Shopping on Amazon has practically become a way of life for many people. With their fast shipping, we can expect good to show up extremely fast.
However, this may not always be the case and sometimes, our much anticipated items may not even have shipped long after we expect.
What causes these delays and why do they happen? Here are the likely reasons your Amazon order hasn’t shipped.
Why Hasn’t My Amazon Order Shipped?
1. Inclement Weather
The weather could be a big reason behind the delay either in your area or the area where the item is being shipped from.
If the weather doesn’t allow a smooth transit then there are likely to be delays and your order might have to wait until the skies are sunny again.
Thankfully this probably means that the delay won’t be too long because there’s nothing wrong with your item, it’s just waiting for the OK to get sent out.
Here are a few examples of weather that may cause delays:
- Snow: If a wherehouse is snowed in, your package might not be able to get out the door. It’s also unsafe for drivers in those conditions.
- Storms: Bad storms can cause delays by grounding flights and blocking roads. No matter the means of transport, a bad storm can delay plans.
- Tornadoes: Tornadoes will also block flights and roads, Thankfully these delays are likely to pass very quickly, but only if damage is at a minimum.
Bad weather can cause a damper on all sorts of plans, and shipping is no doubt one of them. Amazon would prefer to not put their drivers at risk in these times.
2. Excessive Traffic
In certain cases especially during the holidays there can be delays because so many people are ordering so many different items at the same time.
Your order might face a delay. Amazon does not have unlimited people or resources so when they are busy with orders delays or bound to occur.
However, despite how busy they get you can rest assured that your order is on the docket to be fulfilled and likely just needs a little extra time.
3. Popular Items
Sometimes an item is so popular that it throws off even the manufacturer or distributor. In cases like this delays happen because the supply does not meet the demand.
When this happens the distributors are scrambling to fulfill all the orders that they have been given.
In some cases this could lead to your order being canceled however for the most part it’s likely that your order was accounted for during the check of stock.
4. Third Party Merchants
What a lot of people don’t realize is that Amazon is not the only distributor when you shop on Amazon‘s website, and many third party stores fill those ranks.
A third party store who is selling on Amazon may not have the capacity to fulfill all their orders on time especially if they need delays of their own.
Third-party sellers on Amazon are still affiliated with the brand and want your business so they will do their best to get their order to you as soon as possible.
You can find out if you placed an order with a third party seller when you look at the product description, in most cases, it’s easy to contact them directly.
5. Wrong Address
In some cases the address you may have listed might have a title which can delay your order, this could also apply to the card you paid with.
If your address is wrong then Amazon might not know where to ship the order to which means that they will hold onto it until the issue is resolved.
Check your order status and history to determine if the address you listed is the correct one and you should get your goods in no time.
6. International Customs
If you are shipping or expecting goods from another country besides the United States then delays might come in the form of customs and processing.
These customs are restrictions on what can and cannot pass through international borders and typically involve searches.
7. Restricted Items
In most cases if Amazon sells an item to your location it will be cleared for a sale, but sometimes, laws or requirements can change and that item may no longer be safe.
Certain items like electronics and consumables will be more subject to delays because of things like a recall or a defective element.
8. Transportation Issues
In some cases your order is ready to be shipped but there is an issue with actually getting it to you. Transportation issues are more common than you think.
If Amazon does not have the required vehicles or the personnel to transport your goods there could be a delay until that issue was resolved.
This is out of the consumers hands but Amazon is likely working around the clock to get the issue resolved so that your item can get to your location as timely as possible.
9. Warehouse Issues
Sometimes delays can come from the warehouse itself such as if the item was miss labeled and Amazon can’t find it or if the item was damaged.
With so many warehouses and facilities, it’s likely that issues may spring up from time to time however these delays are not likely to be big ones.
Amazon can send you the goods from another warehouse for distribution so that you won’t have to wait much longer.
If you’re lucky enough to live near an Amazon warehouse, you will likely receive your items a lot faster since the transportation time is reduced.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why DHL is so bad, why UPS takes so long, and why your FedEx package is not moving.
Conclusion
These are the reasons why your Amazon products have been shipped. Delays are an unfortunate reality that can happen at any time and it’s always inconvenient.
However Amazon is a large corporation that has many resources so they will likely find a solution very quickly. Once they do, you will receive your package quickly.