notice card (DNC) that directs you to a local post office for pick up.

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/corporate-news/coronavirus-disease-covid...

-Lotz