do ebay sellers give shipping confirmations?

[scrumptious]

All I got was an email saying it would be shipping "today" ... but days went by and no shipment confirmation. Is this how it usually works?

I'd ask the seller but I figure I'd bother you guys instead. (I don't want to look stupid to the seller )

[My_Two_Cents]

It all depends on the seller and shipping method. I get a tracking # about half the time on purchases I make. I always ship my items through PayPal, which includes tracking, so the information gets sent to my buyers when I print the mailing lable.

[DutchBoy]

It's not required of them, no.

For a long time I didn't do it myself, but now I always send them two emails at least; one saying I got their payment and when they can expect their item to ship, and another (which is sent straight from PayPal) with their delivery confirmation #s.

But again, not required.

[dvdirv]

As both an eBay buyer and seller, I can comment on this matter.

As a a buyer, I get tracking or just shipping confirmations about half the time. I don't know what's so hard about letting the buyer know that you've shipped your item.

As a seller I send out immediate email upon payment and then another email when I ship the item with tracking (UPS) and/or delivery confirmation (USPS).

For the life of me, I just can't understand why it so difficult for some eBay sellers to communicate with their buyers.

[jw]

I bought it through paypal and the shipping method is Royal Mail. There's no mention of any tracking ... I received no shipment confirmation ... just the email saying it would ship that day (it's been a couple days since that day).

After reading this, Royal mail to the US is not trackable, The seller shipped it on said date, yet tracking isnt available via that service

[Kinsella5]

As someone who has been selling on eBay for the past 12 years, nearly as long as eBay has been around, I have found that giving my customers the best service possible is the only way to go. I use the USPS.com Shipping Assistant software to print out the shipping labels which include delivery confirmation already built-in to it. Using Priority Mail, delivery confirmation is free, using first class mail, media mail, parcel post, delivery confirmation is only .18 cents. When a customer pays with Paypal I go to their payment and then click "Add tracking info" and select "shipped" along with the delivery confirmation number as well as the carrier (in most cases USPS). I also email the buyer personally thanking them for their order and when they should receive their order. Providing the delivery confirmation number via the Paypal page (which automatically saves it on their servers but also emails the number to the buyer) helps protect me as a seller from having buyers try to make false claims saying "I never received the item" when in fact, unless it hadn't arrived yet, I always refer to the delivery confirmation number issued to them.

One problem I have noticed is that some buyers don't have the same email address for their eBay and Paypal accounts so some end up not realizing this and emailing me from their eBay account, when they haven't checked their Paypal email address on file that the info gets sent to.

With International orders, the USPS Customs form acts as their tracking/delivery confirmation number. I believe "Royal Mail" is the United Kingdom's version of our "First Class Mail" When I ship to the UK it can either go First Class International (formerly known as Air Letter Post) or it can go Priority Mail International (formerly known as Air Parcel Post). Those are the terms for shipping TO overseas. Shipping overseas to US I believe Royal Mail is classified as "First Class".

The seller should have provided a customs form and somewhere on there would be a tracking/customs form number that they could provide to you and you should be able to track via the USPS.com website with it.

Also, remember that when a package is shipped out of the country or a package is shipped to the United States it has to go through U.S. Customs. That could cause a delay so don't expect something nearly as fast as if you ordered it here in the U.S. either. First Class International usually takes 7 to 10 business days and that is with a quick clear through Customs but sometimes it can take longer so before you leave negative feedback for the seller or you get concerned, give it at least 14 business days (you can't count Sundays) before you should contact the seller inquiring to the status. I do feel you should send the seller an email asking for the Custom's form number as that will help you out.

[jw]

As someone who has been selling on eBay for the past 12 years, nearly as long as eBay has been around, I have found that giving my customers the best service possible is the only way to go. I use the USPS.com Shipping Assistant software to print out the shipping labels which include delivery confirmation already built-in to it. Using Priority Mail, delivery confirmation is free, using first class mail, media mail, parcel post, delivery confirmation is only .18 cents. When a customer pays with Paypal I go to their payment and then click "Add tracking info" and select "shipped" along with the delivery confirmation number as well as the carrier (in most cases USPS). I also email the buyer personally thanking them for their order and when they should receive their order. Providing the delivery confirmation number via the Paypal page (which automatically saves it on their servers but also emails the number to the buyer) helps protect me as a seller from having buyers try to make false claims saying "I never received the item" when in fact, unless it hadn't arrived yet, I always refer to the delivery confirmation number issued to them.

you are doing alot of extra work for nothing, Paypal has a multi-order shipping, All you have to do is enter the shipping weights and Paypal records the #, the postage is paid and d/c is emailed to both you and the buyer

With International orders, the USPS Customs form acts as their tracking/delivery confirmation number. I believe "Royal Mail" is the United Kingdom's version of our "First Class Mail" When I ship to the UK it can either go First Class International (formerly known as Air Letter Post) or it can go Priority Mail International (formerly known as Air Parcel Post). Those are the terms for shipping TO overseas. Shipping overseas to US I believe Royal Mail is classified as "First Class".

Its still not a 'tracking' number, All it will ever show is Acceptance at the said Post office
Link (this item has been delivered and feedback rec'd/left)

posting that as a tracking number will cause issues if that buyer tracks it as all it is in actuality is a recorded number for the USPS and the receiving customs office for internal processing

[Kinsella5]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

you are doing alot of extra work for nothing, Paypal has a multi-order shipping, All you have to do is enter the shipping weights and Paypal records the #, the postage is paid and d/c is emailed to both you and the buyer

Its still not a 'tracking' number, All it will ever show is Acceptance at the said Post office
Link (this item has been delivered and feedback rec'd/left)

posting that as a tracking number will cause issues if that buyer tracks it as all it is in actuality is a recorded number for the USPS and the receiving customs office for internal processing

My packages vary in weight and I am so used to doing it this way I don't want to change. LOL! Regarding the customs number, yes, it will show acceptance, and not a "real-time" tracking device but it is better than nothing, which is what the buyer has right now.

[Blu-Benny]

if it's something u want to make sure nothing happens to, i'd ask the seller for a tracking # or whatever.

otherwise, when i sell on ebay, i don't get one unless someone specifically asks for one.