A warning about printing out ebay shipping labels.

pf70collector · March 27, 2017 6:45AM

I just wanted to pass on to the forum about using ebay shipping labels. Do not use them.

I sent a priority package to a customer and used an ebay shipping label. I never used them before. I always wrote out the address for the label.

The label has the "from" address in larger print than the "to" print and because of this, the automated machine at the post office read the larger print which was the "from" address as the shipping address and sent the package back to me. It went all the way to California and than came back to me here in Maryland.

Now , I have to argue with the post office as to his fault it was that this happened. The supervisor I talked on the phone says it was my fault, even thought technically the label was correct and they did accept the package without saying anything about the label.

Just a note of caution about ebay shipping labels.

bigjpst · March 27, 2017 6:51AM

I have been using eBay shipping labels for several years and for well over 1000 packages. Never had this issue.

Wabbit2313 · March 27, 2017 6:52AM

Been using them for years, no problems ever.

Do not use them and hand write them instead? NO THANKS!

amwldcoin · March 27, 2017 6:54AM

Sure you don't have the font enlarged on your return address? Thousands of packages shipped here and never had that happen!

Sonnys88 · March 27, 2017 7:03AM

Have shipped thousands of packages this way for years as well. Never a problem.

The labels from eBay are approved by the USPS and in a format that their machines read easily. So, must be more to the story about your package being returned...

tincup · March 27, 2017 7:12AM

Not sure if you can change font size on portion of shipping labels or not, as I have never tried doing so. But I am in the group of never have had this situation happen to me....

pf70collector · March 27, 2017 7:12AM

These are not the USPS prepaid shipping labels, They are in the pull down menu that has a invoice packing slip along with shipping address labels on the same page.

oih82w8 · March 27, 2017 7:15AM

No problems on this end either...possible fluke. I don't think the font can be changed...at least I don't think it can.

jonruns · March 27, 2017 7:16AM

Not an issue for me!!

CascadeChris · March 27, 2017 7:21AM

The machines read the barcode to get all the info for routing not the actual printed addresses. That is for the carriers so they know which box to put it in when hand delivering it to the destination. Not sure why your package was returned but it wasn't because the machines "read the wrong address"

coindeuce · March 27, 2017 7:49AM

@CascadeChris said:
The machines read the barcode to get all the info for routing not the actual printed addresses. That is for the carriers so they know which box to put it in when hand delivering it to the destination. Not sure why your package was returned but it wasn't because the machines "read the wrong address"

I agree with CascadeChris.
The OP didn't use a prepaid shipping label as previously stated above. They generated a shipping label from their selling manager sales record. The manual selection for a combination of shipping label / packing slip generates the pair for use with applied postage (stamps or a PVI at the service counter). I noticed the same default while back checking one of my sales records. It is an eBay defect. The return address font is several points larger than the ship to address. That still shouldn't be cause for the USPS to make such a glaring mistake. The only possible reason I could see for the mix-up is that the shipping label prints out with both return and ship to addresses in very close proximity. This doesn't seem like a plausible reason, because the pre-printed Priority Mail labels that the USPS provides are only 3-1/2" X 4-3/4" dimension, with space for handwritten return and ship to address are spaced almost directly in line vertically. Never had a problem with one of those, ever.
I'd speculate that a Postal clerk at a sort facility entered the return address ZIP code when they were applying the bar code to the Priority envelope, which would conflict with the posted ship to address.

pf70collector · March 27, 2017 8:00AM

@coindeuce said:

@CascadeChris said:
The machines read the barcode to get all the info for routing not the actual printed addresses. That is for the carriers so they know which box to put it in when hand delivering it to the destination. Not sure why your package was returned but it wasn't because the machines "read the wrong address"

I agree with CascadeChris.
The OP didn't use a prepaid shipping label as previously stated above. They generated a shipping label from their selling manager sales record. The manual selection for a combination of shipping label / packing slip generates the pair for use with applied postage (stamps or a PVI at the service counter). I noticed the same default while back checking one of my sales records. It is an eBay defect. The return address font is several points larger than the ship to address. That still shouldn't be cause for the USPS to make such a glaring mistake. The only possible reason I could see for the mix-up is that the shipping label prints out with both return and ship to addresses in very close proximity. This doesn't seem like a plausible reason, because the pre-printed Priority Mail labels that the USPS provides are only 3-1/2" X 4-3/4" dimension, with space for handwritten return and ship to address are spaced almost directly in line vertically. Never had a problem with one of those, ever.
I'd speculate that a Postal clerk at a sort facility entered the return address ZIP code when they were applying the bar code to the Priority envelope, which would conflict with the posted ship to address.

Thanks, at least that is one explanation I can use when trying to get them to ship the item again for free.

The package did go all the way to California before it was returned. So at least it went that far with no probem.

The supervisor on the phone said it was an automated machine that read the address label wrong. I also purchased insurance with probably at least had the shipping info on the form, or at least the zip code is was supposed to be delivered to.

jdimmick · March 27, 2017 11:55AM

same here, mail numerous packages daily, never had this issue come up

derryb · March 27, 2017 3:54PM

Print your labels from paypal.

topstuf · March 27, 2017 4:24PM

I write my own labels and don't bother with the ebay OR paypal ones.
Don't ship much but also don't want to bother with these redirect forms.
I notify buyers with a message.

I am a stick in the mud old geezer.

pf70collector · March 27, 2017 4:35PM

I also usually write out my labels, but for some reason this time I was too lazy. This was probably the first time I used this kind of ebay label.

mustangmanbob · March 27, 2017 5:17PM

Shipped over 1K just this year, and been on ebay for 15+ years, never had any sort of a problem like this.

talkingwalnut2 · March 27, 2017 5:23PM

I am a grouchy grouch who hates everything so when I say that having ebay/paypal print out the label and auto-deduct from your paypal is easy and reliable, you can believe it's true. They give you a pretty good discount, too. Just try it once and you'll be hooked.

thebeav · March 27, 2017 5:27PM

@talkingwalnut2 said:

They give you a pretty good discount, too. Just try it once and you'll be hooked.

I think this is more like, they used to give you a pretty good discount. At least, that's the case with first class.

jwitten · March 27, 2017 5:32PM

@thebeav said:

@talkingwalnut2 said:

They give you a pretty good discount, too. Just try it once and you'll be hooked.

I think this is more like, they used to give you a pretty good discount. At least, that's the case with first class.

The discount on my packages is like 3 cents or something silly

OPA · March 27, 2017 6:29PM

@jwitten said:

@thebeav said:

@talkingwalnut2 said:

They give you a pretty good discount, too. Just try it once and you'll be hooked.

I think this is more like, they used to give you a pretty good discount. At least, that's the case with first class.

The discount on my packages is like 3 cents or something silly

I've mailed out thousands of items using eBay shipping labels and never had an issue. FYI. The more your items weighs, the greater the discount. Yes, for items 4 oz or less, the savings is 3 cents, ($2.61 with tracking aka Delivery Confirmation).

Coinstartled · March 27, 2017 6:59PM

@bigjpst said:
I have been using eBay shipping labels for several years and for well over 1000 packages. Never had this issue.

Ditto

pf70collector · March 31, 2017 8:10AM

The P.O. accepted responsibility about the mix up. The clerk put the package in a priority envelope and sent it to the postmaster at the destination P.O. so the mix up will not occur again. Glad I didn't have to even argue my side and not pay again for shipping and insurance.

ctf_error_coins · March 31, 2017 8:18AM

You need to change the OP about NOT using ebay shipping labels as the post office made the mistake and not the evil ebay.

KellenCoin · March 31, 2017 8:42AM

I have never had this issue.

A warning about printing out ebay shipping labels.

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