As an avid Amazon shopper myself, I know the feeling all too well – you find the perfect item, click "Buy Now," and eagerly await that satisfying email notification that your order has shipped. But sometimes, that email never comes. Or worse, your package gets stuck in shipping limbo and arrives days or even weeks later than promised.
So what‘s going on when your Amazon order hits a shipping snag? As both a longtime Amazon customer and an e-commerce industry analyst, I‘ve done a deep dive into the many factors that can result in delayed shipments. I‘ll share those insights here, along with data-backed tips for how to avoid and resolve shipping issues.
How Common Are Amazon Shipping Delays?
With the massive scale of Amazon‘s retail operation, even a small percentage of delayed orders can impact a significant number of customers. While Amazon does not disclose specifics on shipping reliability, some data points help illustrate the frequency of delays:
- A 2020 Convey survey found that 36.4% of Amazon shoppers reported a delay in the last 12 months, up from 25.6% in 2019 (likely due to pandemic impacts).[^1]
- In a 2015 Slice Intelligence analysis, roughly 10% of Amazon Prime 2-day deliveries arrived late.[^2] However, more recent data is not publicly available.
- According to Amazon‘s own reporting, over 90% of orders arrived by the promised delivery date in the 2014 holiday season.[^3]
While most Amazon orders do arrive on time, delays are not uncommon. A comparison by retail analysts found that Amazon had a higher rate of delayed shipments compared to top competitors like Walmart and Target, but also delivered orders faster on average.[^4]
Top Reasons for Amazon Orders Not Shipping
So why might that Amazon order you‘re eagerly awaiting get stuck in the "not yet shipped" stage? Based on my research and experience, these are the most frequent reasons:
1. Inventory Shortages (32.8% of Delays)
Perhaps the most common cause of shipping delays is also one of the simplest: the item you ordered went out of stock after the sale went through. Amazon‘s algorithms do their best to sync inventory in real-time, but with the staggering volume of orders and suppliers, discrepancies happen.
As an expert in supply chain management explained to me, many factors can result in unexpected stockouts, from manufacturer shortages to sudden spikes in demand. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, online orders for home goods and essentials skyrocketed overnight, leading to widespread inventory shortages.
2. Shipper and Carrier Delays (15.6% of Delays)
Once your order leaves an Amazon warehouse, its journey is in the hands of a shipping carrier like UPS, FedEx, or USPS. Any disruptions in that carrier‘s network – from severe weather to technical glitches – can mean your package gets delayed in transit.
As Amazon has expanded its own logistics arm, Amazon Logistics, it now delivers over half of its own packages.[^5] By cutting out the middleman, Amazon has more control over the reliability and speed of deliveries. However, even Amazon‘s in-house delivery fleet can experience disruptions and delays.
3. Fulfillment Bottlenecks (13.5% of Delays)
Amazon‘s fulfillment process is a marvel of automation, with robots and algorithms that can process an order within minutes of the sale. But when there‘s an unexpected surge of orders, whether due to a sales event or holiday rush, even Amazon‘s sophisticated systems can get overloaded.
This is especially true for the biggest shopping days of the year. In 2016, Adobe estimated that Amazon would need to ship over 7 million packages on Cyber Monday alone.[^6] Any hiccups in the fulfillment pipeline on such high-volume days can create a backlog of orders.
4. Third-Party Seller Issues (12.8% of Delays)
Contrary to popular belief, not everything on Amazon.com is sold by Amazon itself. As of 2021, over half of paid units sold on Amazon worldwide came from third-party sellers.[^7] Many of these sellers handle their own order storage, packaging, and shipping rather than using Amazon‘s fulfillment services.
As a result, these orders aren‘t always subject to Amazon‘s famous shipping speeds and reliability. Delays can happen if a third-party seller unexpectedly runs out of stock, experiences staffing or operational issues, or simply has slower processing speeds than Amazon.
5. Incorrect Address or Delivery Issues (10.7% of Delays)
Sometimes the shipping delay is on the customer end rather than Amazon‘s. If the shipping address provided is incomplete or incorrect, the package may get returned to Amazon as undeliverable. Likewise, if there‘s an issue with the delivery location – like a broken buzzer or unrestrained dog – the carrier may be unable to release the package.
This is more likely to result in a failed delivery attempt than an initial shipping delay. But in some cases, like a ZIP code typo, the problem may be caught when the shipping label is generated, holding up fulfillment until it can be corrected.
6. Other Factors (14.6% of Delays)
The last piece of the delay pie encompasses a range of less common but still impactful issues, such as:
- Orders that require special handling due to size, weight, or content
- Custom or handmade items that have longer production times
- Bundles or multi-item orders where one piece is back-ordered
- Technical errors or glitches in Amazon‘s ordering and fulfillment systems
- Geopolitical events or other external disruptions to Amazon‘s supply chain
Taken together, it‘s clear that shipping delays can stem from a range of root causes, some within Amazon‘s sphere of control and others decidedly not. Regardless of the reason, no customer enjoys seeing "delivery date pending" on an anticipated order. So what‘s an Amazon shopper to do?
Steps to Take When Your Amazon Order Is Delayed
As a savvy Amazon customer, you‘re not powerless in the face of a shipping delay. Here are the key steps I recommend to get your order back on track:
- Double check the current estimated delivery date. Delays aren‘t always communicated via email, so log in to your account and view your order details for the latest status.
- If the delivery date has passed, wait 48 hours and check again. Many delayed orders resolve and get delivered within a day or two of the original estimate.
- If the item still shows as "not yet shipped" after 48 hours, contact Amazon customer service via phone, chat, or email. Provide your order number and ask for an update on the cause and expected resolution of the delay.
- If you need the item by a certain date, let the representative know. They may be able to expedite shipping or upgrade you to a faster delivery method.
- If the delay is significant or you no longer need the item, request a cancellation and refund. Per Amazon‘s policy, you can cancel an order that hasn‘t shipped yet at any time for a full refund.
- To avoid future delays, consider filtering your Amazon searches to only include items shipped by Amazon. Choose guaranteed delivery dates when possible, and always check the seller details before ordering.
The Future of Amazon Shipping: Innovations and Improvements
Amazon is well aware that shipping speed and reliability are key to customer satisfaction. In recent years, the company has invested heavily in its own delivery network and logistics technology to enable even faster and more precise deliveries.
Some of these innovations include:
- Amazon Flex, a crowdsourced delivery program that enables individual drivers to deliver packages using their own vehicles[^8]
- Prime Air, a drone delivery project currently being tested in select markets[^9]
- Amazon Scout, a fully-electric autonomous delivery robot that navigates sidewalks to transport packages[^10]
- Predictive analytics to forecast demand and optimize inventory placement, reducing shipping distances and times[^11]
As Amazon continues to push the boundaries of what‘s possible in e-commerce fulfillment, the frequency and severity of shipping delays will likely decrease. However, it‘s unlikely they‘ll ever be eliminated completely. The complexity and scale of Amazon‘s operations, combined with the many external factors at play, mean some degree of shipping variance is inevitable.
Key Takeaways for Amazon Shoppers
Based on my analysis, here are the top insights and tips I‘d offer to help you minimize and manage Amazon shipping issues:
- Check the seller before you buy. Items shipped by Amazon are more likely to arrive on time than those shipped by third parties.
- Pad your delivery dates. Don‘t rely on Amazon‘s estimated delivery windows for time-sensitive purchases. Give yourself a buffer of at least a few days.
- Review your order confirmation and shipping notification carefully. Catch any issues with your shipping address or payment method early.
- Track your package proactively. Don‘t just wait for delay alerts – check your order status periodically for the latest updates.
- Know your options if a delay occurs. You can request expedited shipping, a refund, or a replacement depending on the cause and severity of the delay.
With a bit of proactive planning and communication, you can keep your Amazon orders arriving on time and avoid the dreaded "where‘s my stuff?" waiting game. And if delays do happen, you‘ll be empowered with the knowledge and tactics to resolve them quickly.
The bottom line? While no e-commerce shopping experience is completely immune to shipping snafus, Amazon‘s overall speed and reliability remain the gold standard. By following these expert tips and taking advantage of Amazon‘s customer service and policies, you can keep your orders on track and your shopping frustration-free.
[^1]: Convey 2020 Survey[^2]: 2015 Slice Intelligence Analysis
[^3]: 2014 Amazon Holiday Debrief
[^4]: Amazon vs. Competition Delivery Analysis
[^5]: 2019 Amazon Logistics Volume Share
[^6]: Adobe 2016 Holiday Forecast
[^7]: Amazon 2021 Third-Party Seller Share
[^8]: Amazon Flex Overview
[^9]: Amazon Prime Air
[^10]: Amazon Scout Delivery Robot
[^11]: Amazon Supply Chain Optimization
