UR tracking updates disappearing......anyone else?

[fergua3]

the last few days i have had a couple of packages to the US with UR tracking numbers show tracking updates, eg Arrived at ISC Chicago or Inbound Into Customs, only to have those updates disappear and the tracking info only display 'Tracking Number Provided'.

On one package, the tracking updates re-appeared a couple of days later but this morning i notice they are gone again.

Has anyone else experienced this?  Not sure it it's an Ebay issue or a USPS issue.

[marnotom!]

If your tracked shipments are showing up on the eBay system as usual, I’d chalk this up to USPS being more selective about the scan data it’s sending to eBay.

[brettjet38]

@fergua3 Has anyone else experienced this?

No, and this is another non-issue...

Tracked Packets USA has tracking 

Small Packets USA does NOT, it only works if the USPS worker decides to scan the package, you should not be shipping items using Small Packets USA if you expect to have tracking...

...you do so at your own risk.

[fergua3]

they're not showing up as usual, that was the point of my post.  The only place UR tracking info shows up is on Ebay; it never shows up on the USPS site.

Having the info disappear after it's been displayed, on Ebay, is a first and i was wondering if anyone else is having this happen to them as well.

[marnotom!]

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@fergua3 wrote:

they're not showing up as usual, that was the point of my post.  The only place UR tracking info shows up is on Ebay; it never shows up on the USPS site.

Having the info disappear after it's been displayed, on Ebay, is a first and i was wondering if anyone else is having this happen to them as well.

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I was wondering if your tracked shipments (e.g Small Packet tracked, Expedited USA) were showing up as usual on eBay, sorry if I was unclear about that.  If you don't have any of those in the system right now, then I guess my question is moot.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@brettjet38 wrote:

@fergua3 Has anyone else experienced this?

No, and this is another non-issue...

Tracked Packets USA has tracking 

Small Packets USA does NOT, it only works if the USPS worker decides to scan the package, you should not be shipping items using Small Packets USA if you expect to have tracking...

...you do so at your own risk.

---

@fergua3 

@brettjet38 

Here are the details from a random UR shipments sent in Feb. 

2 with no scans were letter. 20 of the remaining 22 were Small Packet Air.

Yes, these scans do work as verification with an INR/Shipment noted as late in a sellers favour. 

The UR number from within eBay has been working fine for ages. The fear for anyone that relies on UR tracking with small packet air shipping to the USA ending suddenly,(for sake of not argueing... call it a bonus perk) would be a major frustration. Is it something eBay has done to now block it from working like it was religously or just 1 of those sudden glitches that have been extremely common as of late.  (Based on recent history, eBay has removed more positive longstanding features than it has added).

Many sellers selling low value items are unable to sell using tracked due to its prohibitive cost. Buyers stop buying or buy much less if a seller only offers premium services. From past personal experience I've routinely gotten messages from buyers asking for cheaper shipping(even when none are available.) I can't recall ever being asked for something premium(more expensive). From many Canadian sellers perspectives we don't need new roadblocks when it comes to selling.

-Lotz

[pjcdn2005]

I haven't used small packet in the last few months but I hadn't had any problems with that happening when I did use it.  Lately the difference between small and tracked packet has been so little that I've been using tracked packet.

[pjcdn2005]

It may be a non issue for you but not for others. I'm sure that the op already knows how things work but are simply questioning if anyone else is experiencing something that hasn't been the norm.

[ricarmic]

Me as well (to the US), keeping in mind that I'm a stamps on the box kinda guy using discounted (legitimate) postage, I calculated the average cost to me to track 100% of US items to be about 30c per package extra. This is because the bulk of the sales are in the 100g and 250g categories which keeps the average low.

For the math inclined, my loss rate is about .005% ie 1 in 200 packages so it's costing me $60 tracking costs against an average loss size of maybe about $35 so really it's only costing me an extra $25ish per 200 packages or 12.5c each.

I have the feeling that I'm losing more packages to the US forwarding services, this will automagically fix that as well. 

Certainly for 12.5c/pkg the less stress and problems/time required for INRs along with the "service" of seeing the progress from the buyers perspective, my current plan is to continue to track 100% of the US stuff and not use small packet at all.

Things change over time but this has been the first happy news from the PO in my world in a long time....

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@brettjet38 wrote:

@fergua3 Has anyone else experienced this?

No, and this is another non-issue...

Tracked Packets USA has tracking 

Small Packets USA does NOT, it only works if the USPS worker decides to scan the package, you should not be shipping items using Small Packets USA if you expect to have tracking...

...you do so at your own risk.

---

As a side note to this, if you are fortunate to be able to speak to an agent in a sort plant or the final destination pick up location and give them the UR tracking number they are able to access in the USPS system. 

With a recent situation I had for an INR there was miscommunication for a delivery. Once I advised the pu location that the buyer was still wanting delivery, the item in question was sent out the next day.

See gap in updates:

-Lotz

PS. In CP's mind they only look at the UR number as a receipt for their records. So the parcel number does not get used twice. If it does get used twice, they can just bill the "guilty party" again. Their problem solved.

[dinomitesales]

All the Small Packet shipments I've done in the past few months have the tracking showing up for me, so I assume it's just a glitch (hopefully).

[tuckhouse2021]

HI-Mine seem to show up just fine. I do use the system a lot and all of mine currently show  as they used to. 

[fergua3]

i've got another UR tracking number with disappearing tracking updates.  Fortunately the most recent scan is still there but the entire tracking history has vanished.  I hope this isn't the beginning of the demise of being able to use UR tracking numbers to track packages and is just a glitch.

[fergua3]

well the problem has either been fixed or, when the item is delivered the entire tracking history appears and doesn't disappear.    All my recent packages are showing delivered and with full tracking histories.

I took another UR package to the PO today so we'll see what happens with it.  These suckers sure are handy, i'd hate to lose them.  🙂