Etsy Postage Labels Has anyone had this happen?

[#1]

I have been purchasing Etsy postage labels for a long time and have not really had any problems.  I always have my packages scanned at the post office.  However one of my packages is showing that postage has not been paid even though Etsy has taken it out of my account.  When I checked the tracking number, I saw this message:

"Delayed for postage assessment, held awaiting payment

US"

It goes on to say that if it is not paid, the package will become the property of USPS.   

Has anyone experienced this?  Did it turn out to be a glitch?  

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

@TimeSpanTreasures  It does not look like it is on its way to the buyer at this point.  I called USPS and got the usual run around.  It is still saying that they are holding it for payment which doesn't make sense.  

[TimeSpanTreasures]

No, it doesn't make sense.

[IndustrialBlonde]

I wonder if this is the moment that we all need to switch to Pirate Ship. Hmmm… 

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I have a Pirate Ship account, but I have never used it.  I don't think Etsy accepts its software anymore.  I think you have to copy and paste the tracking onto the order with Pirate Ship now.  

[ZehOriginalArt]

This is what I do and I do not use the Etsy integration even though I can. If I want to print labels the day before or two days before, then with the integration Etsy shows as shipped the day I purchase the labels, not the day that I select on PS. 

I find it very easy to copy/paste the entire address into PS, then copy the tracking number and mark complete on Etsy and print the packing slip on Etsy. And this way, I can select the proper ship date while doing so. I also like that my Etsy orders and website orders and personal shipping are all in one place.

Pirate Ship has great customer service too.

[vintageNCtreasures]

I found an old reddit post from 2 years ago from an Etsy seller. It was for a PM express package.  Someone mentioned maybe they'd printed the label the day before they took it to the PO  and that was why USPS denied it but the OP never came back and updated the post.

The post had that USPS denied the label, stated reasons were the postage had not been paid or the indicia was expired.
ETSY support told them to contact Pitney Bowes. 

A seller would have ZERO luck contacting Pitney bowes about this because sellers don't have an account with PB, Etsy does.

I tried to find some old posts here but didn't have any luck but I'm fairly certain I remember this happening before though it's been a while.

[TimeSpanTreasures]

@vintageNCtreasures 

The warnings on this USPS page, dated 6/14/25, sound rather ominous for any package marked with that  Package Delayed for Postage Assessment and Held Awaiting Payment notice.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Counterfeit-Postage-and-Unpaid-Postage#package_delayed_for_postage_as...

I found complaints from those selling on Amazon and Shopify receiving these warnings; Amazon going back to March of this year, Shopify complaints more recent.

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I printed the label the same day I took the package to the post office so it couldn't be that.   I always have my packages scanned right there.  I would think they would know at the first scan that there was a problem. 

[BagmakerSupply]

Didn't sellers using Ebay labels (which I believe are also through Pitney Bowes) have a similar problem with their labels a couple of years ago?

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I think I heard that on some forums.  I'm afraid to continue using Etsy labels now.  

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I had heard somewhere that Pitney Bowes was filing for bankruptcy and would start to cease operations this year.  I don't know if it is true, but Etsy needs to look into this and look for alternatives. 

[BagmakerSupply]

@JenAshleyDollDesigns: An e-commerce unit of Pitney Bowes, filed for bankruptcy but this does not involve other Pitney Bowes units like their postage service.

[DaisyLaneBows]

I think I figured this out. If you buy and print and the label the same day that you receive the order, USPS will seize the item like this. I’ve had multiple packages have this problem this week. It’s very frustrating. So I have to just wait until the next day to buy and print the label. 

[TimeSpanTreasures]

I don't think that would be it.

Every day, sellers purchase  shipping labels and ship on the same day the sales come in.

So far, it doesn't seem to be a widespread problem, but it is troubling for it to happen to any order that is shipped.

Nothing wrong, though, with waiting a day before printing and shipping a package.

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I'm not sure.  I shipped this particular order the next day.  I bought and printed the shipping label just before I went to the post office.  

[DaisyLaneBows]

I think it’s a new problem though. I didn’t have any issues early last week but the issues started Thursday for me. And it was only on packages where I printed the label the same day the order was placed. 🤷🏼‍

[TinLizziAntiques]

OP, open a "where's my package" request on the USPS website. You will list the correct destination. That request usually gets delayed packages moving again. The postage should be correct for the right destination.

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

When I do that, it leads me back to the message saying that it is delayed waiting for payment and that it will become the property of USPS if not paid.  I even called USPS and went through all the steps only to have a robot read off the same message.  LOL

[BeJeweledByDEBORAH]

I have now received an identical message for a package that was shipped yesterday with Etsy postage. I've communicated with Etsy via Chat and was told that this happens "when USPS conducts a fraud check on a shipping label prematurely since the 'system' doesn't have all the necessary information at the time of the check which makes it seem like the incorrect postage amount was collected". They said that the situation should resolve itself within 24 business hours. We'll see.

[TimeSpanTreasures]

@BeJeweledByDEBORAH 

I am sorry you have gotten this message now for one of your packages.

Please keep us updated.

I am skeptical about the reply you got from Etsy - a premature check? WTH?

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

This makes me think there is something up with Etsy labels for sure.  It has been 6 days since I shipped my package.  I also contacted Etsy Chat.  

[TimeSpanTreasures]

@JenAshleyDollDesigns 

Skeptical me says there is an issue with Etsy or Pitney Bowes payments to USPS. 

[TuffKnots]

What did Etsy Chat have to say?  I have the same problem...actually printed label and dropped it off last Wednesday also.  I went to post office saturday morning and they assured me that the package is moving through the system and it's a glitch with the tracking... but idk because it's still saying the same thing!  I did print the label and say that it would ship on the 19th, ended up dropping it off on the 18th but well after last pickup time.  Very frustrating that it's still not updated!

[BeJeweledByDEBORAH]

@TuffKnots: I interpreted Etsy chat to say it's a USPS glitch and should correct itself within 24 hours. However, the Tracking on my particular order for which this message has appeared hasn't changed since late Saturday. I'm going to my local PO this morning and plan to see if the staff there can shed light on the situation.

[BeJeweledByDEBORAH]

I interpreted Etsy chat to say it's a USPS glitch and should correct itself within 24 hours. However, the Tracking on my particular order for which this message has appeared hasn't changed since late Saturday. I'm going to my local PO this morning and plan to see if the staff there can shed light on the situation.