Stuck on "Not Yet Sent"? Here‘s How to Get Your Amazon Gift Card Delivered Now
Have you bought an Amazon digital gift card but the order still says “Not yet sent” hours or even days later? I‘ve been there myself, and I know how frustrating that delay can be, especially when you need the gift card ASAP.
As an ecommerce expert with over 10 years of experience selling on Amazon, I regularly help other sellers troubleshoot issues just like this. In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through why your gift card might not have been delivered yet, and – most importantly – how to get it sent immediately.
By the end, you‘ll have actionable tips to get your gift card order moving again, get answers from Amazon, and even prevent "not yet sent" problems in the future. Let‘s dive in!
Why Your Amazon Gift Card Hasn‘t Been Sent Yet
Before we look at how to fix your delayed gift card, it helps to understand the most common reasons why it may be stuck on "not yet sent" in the first place:
1. Processing Time Delays
Amazon warns that during peak gift-giving times like the holidays, gift card orders can take up to 24 hours to process due to high order volumes.
For example, on Cyber Monday 2022, customers worldwide ordered tens of millions of Amazon gift cards – more than any other product! That massive spike in demand slows things down.
Outside of busy periods, most gift cards are delivered within minutes, but the 24 hour processing window still applies year-round.
2. Large Denomination or Quantity
Amazon also flags high value gift cards (over $500) or large batches of gift cards for additional fraud review. This precautionary step adds extra processing time.
Again, it‘s typically less than 24 hours but still longer than a single $50 gift card.
3. Unusual Order Activity
If your gift card order looks suspicious or is out of the ordinary for your account, Amazon may put a hold on it while they investigate potential fraud.
For instance, if you changed the payment method from your usual one on file or the recipient‘s email is brand new. Anything unusual triggers a closer look.
4. System Glitches
Despite Amazon‘s tech sophistication, occasional system hiccups can also prevent gift cards from sending on time. Whether it‘s a technical bug or server outage, tech problems are inevitable even at Amazon‘s scale.
Luckily, these types of issues are rare and typically resolved quickly once discovered. A short delay getting gift cards out happens.
Now that you know what might have caused your gift card problem, here are the best ways to get your order moving ASAP:
How to Get Your Stuck Amazon Gift Card Delivered
If your gift card remains stuck on "Not yet sent," take the following troubleshooting steps to get it delivered pronto:
Step 1: Check the Current Status
First, log into your Amazon account and navigate to Your Orders to view your gift card order.
Look under Order Summary on the right for any status updates. If it still says Not yet sent after 24 hours, you‘ll need to take action to get it moving.
Step 2: Contact Amazon Customer Service
The quickest way to get your stuck gift card back on track is to contact Amazon Customer Service directly and explain the issue.
I recommend using the live chat option so you can get real-time answers. Phone support works too but chat tends to be faster.
Have your order number handy and be ready to confirm the gift card amount, recipient‘s email, and any other pertinent details.
Many times, the Amazon rep can simply resend the gift card quickly after investigating why the original didn‘t go through. If not, they‘ll advise you on next steps.
Step 3: Verify the Recipient‘s Email
One of the simplest mistakes that prevents successful gift card delivery is an incorrect recipient email address.
Double, triple, quadruple check that the email you entered exactly matches the intended gift card recipient‘s email.
If you realize you made a typo, cancel the original order (see Step 5) and re-purchase the gift card with the right email address.
Step 4: Wait 24 Hours
Especially during peak seasons, waiting up to the full 24 hour processing window is wise before you take action to resend.
Oftentimes, the gift card will change to a "Sent" status within a day and Amazon support can‘t speed it up themselves. Have patience if you can.
But if the time window has passed, it‘s safe to move ahead with the next steps.
Step 5: Cancel and Re-Purchase the Gift Card
If chatting with Amazon or waiting 24 hours doesn‘t resolve the stuck status, cancel the original gift card order and re-purchase it from the start:
From Your Orders, find the gift card order and select Cancel on the right side.
Choose a cancellation reason like "needed faster." The funds will return to an unused state.
Carefully re-purchase the Amazon gift card, triple checking the recipient‘s email address.
Amazon will confirm via email that the original order was cancelled and the new gift card sent.
This forces the purchase process to start fresh, avoiding whatever snag held up the first order.
Step 6: Check the Spam Folder
Before you go through the steps to resend, have the gift card recipient check their spam or promotions folders.
Sometimes the email gets misfiled there by mistake. If so, problem solved! If not, proceed with re-purchasing.
Step 7: Add Amazon Emails to Your Contact List
To prevent gift cards from going to spam in the future, instruct recipients to add amazon.com and amazon.ca addresses to their email contact list.
This whitelisting makes sure future gift cards get delivered promptly to the main inbox.
Okay, you now have a complete troubleshooting game plan to get any stuck Amazon gift card back on track fast. But I have a few more tips to share that can help prevent "Not yet sent" issues altogether…
How to Avoid Amazon Gift Card Delays
Based on my extensive ecommerce experience, here are smart steps you can take to avoid gift card delays and ensure quick processing:
Choose a Smaller Denomination
When possible, opt for gift cards in smaller amounts like $25 or $50. Larger denominations naturally get more scrutiny for fraud.
I know it‘s tempting to gift a huge $500 Amazon gift card, but a smaller amount will reach the recipient faster.
Purchase One Gift Card at a Time
Rather than buying 5 gift cards in one order, send just a single gift card per order when you can.
Even if the total dollar value is the same, fewer gift cards speeds up processing significantly.
Use Your Default Amazon Payment
When you purchase using your default payment method on file with Amazon, it avoids any payment-related fraud reviews that add processing time.
Allow At Least 1 Business Day
Remember that gift card orders on weekends or holidays almost never process until the next business day.
So if you buy on Saturday night, it won‘t send until Monday at the earliest. Plan accordingly.
Enable Delivery Notifications
Under Your Account –> Notification Settings, opt-in to receive delivery confirmation emails for gift card orders. This way, you‘ll know the minute the status changes from "not yet sent" to "sent" and can promptly inform the recipient to check their inbox.
If you apply these best practices to your Amazon gift card orders, 9 times out of 10 you‘ll avoid the "not yet sent" headache altogether. Pretty cool, right?
But what if you still have to troubleshoot a delayed gift card? Scroll back up and follow my step-by-step game plan to get it back on track ASAP.
Now let‘s tackle a few other commonly asked questions about Amazon gift cards so you can use them like a pro…
Amazon Gift Card FAQs
Do Amazon gift cards expire?
No, Amazon gift cards do not expire. The funds never vanish, so the recipient can redeem the code even years later. Gift cards also don‘t have fees or incur interest.
However, it‘s smart for the recipient to redeem the card sooner rather than later in case the claim code gets lost. Once added to their Amazon account, the balance remains there indefinitely.
How can recipients check their gift card balance?
Recipients can check their gift card balance in a few ways:
- On Amazon‘s website by going to Gift Cards and entering the claim code
- In the Amazon mobile app under the Accounts menu
- By contacting Amazon Customer Service
You can also view balances for gift cards you‘ve purchased under Your Account –> Gift Card Activity.
What if I lost my Amazon gift card or activation code?
First, thoroughly check your inbox for the original gift card email from Amazon. Be sure to look in spam folders too.
If you still can‘t find it, contact Amazon Customer Service immediately. Provide your order details and they‘ll investigate the situation.
In many cases, they can recover or resend lost Amazon gift card funds if you act quickly. The sooner the better!
Can I track the status of a gift card I purchased?
Absolutely! Under Your Account –> Your Orders, you can track the delivery status of any gift card you buy.
Watch for status updates and get peace of mind knowing when the recipient successfully redeems your gift.
Get Your Stuck Gift Cards Moving
I hope this insider‘s guide to troubleshooting Amazon gift cards stuck on "Not yet sent" status helps you quickly resolve delivery issues.
Now you‘ve got proven tips to force the order through, get answers from Amazon, and even avoid delays from the start. Just remember to be patient during busy seasons, triple check recipient emails, and use chat support if needed.
With this advice, you‘ll master the process and consistently get Amazon digital gift cards to recipients right away – never leaving them stuck. Happy gifting!
