Orders Constantly Stuck In Pre-Transit

[RoyEvanArtwork]

Hi!

Anyone else have problems with buying shipping from Etsy and even tho the items are shipped out immediately, the tracking Etsy provides constantly shows "Pre-Transit" even tho they were mailed out and customers received them.

It's counting against my Star Seller rating, and will probably lose that status next month as 5 orders that were received by customers will count as not delivered.

[NanaLetha]

Are you buying Etsy labels and mailing as a package? If you are mailing as a flat or letter, then the tracking numbers are not USPS tracking numbers but numbers assigned by Pitney Bowes.

[RoyEvanArtwork]

yes, but usually always it shows in transit and where they are in the Etsy orders listing, and will show delivered the they arrives, but on on 5 of the ones I mailed this month

[SurnamePro]

When I ship USPS using Etsy labels I take them to the Post Office. Yes it is in "Pre-Transit" and stays that way until the Post Office scans it in the system. My Post Office has a place where you can leave the package and they take it from there. Normally it does not get scanned until that evening - maybe tomorrow too. One time I had a package that when thru the system (without a scan) and didn't get scanned until it arrived at their Post Office. So this made it look like it was in "Pre-Transit" for days when it wasn't. The alternative is to stand in line at the Post Office, wait your turn, and ask the clerk to scan it in. They do that if you want them to.

[GrantsEmporium]

I've had quite a few "Pre-transit" problems. I've chosen the correct shipping company, 'Colissimo' and then the next time I look Etsy has chosen a different shipping company (Chronopost). Obviously the tracking number doesn't work! I've also lost my Star Seller status!!!

[AAANativeArts]

That is because your post office isn't doing their initial scans to put them in the system. You need to stand there and make sure they do it.  Either ask your mail carrier at your house or the clerk at the post office to scan it right then. It will show pre-transit until some post office along the way scans them into the system.

If they are the Pitney Bowes tracking numbers on letters and flats, those aren't real tracking numbers. I'm not sure how they work, but Etsy is  supposed to recognize them for Star Seller purposes.

[RoyEvanArtwork]

yes, but usually always it shows in transit and where they are in the Etsy orders listing, and will show delivered the they arrives even tho they are Pitney Bowles, but on 5 of the ones I mailed this month they didn't show as in transit, delivered etc.

[hopeandjoystudios]

If you are shipping as a FC letter or a FC flat that is probably the reason. The tracking is crap and doesn't update like it should. SHOULD that be happening? NO! Your best bet is to MAKE it a FC package with USPS actual tracking.

[JDTotesnDolls]

There is no tracking with letters/flats.  It is delivery confirmation only.   Pitney Bowes only made it possible but since flats and letters are not handled the same way packages are, it is easy for the post office to miss.  

The tracking system does not work for confirmation only which is why letters/flats can only be 'tracked' on Pitney Bowes site. 

[RoyEvanArtwork]

USPS tracking will cost about $4 whereas Etsy tracking for a regular letter size envelope only costs 60¢

[NancyQstudio]

I'm having a lack of documentation happening with USPS in general.  I don't usually purchase Etsy labels.  This month I've have two packages showing they have no assigned tracking. Each have traveled across the country.   And both have already been received by my buyers.  One was a larger package.  Unfortunately my post office does not allow us to watch them scan packages to insure it's done.  They have set procedures in place for dropped off packages.  I'm not sure if this would have mattered since tracking documentation seems to have been missed at every step.  This is becoming very common. 

[JDTotesnDolls]

@NancyQstudio    Won't they do the scan at the counter?  Mine do. 

I use the kiosk though to get that first scan as it is more convenient.

If your post office is not complying with the rules regarding scanning which means they are to do it at your request at least then I would register a complaint.  

[Jewels2at]

I have 7 orders on my pre-transit page that all have "delivered" on them.  Etsy has forwarded it to their techs...have not heard back from them in weeks.

[JDTotesnDolls]

Are you taking the items in to be scanned at the counter?  Are you scanning at the kiosk if your post office has one?

Have you complained to your post office about the lack of scanning?  Have you filed a complaint?

I find scanning the items myself or making sure the items get scanned is the best way to get that first scan needed.  

If these are first class letters/flats they don't get handled the same way as packages.  You can still ask for the scan at the counter but they can only be 'tracked' on Pitney Bowes site.

Sincel last January 2022 delivery confirmation for flats/letters has been haphazard.

BTW your bookmark would not qualify for flats/letters as it would not allow for an even surface.

[RoyEvanArtwork]

Hi!

These were all flat envelopes, Stickers and few few photos, so they are all flat envelopes. Until this month I always dropped them in the mailbox and they were always scanned by the post office and showed in transit and delivered on Etsy even though the tracking is by Pitney Bowles. 

Oh and btw the bookmarks always work as the envelope is lest then 1/4" thick. Never had any problems with them

[RoyEvanArtwork]

Update, I guess the Post Office isn't scanning the letters like they are supposed to, all the letters were delivered even tho tracking all showed "Pre-Transit"

So I'm still going to suffer as Etsy will consider these not shipped. That sucks!

[sweetserendipityvint]

hopefully buyer will give review so Etsy knows it was delivered

[QuirkyAntiquesStore]

You can physically take them to the Post Office and have them scanned into the system in front of you. That's the only way to guarantee they will get scanned. Its what I do.

[TheMagickalNeedle]

You can go to the online usps website and fill out a where is my package form? Maybe that will have them update to delivered status. I have had one or 2 last year that I personally brought to the post office that was 1st class and it was delivered, but still says pretransit

[AcmeRainbows]

this was happening with packages until last month or so for many of us...it's been corrected as far as I know.  Initially I had to chat with tech support to get the delivered packages changed from pre-transit to DELIVERED, as my star rating was also affected.  However, the issue has been resolved for me.  Not sure if this is related but there it is...maybe the issue remains for flats/envelopes.

[Oldfarmwoodcraft]

If anyone is on a payment reserve Etsy will keep a lot of your shipped orders with valid tracking in pre-dispatch status.

They are doing this so they don't have to pay out if you are on a payment Reserves account.

The labels stay in 'pre-transit' even when there's activity visible on the DHL tracking site as being delivered. It was a negative impact for my shipping star seller last time. Any time line when this issue will be resolved? I currently have three in pre transit but all have been confirmed delivered to recipient.

[sweetserendipityvint]

I had one this last week.  Went to post office where I dropped off the package plus a couple others that were tracking.  He said if they miss a scan at local post office, it won't update until scanned at final destination.  He did take the tracking number and added it in as scanned manually but then it shows as I dropped it off that day but was supposed get the rest of the tracking caught up eventually.  That was Monday.  Its Wednesday and that is still the only scan showing and customer received item Monday night.  

[sweetserendipityvint]

oh and its not Etsy's fault - it is the shipping service not scanning correctly

[LLclassiqueVintage]

Bummer .. I still had two outstanding package, One is still "waiting for scan" and the other one is still in the "pre-transit" stage. Went to the post office still no answer.

[ExcelsiorEmbroidery]

I ship iron on patches as first class letters using the Pitney Bowes tracking. I am having the same problem. I am having a sharp uptick in these items not being delivered. 

I wildly cheaper and lets me offer free shipping but I am going to Switch my shipping over to proper packages. Between the headache of having to follow up with them as well as send out replacement packages, I'm going to have to charge for shipping. That's all there is to it.