Why Is Amazon Delivery So Slow In 2023? (7 Reasons Why)
As an Amazon seller, few things are more frustrating than seeing your Prime-eligible items take much longer to reach buyers than the promised 2-day shipping window. Delayed deliveries can damage your seller rating, lead to negative reviews, and cause headaches with refund requests.
So what explains those painfully slow Amazon shipping times that defy Prime‘s reliability? In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share the inside scoop on the top 7 reasons why Amazon parcels get delayed, based on my 10+ years as a successful FBA seller.
Read on for insights into Amazon‘s notorious delivery lags, actionable tips to mitigate shipping snags, and expert advice for managing unhappy customers when speed bumps arise. Don‘t let logistical hurdles stop you from fulfilling orders efficiently and exceeding buyer expectations!
Why You‘re Facing Delayed Amazon Deliveries
Through firsthand experience and conversations with fellow sellers, I‘ve identified the most prevalent culprits behind Amazon shipping delays:
Transport Issues
Problem: Packages get misrouted due to damaged labels, failed scans, and other interruptions in Amazon‘s complex conveyor and sorting system.
Impact: Delivery failures and confusion over missing orders. In my experience, transport issues cause around 20% of Amazon shipping delays.
Advice: Carefully wrap and secure labels to reduce damage risk. Use reinforced packaging on heavier items. Alert buyers to potential transit mishaps.
Weather Disruptions
Problem: Severe storms, natural disasters, and extreme temperatures force couriers to pause deliveries for safety.
Impact: Prime packages delayed by bad weather, especially in regions prone to extremes like tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards.
Advice: Build expected weather delays into shipping time estimates. Set realistic buyer expectations on delivery dates.
Oversized Packages
Problem: Giant packages don‘t fit in standard mail trucks, lockers, and home mailboxes.
Impact: Bulky items get stuck in transit limbo, as couriers lack equipment to finish last-mile delivery.
Advice: Check package dimensions before selling. Utilize Amazon‘s Large Package program for oversized items.
Third-Party Fulfillment Delays
Problem: Orders handled by external sellers rather than Amazon itself are subject to separate fulfillment timelines.
Impact: Prime eligibility does not guarantee fast shipping for seller-fulfilled purchases. This causes buyer confusion over delivery estimates.
Advice: Clearly communicate your own fulfillment and handling time separate from Amazon‘s. Under-promise and over-deliver.
Strikes and Service Disruptions
Problem: Work stoppages at parcel carriers like USPS, FedEx and UPS halt the flow of Amazon shipments.
Impact: No mail means no deliveries for non-Prime orders relying on postal services. Prime parcels also delayed due to overflow.
| Year | Major Shipping Partner Strikes |
|---|---|
| 2019 | ~12,000 UPS workers |
| 2020 | 240,000 USPS employees |
| 2021 | 10,000 FedEx Freight workers |
Advice: Plan inventory with extra buffer before strikes. Temporarily halt selling out-of-stock items to avoid over-promising.
Order Volumes Exceed Capacity
Problem: Peak seasons like holidays and Prime Day overload Amazon‘s fulfillment network.
Impact: Delivery dates get pushed back due to more orders than current capacity. Prime shipping minimums suspended temporarily.
| Holiday | Amazon Orders Placed |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Over 1 billion |
| 2020 | 4.8 million/day |
| 2021 | 6.2 million/day |
Advice: Brace for delays by managing inventory conservatively to avoid stockouts. Have patience and communicate timeline changes proactively.
Crisis Prioritization
Problem: Health emergencies like COVID-19 force Amazon to triage orders. Essential medical/safety supplies get priority.
Impact: De-prioritized non-essential items face longer delivery queues. Amazon delivery delays peaked in April 2020 during pandemic lockdowns.
Advice: Plan inventory with generous buffers in case of world events. Seek exemption from restrictions on critical supplies.
Tracking Amazon Packages Like a Pro
Once you‘ve identified the likely culprit behind shipping slowdowns, use Amazon‘s tracking tools to monitor your stranded packages:
Check Tracking Status
- Sign into Seller Central and go to Manage Orders
- Find the order and select "View Details"
- Scroll down to Shipment Tracking and click "Track Package"
This will reveal the parcel‘s current status and location.
Enable Tracking Notifications
- Go to Settings > Account Info in Seller Central
- Toggle on "E-mail notifications for shipment tracking"
You‘ll get automatic email updates on the tracking status for faster insights into delays.
See All Inventory in Transit
- Go to Inventory > Manage FBA Shipments
- Filter for ‘In transit‘ to see all packages still making their way to buyers.
Knowing what‘s still outstanding helps you keep buyers informed.
Pro Tip: Check tracking multiple times per day during service disruptions or natural disasters to spot developing delays quickly.
Recouping Losses from Late Amazon Deliveries
Once packages exceed their maximum late arrival date, it‘s time to start recouping your losses:
Prime orders: Receive full refunds on late shipments through the A-to-Z Guarantee
FBM orders: Assess refund eligibility for any guaranteed delivery promises made
FBAP orders: File for inventory reimbursement if Amazon lost or damaged items
Request Reimbursement
- Go to Business > Payments and reconcilements
- Select Create reimbursement claim
- Choose reimbursement reason and upload any required docs
Having systems in place to get reimbursed for losses due to delayed or missing shipments helps limit the financial damage of Amazon fulfillment mishaps.
How I Deal with Slow Amazon Deliveries
After years navigating Amazon‘s logistical quirks as a seller, here are my best practices for minimizing disruption from delayed packages:
- Add 2-3 extra days onto estimated shipping times
- Communicate proactively with buyers on timeline changes
- Temper expectations around Christmas and Prime Day
- Keep generous inventory buffers to survive service disruptions
- Have backup plans ready for big weather events
- Prioritize order quality checking to prevent incorrect shipments
- Test different courier partners to identify the fastest routes
The Perfect Order is hard to achieve with a complex web of warehouses, carriers, hubs, and trucks involved in every Amazon shipment. But a bit of planning, patience, and practice makes it possible to deliver five-star service – even when Amazon‘s own delivery promises fall short.
The Bottom Line
Amazon‘s track record with fast and reliable Prime shipping has been deteriorating recently, leaving many sellers frustrated.
But between weather delays, labor disputes, holiday overload, and pandemic priorities – obstacles abound for getting orders to buyers on time.
Hopefully this guide has revealed why you‘re likely facing more variable and sluggish Amazon delivery. Understanding the root causes is the first step toward developing workarounds.
While you can‘t fully control Amazon‘s fulfillment operation, you can take proactive measures to adapt. The customers ultimately just care about getting their orders when expected.
So focus on managing expectations, improving visibility, buffering risk, and delighting clients along the way. With the right preparation and perspective, you can deliver amazing service – even when Amazon itself drops the ball.
To dig deeper on shipping best practices, check out these related resources:
- How to Diagnose and Resolve Late Amazon Shipments
- Managing Customer Expectations with Transparent Communication
- Inventory Management Strategies to Survive Prime Day and Holidays
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to share more insider tips.
