USPS Tracking Number Wrong

[PiecefulDesign]

TL;DR Etsy seems to have applied incorrect tracking on a package; customer tried to claim that package wasn't delivered as tracking says it went to wrong city

I'm working with USPS on a weird situation.  I recently had a customer reach out to tell me that tracking stated that her package was delivered to a different city than what she put in for her address-- and therefore she didn't receive it. I panicked, as one does, and started researching what might have happened.  And I have to say I'm stumped.

Here are the facts: Customer ordered item 11/8; I shipped on 11/9.  I use Etsy labels, create a scan sheet for my carrier and arrange for porch pick up.  I do the same thing every morning for hundreds of packages a month.  Nothing was different in this situation.  When contacted by the customer, I followed the tracking link on my orders dashboard-- and it says the package was delivered to a different town (in the same state) five days before she ever ordered it, and originated in Ohio (and I'm in Arizona).  So, obviously, this isn't the same package.  So why is the tracking wrong?

(As for the customer, she had already left a glowing review about the product-- so she obviously had received it.  I made sure to lock in her 5 star review by responding with some heartfelt gratitude and then told her she had indeed received the product and should stop asking where it was)

I've worked with USPS to try to figure this out.  Obviously, somehow, the wrong tracking number was assigned to this package. USPS has hit a dead end and has no idea what went wrong.

Anyone else ever have this happen?

[ArtDollsbyJD]

Probably not the tracking number.  The item got into the wrong bin at the sort center.  This has happened to me once years ago.

Or it was a reused tracking number. Supposedly there is a time lapse between use.  Maybe this is just a glitch.

The tracking numbers are assigned by USPS not Etsy.  So a computer error.

IF they can't locate, can you send another and use this on taxes next year?

[hopeandjoystudios]

Sounds like the tracking number was an old one that was not cleared out of the system. BUT the package still had her address on it and should have arrived. Good you locked the review. Either she DID get it and is trying to pull a fast one after noting the tracking info or she never did get it. I would continue asking the USPS about it. I assume this was not a Pitney Bowes tracking number (FC Flat) but a regular USPS one?

[PiecefulDesign]

This was a regular Ground Advantage package.  The PO is out of ideas-- and I spoke with him for more than 30 minutes over two different calls.  I've never had a PO person be so involved 

[PiecefulDesign]

The tracking number Etsy generated is the only one I have - and it says it went from Ohio to the wrong city, and I'm in AZ.  In talking to USPS, they don't reuse for 6 months.  The customer reviewed the product, so I have no reason to believe they didn't get it

[PiecefulDesign]

UPDATE: Mystery solved.  Customer placed the order LAST YEAR and was trying to scam me into giving them a refund.  Me, a trusting soul, didn't check the year-- only the month and day.  Sneaky-- and mean

[hopeandjoystudios]

Good catch! And boo and bad karma to her.