How Long Does Amazon Take to Ship in 2023? (After Order + FAQs)
As an experienced Amazon seller, one of the most common questions I get from customers is "how quickly will I get my order?"
Buyers want reassurance they‘ll receive their purchases promptly. The wait time can influence whether they hit "buy now" or abandon their cart.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk through what to expect for Amazon order delivery based on whether you have a Prime membership or not.
You‘ll also get insider tips on accelerating shipping as a seller and resolving delayed orders. Let‘s dive in!
The Impact of Prime on Shipping Speeds
Amazon Prime is designed to create an incentive for speedy fulfillment and loyalty. When you pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually for Prime:
- Amazon promises two-day shipping on over 100 million products. In 2020, they delivered on that an impressive 99.9% of the time.
- Your orders get prioritized ahead of non-Prime customers.
- You unlock access to one-day and same-day delivery options.
This translates into major benefits for Amazon‘s bottom line. Here are some stats:
- Prime members have a cart abandonment rate of 27% versus 57% for non-members.
- Prime customers spend an average of $1,400 annually, over 2X non-members.
- There are over 200 million Prime subscribers worldwide as of 2021.
As a seller, I maintain Prime to order inventory, monitor competitor shipping, and research customer expectations. The two-day free shipping perk allows me to closely study fulfillment speed.
Based on my experience as a top-rated seller, here‘s an overview of standard timeframes:
| Membership | Shipping Speed |
|---|---|
| Non-Prime | 5-7 business days |
| Prime | 2 business days |
However, achieving those times depends on smoothly navigating potential delays…
Why Orders May Take Longer Than Expected
While Amazon heavily advertises two-day Prime delivery, several factors can push orders past standard timeframes:
High Order Volumes
During peak periods like Prime Day, Black Friday, and holidays, Amazon fulfillment centers tackle 2-3X more orders.
Despite hiring ~175K seasonal workers in 2021, operations may be stressed. Amazon suggests ordering by the below dates before popular events:
- December 14 – To receive orders before Christmas
- December 23 – For same-day delivery with Prime
If you‘re selling highly giftable items, prepare for longer processing times and potential backlogs by:
- Forecasting demand and stocking up inventory in advance
- Temporarily pausing ads if you can‘t fulfill orders fast enough
- Communicating realistic delivery estimates to shoppers
Extreme Weather Events
Hurricanes, wildfires, blizzards and other disasters can force temporary closure or reduced operations at Amazon warehouses.
For example, winter storm Juno in 2015 triggered 2-day Prime delays across multiple states as roads became impassable for delivery drivers.
When major weather impacts a fulfillment center handling your inventory, leverage tools like:
- Amazon Map Tracker to monitor real-time building closures
- Seller support strategies outlined later in this guide
Inventory Shortages
If Amazon‘s stock of an item you sell is depleted before yours, prioritize replenishing inventory ASAP.
- Set reorder points and alerts to avoid gaps.
- Review supply chain issues for sourced products.
- Consider reserve inventory for top products if cash flow allows.
Inaccurate Addresses
Entering a mistake in your shipping address – or missing apartment/unit numbers – is an easy way to delay orders.
As a seller, stay on top of issues by:
- Checking Order Defect Reports for address-related dings daily.
- Reminding customers to review addresses at checkout.
- Following up on undeliverable shipments quickly.
Now let‘s walk through exactly how to track delivery from purchase to doorstep…
Monitoring Your Order‘s Status
When you place an order on Amazon as a buyer or seller, here‘s the typical process:
Order submitted – Amazon receives and verifies the order details. Payment is authorized.
Processing – Materials are sourced from Amazon‘s network of fulfillment centers.
Shipping – The carrier picks up the package and the tracking number activates.
In transit – The delivery company transports the order via air/ground routes.
Delivery – The order arrives at the buyer‘s address.
During checkout, you can view a detailed estimated delivery date based on the product, shipping option, and destination zip code.
Once an order ships, track its real-time status via:
- Shipping confirmation email with carrier details.
- Your Amazon account under Orders.
- Carrier website using the tracking number.
Here are average transit days for common carriers:
| Carrier | Transit Time |
|---|---|
| USPS | 2-8 days |
| UPS | 3-5 days |
| FedEx | 2-5 days |
Now let‘s review your options if a delivery is delayed or lost altogether…
Late & Missing Orders: Next Steps
Despite Amazon‘s reputation for speedy fulfillment, snafus can happen.
If your order is late or marked as lost by the carrier, here are your options as a Prime or non-Prime customer:
For Delayed Orders:
If the new expected delivery date is 48+ hours beyond the original estimate, you can request a refund of any shipping fees paid.
For Prime orders delayed significantly without explanation, you may seek a free 1-month membership extension as a goodwill gesture.
If an order marked "out for delivery" hasn‘t arrived, give it at least 48 hours beyond the first expected window before reaching out. Last mile mishaps are common.
For Lost Orders:
If your order is confirmed lost in transit, you‘re entitled to a full refund or replacement item.
Provide the order date, number, product details, estimated arrival date, and request refund/replacement options.
Escalate to a supervisor if your initial request is denied and you have proper documentation.
Here are tips on navigating the customer support process…
Getting Amazon Order Support
If you need help from Amazon on a delayed, lost, or inaccurate order, here are your options:
Email via the "Contact Us" form in Your Account. Responses within 24-48 hours.
Phone at 1-888-280-4331. Wait times vary – have order info ready.
Chat by clicking "Contact Us" at the bottom of any Amazon page. Typically 5-10 minute responses.
Social media by tweeting @AmazonHelp. Good for visibility on universal issues.
Based on my experience corresponding as a seller, I recommend:
Leading with empathy in communications. Issues arise, but good service recovery conquers all!
Preparing order specifics before reaching out to maximize efficiency.
Escalating politely but firmly through multiple channels if needed until you reach resolution.
Following up on promises made – if a supervisor pledges a refund or replacement by X date, circle back if it doesn‘t happen.
Now that you know how to recoup shipping costs for delayed orders and refund lost ones, let‘s wrap up with the key takeaways…
The Bottom Line
As one of the largest ecommerce companies worldwide, Amazon moves millions of packages daily – but their sheer scale means hiccups can happen.
To recap, Prime members pay for two-day shipping on most items, which gets prioritized ahead of non-Prime 5-7 day standard delivery.
However, high order volumes, weather disruptions, inventory issues and inaccurate addresses can slow Amazon fulfillment.
Carefully monitoring your order status and collaborating with customer service helps resolve problems. With the right tools and tenacity, you can get the swift, successful order experiences Amazon is known for.
