Are unused labels created through eBay not charged?

[tryubik-useonlyasdirected]

If I create a return label for a buyer through ebay, and the buyer doesn't use the label, will the return label automatically not process and show no charges?  Or will the unused return label still charge my account?

(Asking as I would like to pre-emptively provide a return label to insentivise a buyer to return an item they are not interested in, however I dont' want to get further charged if they are a scam artist who is trying to get a refund for an item not returned.)

[byto253]

Ebay sent a message  a while ago that you would not be charged for labels until they are used so you don't need to cancel them.   I would still double check with some searches in the help session or in a chat session. 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@byto253 wrote:

Ebay sent a message  a while ago that you would not be charged for labels until they are used so you don't need to cancel them.   I would still double check with some searches in the help session or in a chat session. 

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Approximately 1 week ago I created an outbound USA tracked label that got missed somehow in outbound scanning. It only shows on the system as generated. Nothing further on usps either. The label was billed 2 days after creation. At this point totally unsure what triggers being charged with ebay labels. Recent history has been 2 to 6 days but those were all with outbound scans. As a side CP will not officially address any created labels until they have been considered late.

[tryubik-useonlyasdirected]

Could the originally unscanned label have been scanned at a different point in the system?  We've had it not show as dropped off and then the next day it shows as going through customs and backdates the dropped off to the central depot scan.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@tryubik-useonlyasdirected wrote:

Could the originally unscanned label have been scanned at a different point in the system?  We've had it not show as dropped off and then the next day it shows as going through customs and backdates the dropped off to the central depot scan.

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This one I have been watching since I first noticed the no scan. It should have been in Richmond late last week or Monday. LAX a few days later. Still nada. 

[tryubik-useonlyasdirected]

Oh no, good luck.

I had that once when using a third party shipper. It eventually turned up.

[byto253]

If it is a Canada Post label "You have 14 days to void a Canada Post shipping label that you printed on eBay. It can take up to 21 days for Canada Post to approve or reject the refund. If it's approved, you'll receive an email that you have been refunded."

If the CP label has not ben scanned to cancellation and refund is automatic.

I just had to redo a UPS label, and when I went to cancel/void it, the eBay message was that I did not need to do anything, that I would only be charged when the label was scanned by UPS.

[tryubik-useonlyasdirected]

This^ has been our experience to date.

That and CPC isn't as forthcoming with refunding unusued labels as USPS. The USPS labels appear to be automatically refunded somehow. It's always been a super process. Yet, despite being unusued and cancelled within minutes of label creation we've had CPC completely ignore a couple of requests. This hasn't exactly inspired confidence.

We were wondering if it is different (or more automatic refund cancellation) if purchased through eBay? As our experience has previously been when purchasing direclty through a CPC merchant account.

[byto253]

Nothing like packing up a item, getting a label, and realizing after you forgot to put in the 250 gram manual 🙄

[nhl_automotive]

Yes Canada Post will charge you without a label being used. UPS and FedEx will not. 

[kawartha-ephemera]

Re: Canada Post Transformation, on July 2, 2025, we will move to event-based billing for parcel shipments.

With event-based billing:

• Payment will be processed on your credit card or account once the item(s) receive a physical scan in Canada Post’s network.
• If we don’t get a physical scan, we will not invoice you.
• You will no longer be required to submit label cancellation requests for items that are not shipped.
• If a label has been printed and discarded, you will not see a charge for that label on your invoice.
• Your invoices will look different. And as a result, reconciling your invoice may change as parcels will only be billed when we scan them in our network.
• Customers must continue to transmit their manifest data to Canada Post for parcel orders.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/commercial/marketing/campaign/experience-transformatio... 

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@kawartha-ephemera wrote:

Re: Canada Post Transformation, on July 2, 2025, we will move to event-based billing for parcel shipments.

With event-based billing:

• Payment will be processed on your credit card or account once the item(s) receive a physical scan in Canada Post’s network.
• If we don’t get a physical scan, we will not invoice you.
• You will no longer be required to submit label cancellation requests for items that are not shipped.
• If a label has been printed and discarded, you will not see a charge for that label on your invoice.
• Your invoices will look different. And as a result, reconciling your invoice may change as parcels will only be billed when we scan them in our network.
• Customers must continue to transmit their manifest data to Canada Post for parcel orders.

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/commercial/marketing/campaign/experience-transformatio... 

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@kawartha-ephemera 

@dinomitesales 

I had 1 go out at the beginning of June. CP showed label created but nothing further. Item was billed 1 day AFTER label was created. Signed up for updates but have not received anything from CP. In checking with CP they said there was nothing that could be done until to shipment was "technically" considered late. Happened to check tracking last night and CP was showing it in Fort Worth. Close to its final destination.  Signed up for updates with USPS and got an email a few minutes later confirming the parcels location. 

Meantime I attempted to void original and sent buyer a replacement. Void is pending. With trying to keep buyer in loop as to status I have been updating them. Unfortunately majority of messages to both buyers and sellers as of late rarely get ANY response. This is another example. The buyers phone number on file has too many digits to be correct so as a backup it is useless. Looking like I will be on the hook for 2 shipments to buyer and buyer will be getting a free 2nd item. 

Chalk this up to another ghost in the eBay/CP machine. Stay tuned for when how event based billing as per above kicks in.