Amazon has spent the better part of the last 30 years streamlining their delivery services and business model. They have become well-known for fulfilling deliveries very quickly and reliably. However, from time to time, it can still take a while for items from Amazon to be delivered.
As customers, it’s important for us to know the shipping process, as well as how Amazon determines the estimated delivery times for their orders. This article will explain the finer details of Amazon’s fulfillment system, as well as how long you can expect to wait for most packages from Amazon.
How Long Does Amazon Take to Ship?
According to Amazon’s Customer Service, delivery estimates are calculated by adding the estimated transit time to the expected shipping date. Amazon typically ships within 24 hours of the order. Depending on which shipping option you select at checkout, estimated transit times will be different.
Each shipping option should display the estimated transit time when selected at checkout.
The times listed are in business days. In other words, Saturday and Sunday are generally not included in transit time estimates. There can also be some delays in shipping the item to begin with if there are supply issues at the warehouse, or if your shipping information is not filled out properly.
Amazon Prime members will also have access to FREE Two-Day shipping options. Some items are not eligible for FREE Two-Day shipping, but we’ll discuss this in a bit more detail later on in this article.
If you order items from third party sellers on Amazon, the shipping times will vary. Some sellers are really quick about shipping items to customers, while others may lag behind in fulfilling orders. Seller accounts can also choose to go with fulfillment by Amazon, so the shipping and delivery times will be comparable to items ordered directly from Amazon.
It’s also important to note that international orders or orders from addresses outside the continental US may experience delays, and the shipping times cannot be guaranteed by Amazon. Unexpected service delays can happen in case of adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or unforeseen events.
Choosing a higher quantity of a specific item may also make the shipment ineligible for immediate shipping due to availability.
How Long Does Amazon Take to Ship with Prime?
Amazon Prime members receive a number of benefits related to shipping options. If you need your delivery expedited, Amazon Prime has a lot of options for faster shipping. For addresses in the continental US, these benefits are as follows:
- Free One-Day Shipping
- Free Two-Day Shipping
- Same-Day Delivery
- Saturday Shipping
- Free Amazon Day Delivery
- Free No-Rush Shipping
- Free Standard Shipping
- Free Release-Date Delivery
Some items are not eligible for every shipping option, and some options will cost more depending on the item you order. Large or irregularly shaped items, for example, will generally cost more to ship. They may also be ineligible for the Free shipping options.
Amazon Prime members in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico also have some options at their disposal. The prices for these shipment options vary depending on the item’s size and weight. The prices are as low as $5.99 per item for expedited shipping, and as low as $11.99 per item for priority shipping:
- Free Standard Shipping (3-7 business days)
- Expedited Shipping (2-5 business days)
- Priority Shipping (1-4 business days)
Unfortunately, Expedited shipping is not currently available for addresses in Puerto Rico. If you’re curious about which items are eligible for different shipping options through Amazon prime, you can see whether or not an item is eligible at the item page.
Transit times will still vary depending on your location and the shipping service you select at checkout. Amazon recommends waiting two days from the estimated delivery date before reporting a package as lost or stolen. If your item is listed as delivered, but has not arrived yet, you may want to check with your neighbors to see if the package was delivered to them by mistake.
There are a number of items that are generally ineligible for Prime Shipping. These include but are not limited to:
- Items from Amazon Marketplace sellers that are not marked as eligible for Prime delivery
- Magazine Subscriptions
- Personalized gift cards
- Any item that is not listed as eligible for Prime delivery on the item page
- Addresses in the US territories, possessions, and protectorates (other than Puerto Rico)
- International destinations
- Items with Scheduled Delivery
Amazon Order/Shipping Timeline
Amazon’s shipping timeline is fairly transparent and streamlined. After you decide to purchase an item, you select your desired shipping option at checkout. The estimated delivery time is calculated based on the shipping time plus the estimated transit time, which will vary depending on your region.
According to Feedvisor.com, the exact timeline goes something like this:
- The buyer places their order.
- Amazon Payments processes the order.
- The order is held by Amazon Payments (in order to allow cancellation if necessary).
- The order is validated by Amazon Payments.
- If payment is successful, the item will either be shipped by Amazon according to the shipping option selected at checkout, or the third-party seller will be notified of the shipping information and order status.
- The seller then processes the order and ships the items.
- The item is delivered to the buyer and the buyer receives the items they ordered.
- Buyers are also encouraged to leave feedback if they purchased through a third-party seller.
Why Is Amazon Taking So Long to Ship?
There are a number of reasons that Amazon orders might take longer than expected to ship and deliver. The most common issue is availability issues. Especially in certain regions, some items may not be available at the nearest fulfillment center, so they will be ineligible for some shipping options. Other common reasons for delayed shipping include weather, natural disasters, or unforeseen events.
In the case of items ordered from third-party sellers, the shipping time is generally up to the seller. Some sellers will ship faster than others, and buyers are encouraged to leave feedback whenever they buy items from third-party sellers on Amazon.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these posts to learn what Is Amazon Flex, what does Amazon delivered to safe place mean, and does Amazon ship to Hawaii.
Conclusion…
Amazon Prime packages typically ship within 24 hours of the order being placed. Other packages, especially those ordered from third-party sellers, can take longer depending on their estimated delivery date.
Amazon is very efficient in shipping and delivering packages but they do encounter logistical delays at times, such as weather and unforeseen circumstances. These situations cannot be planned for and can cause your package to take longer than expected to ship.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.