Bogus Tracking information?

jazzy

Not sure if this is a scam.
I recently won an item on an ebay auction, which turned out to be a bargain. The status of the order was updated to show that the item had been sent with a tracking number. When you check the tracking information it appears that the tracking number is a made up number and is not recognised through Yodel tracking.
The item should have been delivered today but the tracking is not updating to be shown in transit.
I contacted the seller who said he would come back to me, but he never did.
Is this some kind of scam?

soolin

It might be a scam it might be a lost item, the outcome is the same though if item doesn’t arrive then the day after the estimated delivery date you can open an INR . Unfortunately due to metrics some sellers prefer to pretend an item is lost rather than cancel the sale and get a defect. 

TripleH

It could be that there was a typo when the number was entered or the seller entered the wrong details (I have before).

I have also had orders (as buyer and seller) that still only say Dispatched when I have received the item / buyer has left feedback.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

eBay doesn't always pull the tracking data through, have you tried the tracking number on Yodel:

https://www.yodel.co.uk/track 

MSE_Laura_F

Is the item definitely supposed to be tracked, or could the tracking number in fact be the postage label reference? Perhaps the item was actually sent second class but the buyer scanned the label so the tracking number field was automatically populated? Just a thought.

jazzy

MSE_Laura_F said:

Is the item definitely supposed to be tracked, or could the tracking number in fact be the postage label reference? Perhaps the item was actually sent second class but the buyer scanned the label so the tracking number field was automatically populated? Just a thought.

Not sure?
The worry is the seller will not provide the tracking number or provide any information of the delivery.

soolin

jazzy said:

MSE_Laura_F said:

Is the item definitely supposed to be tracked, or could the tracking number in fact be the postage label reference? Perhaps the item was actually sent second class but the buyer scanned the label so the tracking number field was automatically populated? Just a thought.

Not sure?
The worry is the seller will not provide the tracking number or provide any information of the delivery.

As above, that’s a problem for the seller not the buyer - you will get a refund unless tracking updates to show delivery. 

As a seller it is quite a worry though , what have they said when you asked them?