When did eBay start forcing 6-digit codes for local pickup?

[ecgt]

We completed a local pickup for the first time in a month or so today. Most customers generally do not have QR codes with them, so in the past we marked items as picked up after they left. Today a customer arrived without the QR code, but we released the items to him as we normally do. Now we can't mark the items as picked up, as instead the system requires a 6-digit code. We subsequently contacted the buyer, who claims he doesn't have any codes and now he isn't respond to texts or emails. Gargage situation for us. Hopefully it doesn't lead to an INC claim.

The QR codes have been around since 2020, but were always optional before now. We can't seem to find any evidence that this becoming mandatory was ever announced by eBay. Perhaps we missed the announcement? When did eBay start forcing 6-digit codes for local pickup? This is a major change to local pickup that eBay should have emailed impacted sellers about.

Be advised that if you offer local pickup and haven't had one in a while make sure that you scan the QR code or get the 6-digit codes!

[2nd-time-around-jewelry]

This happened to me yesterday for the first time. I had a local sale & the person picked the item up.  I was not able to mark it as picked up. I e-mailed the buyer & he sent me a code so I was able to mark it on eBay.

[ecgt]

We just heard back from our buyer who was able to provide us with the codes. Crisis averted.

That said, based on the info he sent us it wasn't intuitive for him to find the codes.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@ecgt 

@2nd-time-around-jewelry 

devon@ebay 

From the dot com board on current issues. Unfortunately now for some baffling reason they no longer show recently resolved fixed items. They just get purged. Also too bad this particular discussion does not make it to the ca forum.

As a side there are a number of folks reporting issues with updating personal info(phone numbers), drafts disappearing early and and sellers not receiving messages about items recently sold. Due to the quantity of posts they should also be on this report. 

[recped]

The part you highlighted above is a different issue. It's about buying shipping labels on eBay and then using a QR code that you take to USPS who then print the label.

The OP is referring to Local Pickup QR codes which confirm the pickup was done, nothing to do with shipping labels.

[femmefan1946]

He paid you and you have the money and he has the Thing.

EBay doesn't know you have the money.

EBay doesn't know he has the Thing.

So he can't open a Not As Described claim, since he "doesn't have the Thing".

He can't open a Not Received claim, since he "hasn't paid".

EBay can't charge you fees since the transaction is not completed.

What was the problem again?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@recped 

Regarding the codes, I have pick ups regularly. I have never had a buyer arrive with any kind of code. They were totally unaware they were a thing.

On my past several sales using CP this message has popped up so very similar from a Canadians perspective. There are "some" Canadian sellers that do not have access to a printer. So they may have been using in the past to have labels printed at PO on their arrival. Having a printer should be something every seller should have as a matter of necessity.

Expedited Label CP. Same error message displays for UPS and 

It is still a problem that eBay refuses to update Canadian sellers when there are site wide issues that "could" relate to Canadians. We are basically left to fend for ourselves.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

He paid you and you have the money and he has the Thing.

EBay doesn't know you have the money.

EBay doesn't know he has the Thing.

So he can't open a Not As Described claim, since he "doesn't have the Thing".

He can't open a Not Received claim, since he "hasn't paid".

EBay can't charge you fees since the transaction is not completed.

What was the problem again?

---

@femmefan1946 

@ecgt 

Going by the original post, because buyer does not have the 6 digit code the seller is unable to mark as picked up. That code, when it is working properly wraps it up in a bow. Nice and neat. As side info if customer pays cash at door there is no tax charged to the buyer on the transaction. If they pay with paypal/cc tax is applied and charged on the fees to seller. As soon as payment is marked as received or item is shown as picked up any fees get immediately billed to seller.

There is the option to mark as shipped but not picked up. The work around I have used is to mark from the drop down, customer paid. Then the date and   PICKED UP in the courier field. Not perfect but is as good as it gets with ebay Canada

To follow this along, because sellers are able to mark something as being shipped (with tracking etc) buyers should be able to mark as received. Especially helpful with untracked items. If there is a discrepancy with something tracked and tracking shows as delivered that would be the back up for eBay's purposes.

[ecgt]

You are completely misinterpreting this.

The buyer paid via eBay managed payments and then came by to pick up the item.

In this situation, the buyer can open an item Not Received claim if the QR code hasn't been scanned or if the codes aren't entered. We then cannot prove that the buyer picked up the item and eBay will rule in the buyer's favour if they open a claim.

None of this is a problem in and of itself.

The problem is that eBay didn't tell anyone about the change in policy and it became our problem today.

[dinomitesales]

I always thought it was a required part of the local pickup option to either scan the QR code or enter the 6 digit code. For this reason, I always remind the buyer when they're on their way to pick up to have the QR code or 6 digit code ready.

I wasn't aware it was optional prior to your latest attempt. Seems like it never should have been optional if eBay wanted it to work the way it was intended to work.

[recped]

It's optional just like tracking is optional. Would you really want eBay to tell you that you MUST have tracking even though you are shipping a $3 postcard or similar.

For many of my Pickup sales (paid for via eBay) I just tell them to give me an approximate time they will come by and that they should look in my mail box for it.