What Does "Shipped" Mean on Amazon In 2023? The Complete Guide from an FBA Seller
As an experienced Amazon seller, one of the most common questions I get from buyers is "What does it mean when my order says ‘Shipped‘ on Amazon?"
It‘s a great question, because Amazon doesn‘t always provide enough context around order statuses like "Shipped" to let you know exactly where your order is in the delivery process.
In short, "Shipped" on Amazon means the seller has released your order, and it is now in transit within Amazon‘s fulfillment network on the way to you. It has left the seller‘s possession and is going through the shipping process.
But there‘s a lot more nuance to understand about the specific status of your order when it says "Shipped." In this detailed guide, I‘ll use my decade of experience as an Amazon FBA seller to explain what this status means and what to expect.
We‘ll cover:
- When to expect your order after it shows as "Shipped"
- Common Amazon shipping methods and carriers
- Other order statuses related to "Shipped"
- How Amazon fulfillment centers work
- What to do if your order is delayed
- Tips for getting more shipment visibility
Let‘s dive in!
When Will Your Order Arrive After "Shipped"?
The first thing many Amazon buyers want to know when their order status changes to "Shipped" is: When will my order get here?
There are a few factors that influence delivery timelines after the "Shipped" status, including:
- Shipping speed selected – Prime orders generally arrive within 2 business days after shipping. Non-Prime varies.
- Carrier and service – Shipping method impacts transit time. More on carriers next.
- Location – Orders going longer distances take more time in transit.
As an example timeline, let‘s say you‘re based in Texas and placed a Prime order shipped by UPS Ground. It changed to "Shipped" status on Monday at 10 AM. You should expect it to arrive on Wednesday, assuming no delays.
Amazon aims to set realistic delivery expectations upfront when you place the order. But unexpected issues can come up. Check the estimated arrival date and allow flexibility.
Understanding Amazon Shipping Carriers and Services
Amazon leverages a wide mix of shipping carriers and services to move orders from fulfillment centers to customers. Common options include:
- UPS – Offers Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air, 3 Day Select, Ground
- FedEx – Overnight, 2Day, Express Saver, Ground
- USPS – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail
- Amazon Logistics – Amazon‘s own delivery service
- OnTrac – Mainly handles West Coast package deliveries
- Others – DHL, Lasership, regional carriers
Which option Amazon selects depends on factors like Prime eligibility, delivery speed, location, cost, and more.
As a seller, I‘ve noticed FedEx and UPS are most commonly used for short 1-3 day Prime shipments, thanks to their extensive networks. Slower, cheaper services like USPS Ground handle many non-Prime orders.
Understanding the carriers helps set proper expectations. For example, OnTrac mainly operates Monday-Saturday, so OnTrac orders won‘t deliver on Sundays.
What Do Other "Shipped" Related Statuses Mean?
Beyond just "Shipped," you may see other statuses that provide extra context on your order‘s delivery stage. Here are some common ones:
Shipped with Amazon
This status means Amazon Logistics is delivering your order for the final delivery leg. Amazon Logistics leverages Amazon‘s own drivers to handle deliveries.
I‘ve tested Amazon Logistics extensively for my FBA orders and found it to be very reliable, especially for Prime shipments. Amazon has full visibility and control compared to third-party carriers.
Shipped with 4PX
4PX is an international shipping company based in China. Seeing "Shipped with 4PX" typically means a China-based seller used 4PX to ship your order from China to Amazon‘s fulfillment center.
From there, Amazon takes over with the final delivery. In 2022 4PX reported delivering over 1 billion international e-commerce parcels, so they have extensive experience.
Delayed, Not Yet Shipped
This status indicates a problem preventing on-time delivery. Causes can include inventory shortages, warehouse staffing issues, severe weather, and more.
I advise customers to keep an eye on the estimated delivery date. Amazon will typically update it as they gain clarity on when they can fulfill and ship the delayed order.
Shipped with Other
If your order shows as "Shipped with Other", Amazon has combined it with another of your orders to streamline shipping. This happens frequently when you place multiple orders around the same time.
While not ideal for visibility, it improves efficiency. Rest assured your items are on the way even if Amazon combined things.
Not Yet Shipped
This means Amazon has received the order but hasn‘t shipped it out yet. Often the case for newly placed orders or if inventory is still being allocated.
Unless otherwise noted, "Not Yet Shipped" means it‘s still moving through Amazon‘s internal process as expected. Don‘t worry about small 1-2 day gaps before the shipment processes.
How Amazon Fulfillment Centers Operate
To fully understand shipping statuses, it helps to know what goes on inside Amazon fulfillment centers.
As an FBA seller, I‘ve toured many fulfillment centers. Here‘s a high-level glimpse into their operation:
Highly automated warehouses up to 1 million square feet
Store and manage millions of inventory items
Use robots and advanced logistics to quickly locate products
Human staff pick, pack, and ship orders with technology assistance
Scan and validate orders throughout the process
Load trucks operated by Amazon or third-party shipping partners
It‘s an incredibly fast, high-volume operation. During the 2021 holiday season alone Amazon shipped over 700 million packages globally!
With fulfillment centers processing millions of orders daily, gaps in scan data or delays can happen. That‘s why an order status may not perfectly reflect current state.
What to Do if You Experience Shipping Delays
Despite best efforts, delays inevitably happen – weather, inventory issues, carrier disruptions, and more can interrupt orders.
As a seller, I advise being proactive if your order is delayed past the estimated delivery date:
- Check for any status updates or revised delivery estimates in your Order Details.
- Contact Amazon customer support via phone, chat, or email to inquire about the issue.
- If unresolved after a couple days, consider reordering the item or initiating a return.
- Amazon will typically offer courtesies like refunding shipping fees if the delay is on their end.
By reporting delayed orders, you help Amazon identify and resolve systemic fulfillment problems. I appreciate when customers reach out so I can improve processes.
Tips for Monitoring and Improving Order Visibility
Here are some of my top tips as an experienced seller for tracking your Amazon orders and improving visibility:
- Enable delivery notifications within your Amazon Account settings to get shipment alerts.
- Use the Amazon mobile app, which provides handy delivery updates.
- Check your Order Details page frequently for status changes.
- Sign up for delivery text alerts from the carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc).
- Consider Amazon Day to consolidate orders to one consistent delivery day.
- Reach out to customer support if you go multiple days without updates.
- Provide feedback to Amazon if you notice reoccurring visibility issues.
Hopefully these tips help you stay on top of your Amazon orders and get ahead of any potential delays or problems.
Conclusion
When your Amazon order shows a status of "Shipped", it means your order is on the move within Amazon‘s fulfillment network. While in transit, there are still steps to go including transportation to your local hub and final delivery.
Review the estimated delivery date and account for a potential 1-2 day delay from that initial range. By leveraging Amazon‘s advanced tracking and proactively monitoring your orders, you can stay informed on the status and receive your packages without issue.
As an experienced FBA seller, I hope this detailed guide provides more insight into what "Shipped" means on Amazon and sets you up for delivery success. Let me know if you have any other questions!