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?  

[BeJeweledByDEBORAH]

UPDATE --- GOOD NEWS: At my local PO this morning, the clerk was as perplexed as I when she viewed the Tracking. Said she had never seen this message before. The "delayed for postage assessment" status is what appeared on her USPS issued phone and at her computer. However, after going to a different computer where she was able to access USPS software, she saw the true Tracking which showed my package has reached its destination distribution center. She suggested it is a glitch in the USPS app that indiscriminately gives this status, and there's likely no rhyme or reason. Yes, it's frustrating and causes angst, but at least we know it's a glitch. Hopefully, it will resolve soon.

[ScollonStudio]

All my packages that got picked up on Saturday have this same message. I'm beyond stressed out.

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

Oh, no!  Etsy really need to get this straightened out.  I used Pirate Ship today.  I don't have it integrated, and I don't think you can anymore, but I just copied and pasted the tracking number.  My local post office is currently working on my situation from the 17th.  Your local PO might be able to help.

[TuffKnots]

I stopped at the post office again this afternoon and their tracking system showed it was delivered today, even though online what I can see is still showing that it’s delayed for postage to be paid.

[ScollonStudio]

They stated they have never seen this before. They did check a few tracking numbers, and on her side, they are moving-thank goodness. Hopefully, they will get delivered as scheduled. 

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I just found out my package was delivered this morning even though tracking still has that strange message. The people at my PO also thought it was strange. 

[ScollonStudio]

That's great news!

[TimeSpanTreasures]

It's good news that packages are moving and getting delivered, even though that ominous postage not paid message is still showing.

If this were me, I would ask the local post office to print out the tracking delivery info for me, so I would have it in case a buyer claims not to have received it, based on the tracking not updating/showing delivery.

I've had my local post office staff be very accommodating in printing out their internal information for me with an issue I had a couple of years ago with a delivery.

[DallasStoneworks]

I had this happen last Monday.  The post office internal tracking showed that they sent the package to Indianapolis for a couple days (I assume for the third party verification) and then on to the customer.  It took 7 days to be delivered to the customer and the online tracking never updated.  There's a couple strings on Reddit right now discussing the problem and it's not just Etsy labels having problems so it's a pre printed label issue.

It sounds like the tracking numbers are being recycled too quickly and packages are getting flagged as fraud.  There's some scam where people reuse tracking numbers so it's probably USPS trying to catch the scammers.

[3BeadDesigns]

I have had this happens twice now in the last two days.  I went to my local PO and they had never seen anything like this.  When they checked the tracking, it had the package as delivered in/at mailbox.  I am waiting to hear back from the customers to see if that is true.  It appears to be a glitch with USPS.  

If this happens, and the package does not get delivered, the customer will have to pick it up at their post office and pay for additional postage. We can not do that on our end, according to USPS.

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

My customer sent me a message saying that she had received it or I would not have known, but it still says that it is delayed awaiting payment.  I am using Pirate Ship until this gets straightened out.  

[CharmedByKnots]

Just wanted to add that I am having the same issue as well.  I dropped off around 30 packages or so on Friday and have this alert on 6 of them.  I’ve been chatting with Etsy support nearly everyday and all they can do is give me the same boilerplate message over and over stating that usps probably prematurely initiated a fraud investigation and it should fix itself in a day or two.  

I spoke with usps on the phone and they said Etsy has to fix it and it’s not a fraud check it’s that they haven’t received payment from Etsy.   

unfortunately I’m out of town so I haven’t been able to physically go in to the post office. I won’t be back for a week so I have my fingers crossed it resolves itself.   

[BeJeweledByDEBORAH]

@CharmedbyKnots...     The USPS Clerk at my local PO confirmed that it is a glitch in the USPS app. She was able to pull up the "real" Tracking via USPS software (to which the public doesn't have access) on one of my packages to which this happened, and it showed the package was actually in Transit (this was two days ago) and had reached its destination Distribution Facility. This was in spite of Tracking on my end showing that it was being held for postage payment. This has nothing to do with Etsy, and it is not because Etsy hasn't paid its bill to USPS.

[CharmedByKnots]

Thanks so much! This is helping calm my nerves.  

[BeJeweledByDEBORAH]

At this point, we're beating a dead horse, but...My particular package that got stuck because it was "held for postage assessment" showed this same message in Tracking through last night (for a total of 5 days). However, this morning, Tracking suddenly updated to show all points of movement for the package, and it was actually delivered three days ago. Go figure.

[PrettyCuteCuts]

I have 4 packages in this status from 06/20. Upon researching online, I see that all selling platforms are having the same issue. I wonder how many days it takes to actually get delivered. 

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

In my case, the package was delivered in a week but tracking still shows that it is awaiting payment.  Your local post office might be able to tell you where your packages are.  Mine had gone across the country in the opposite direction from where it was supposed to go.  

[PrettyCuteCuts]

Thank you! I will reach out and hope they can give me more info. 

[PulpPourri]

This happened to me too, Shipped 3 packages and one was held up saying "awaiting payment." My buyer saw that on the tracking and requested a refund so I contacted Etsy, who recommended I tell them that it's merely a technical glitch with usps and be patient, that it should deliver as normal. I don't know about normal, but the next day the tracking changed back to "in transit." Still, it took 10 days to get there, which seems excessive, but it did get there and I'm very grateful my buyer was so patient. I'm definitely reluctant to use USPS again.

[JenAshleyDollDesigns]

I stopped using Etsy labels after my incident.  The package was delivered but tracking still has the same message.