eBay item purchased April 8, tracking number Apr 16, Post office still waiting for item

[space-time]

I bought a low cost item on Wednesday, April 8, evening and paid immediately. After no sign of activity from the seller, I asked on Sunday, April 12 evening if/when they plan to ship it. They said they will try to ship it next day. I told them I understand special circumstances due to coronavirus and I can wait if I know of a rough timeline. No further response.

On Thursday, April 16 in the morning I get email with tracking number. Post office says they are still waiting for the item. I guess the seller didn't ship it, or USPS does not track it properly.

Should I wait a few more days or send another email thought eBay? I don't want to seem impatient, but also I do not want to miss any windows for disputing this if it does not show up.

[cbelt3]

A tracking number is obtained when the seller creates a shipping label in their computer. Actually giving it to a USPS employee is the real 'shipping date'.

[mattkime]

Its not uncommon for usps tracking to be unreliable. I'd wait another week.

[Gareth]

Sometimes, the post office forgets to scan an item upon receipt. I had a recent package that never got scanned until it was out for delivery. You’re not at risk of missing opening a case, so you could wait a few days, but you’re likely eligible to open one now (I did for my package). Since it takes a few days before you can close a case, I like to open them ASAP. When my package showed up, I let the case close in the seller’s favor.

If you’re dealing with a power seller, opening a case might give you extra leverage since apparently they need to close them within a certain timeframe to keep their status (according to another seller I had a case open with).

[Robert M]

Space,

Common problem in general. Companies are having trouble with getting pickups. CBelt is correct that a tracking number is assigned to the shipment when shipper creates the label. That doesn't mean the item is going to get shipped that day. The actual shipping date and when the clock starts ticking for time in transit is once the carrier has the shipment in its hands.

I ordered an item from a site and the label was created a couple of weeks ago. They still haven't shipped yet. I'm waiting to hear back from them before taking my next step.

The USPS is very bad when it comes to labels and tracking. They can mark something as delivered once it hits the local USPS distribution center and not actually deliver it until several days later. Very annoying.

You've waited long enough. Contact the shipper/ebay and get a status on the order and find out why it hasn't shipped yet.

Robert

[d4]

space-time wrote: They said they will try to ship it next day. I told them I understand special circumstances due to coronavirus and I can wait if I know of a rough timeline. No further response.

Why would you say that? Just say,"Thanks." Done. No need to engage in further conversation. The seller now sees you as non-urgent. You pretty much gave him the ok to put you last in priority. And he's taking you up on the offer.

[NewtonMP2100]

......can you chase......the tracks........of your tears......???

[Carm]

Mine was stuck in customs since March 6th. Since it never arrived, I just asked for a refund last night and actually got it.
I hate when sellers lie about ship time. Or their location. I had purchased an item, said it would arrive in a week. After auction, date changed to a month later and never arrived. I left a negative review for them lying about their location and lack of shipping.