International Postage tracking wont' work

[SL-SHOP]

Hi,

I have recently sold an item from UK to Germany.  I had chosen to purchase a postage label straight from the Paypal transaction. 

I have paid "Royal Mail International Signed and Tracked"  small parcel delivery service through Paypal printed the postage label and put it on the parcel.

I had dropped the package into my local Royal mail postbox. ( My big mistake ) Since then the tracking number generated by PayPal " FF003211829GB " didn't update and message from Royal Mail says that this tracking number isn't recognized.  So I called Royal Mail to find out why the tracking number does not work. Royal Mail told me that if parcel is being drop into a mailbox it might not be scanned, in case if they missed it. So she said it might only be scanned when it will arrive at the receipments country or local post office or when someone will realise that it needs to be scanned. When I gave them the tracking number they said that they don't use such numbers starting with an " FF " for some time now, and only could advise me to wait, in hope that package will be delivered. So my question is why do Paypal generated a tracking number, that according to Royal Mail are out of date ? Maybe that is the reason why the tracking number does not work ? I had paid £10.50 for the " International Signed for and Tracked " delivery and it won't work . In this matter I don't know who to blame. Myself that I didn't get a valid proof of postage ?  Royal Mail who doesn't scan items ? or Paypal who is providing outdated tracking numbers ? If package is going lost is there any chance for me to look for the compensation ? and from who ? 

[nevadasmith]

Germany has reliable postal delivery and based on my own experience,I dont have much trouble with German buyers .

Post offices do talk to each other,UK post office can email German counterpart to trace a package.

and you can always blame Paypal ,they need to update their software.

lets hope your buyer get s his package and nothing goes wrong.  

[SL-SHOP]

A little update on this. Customer has received the package. However the tracking number still won't work ? and it still shows that the tracking number is not recognized. Nor there is a signature or anything. So in conclusion, paypal has provided a non working tracking number for which I paid £10.50, and even though I am very lucky that buyer is honest and confirmed that he has received the package, I don't know if he has signed for it, even if he did I don't have a valid proof of delivery.  So if he would notice that tracking number doesn't work, he could easily tell that he didn't receive anything and upon opening a " Not received " item would be refunded by Paypal / eBay.  

[nevadasmith]

if you asked for signature,the postman would have to get a signature,so there is a piece of evidence there.

[akmotorsport]

We have the same problem, well Paypal have the problem! every single overseas package we send using the paypal label system automatically updates the tracking with a number starting with FF, that number does not scan, the number does not match up with the number shown on the image (of label) on the screen with we press for the label to print the correct "signed for" number is printed on the label, but what paypal update is totally different, they also update eBay with the FF tracking number again wrong!! so less honest purchasers and we all get them then look at the tracking weeks later for what ever reason and then try it on saying where is my item you tracking says it is incorrect, many times we have had this but we make a note of the actual printed number and then go back to the purchaser with the facts and they crawl back under their rock in shame knowing they have been caught out.

Paypal please sort this glitch we all stand to lose money and who is to blame if we have to use the tracking you have provided us? we pay you for the service please provide it and please protect us.