Tracking already in use for this order- Etsy withholding money!

[Killerwhaleartist]

I recently noticed that I wasn't getting any of my funds from my transactions. I went into the app to see that Etsy has started putting my account in a reserve. I haven't received hardly any of my money in over a month. I saw that my money would be given to me if I started adding valid tracking to orders but every time I try to do so, I get a message saying the tracking number is already in use. I am so lost. I am being punished by Etsy for their own software issues. I am now having to pay twice the amount to ship with USPS and I am not happy. Is anyone else having this issue? If so, how did you fix it? Can we even fix this or are we stuck paying double and sometimes triple the amount in shipping labels? 

[BootifulLabels]

If you are buying Etsy labels, the tracking is added automatically, so that might explain why it tells you the tracking number is already in use if you are trying to add what is already there.

[Killerwhaleartist]

I am not sure why they would be withholding my money then. I never used to have this problem. Even when I purchase labels on Etsy, they still require I add tracking numbers. When I do so, I get that message about the number already being in use. Something is amiss. 

[ChantillyAvenue]

Long processing times on made to order items could be the problem.  If you use Etsy labels, you shouldn't have to add tracking at all, unless you're combining orders and using one label.  If you don't like Etsy labels, consider Pirate Ship.  It integrates well with Etsy.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

if you are amending the dispatch information afterwards, the new date is used.

you have to ship on time too, for the money to be released, and you don't have the ships-on-time-with-tracking badge.

download your csv  to see  what is happening

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

Are you buying the label when you get the order and then trying to add the tracking number again when you ship?

The label should be bought on the day of shipment.

[Killerwhaleartist]

I purchase the label on the same day of shipment. I contacted Etsy support and they told me I had to go back and add packages to the orders that "didn't have tracking numbers". Even though they delivered ages ago. 

[JMOldeVintage]

@Killerwhaleartist  - From what you've said, it sounds as if you did not mark the orders complete and add the tracking number.

If Etsy support advised you to go back to the orders & finish "the paperwork" then I don't see why you wouldn't do so.

Note, going back into old orders, marking complete & adding tracking will generate a "package shipped" email to the buyer.
Add something on your end in the message section or send an email stating something along the lines that you are doing some "paperwork housekeeping" and apologize for this late notification. 

As with anything, there can be glitches. Even when purchasing Etsy Labels, it might not hurt to go back into your orders in a day or two to double check that everything has 'stuck'. You do have 3 days to edit any shipping/tracking information you have entered on an order. 

[JMOldeVintage]

@Killerwhaleartist  - An account reserve might be placed on a shop for a variety of reasons. One of them is the lack of tracking.

However, you are in the USA and state you at times use Etsy labels. When purchasing Etsy labels the order is automatically marked completed & the tracking # is added. If you are using an outside service such as Pirate Ship & don't have your shop synced then yes you would need to go into the order, mark complete & add the tracking info.
USPS is the "carrier of choice" for most in the US, so I'm confused when you say "I am now having to pay twice the amount to ship with USPS ". Your items are small, so I don't see you using FedEx or UPS, but I could be wrong. Though Etsy does recognize these carriers tracking.

So, possibly you are not shipping on time? Orders must be shipped by the last "ship by" date on the order. This is dictated by the processing time you have entered on your listings. 
Note, that Etsy looks at the 'shipping process' as one step. The tracking & timely shipping of orders is "one step", these two details are not judged/considered separately.

Say this because at the moment, the only thing that offers any shops a reprieve from a PAR is having the Star Seller badge. You have the reviews badge but not the shipping badge. The shipping badge is based on USA shops shipping on time and having tracking on all orders.

As for the messages badge - if you never receive any messages you will not receive this one but you can still become a star seller. If you do receive messages but are not responding in the expected time frame, this is an easy fix. Set up auto-reply and remember to reset it every 5 days. No, doing that alone is not good customer service & buyers can find it annoying, so you really do need to send a real reply in a timely fashion. But the auto-reply makes Etsy happy for the moment & allows a shop to satisfy the 'messages' requirements.