Seeing the status "Not Yet Shipped" next to your Amazon order can be frustrating and confusing. You‘ve been waiting for your package, only to find it hasn‘t even left the warehouse yet.
But what exactly does this status mean? And what should you do if your Amazon order still isn‘t shipped after a while?
This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about Amazon orders that are not yet shipped, including:
- What "Not Yet Shipped" means and the reasons for the delay
- How long Amazon orders typically take to ship
- When you should contact Amazon customer service
- What happens if a seller doesn‘t ship your order
- Why an order might take over 2 weeks to ship
- What to do if you see "Not Yet Shipped, We‘ll Email You"
Plus plenty of other common questions answered, so you can understand the shipping process and get your packages faster. Let‘s dive in!
What Does "Not Yet Shipped" Mean on Amazon?
When you look at your Amazon Order Status and see "Not Yet Shipped", it means your order has been received by Amazon but they have not yet begun preparing and shipping it out to you.
Some reasons your Amazon order might show as "Not Yet Shipped" include:
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The items are still being picked and packed. Amazon is still gathering all the items in your order and getting them ready to be shipped out. This is especially common for multi-item orders.
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The order is waiting to be moved to the shipping facility. Your order might be waiting at one fulfillment center before being transferred to the facility nearest you for faster shipping.
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There‘s an address issue. Something may be wrong with the shipping address you entered, so Amazon is unable to ship the package yet.
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There‘s a payment issue. If there was a problem processing your payment, it can hold up the shipping process.
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The order contains pre-ordered items. For items not yet released, Amazon will wait until the release date before shipping your full order.
The good news is "Not Yet Shipped" means your order is still moving forward. Amazon just hasn‘t handed it over to the shipping carrier quite yet.
Should You Contact Amazon if Your Order is Not Yet Shipped?
If your order status has been stuck on "Not Yet Shipped" for more than 2 days, it‘s reasonable to contact Amazon Customer Service for an update.
According to Amazon‘s policy, they recommend contacting them if your order has not changed status after 36 hours. This gives them time to get it moving, while still ensuring you can inquire if something seems off.
To contact Amazon about an order delay:
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Go to Amazon‘s Contact Us page and select your order from the menu.
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Click the "Problem with order" button.
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Choose the "Where‘s my stuff?" option and select the item(s) not yet shipped.
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Enter a message detailing your issue and submit.
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An Amazon rep will respond via email with an update on your order.
Getting in touch sooner rather than later gives Amazon time to correct any shipment issues and get your package out faster.
How Long Do Amazon Orders Usually Take To Ship?
How quickly your Amazon order ships can vary, but most Prime items ship within 2 business days on average. Non-Prime orders ship within 3-5 business days typically.
Here are some general Amazon shipping times to expect:
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Prime orders: 1-2 business days to process. 1-2 days transit time.
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Non-Prime orders: 2-4 days to process. 2-8 days in transit.
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Pre-ordered items: Ships on release day. 1-3 days in transit after that.
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Backordered items: Ships in 2-4 weeks when back in stock.
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Third-party sellers: Can take 4-10 days to ship.
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International orders: May take up to 10 business days to ship.
These are general time frames, and actual ship times can be shorter or longer depending on inventory, destination, and other factors. If your order takes significantly longer than expected to ship, contacting Amazon is recommended.
Why Is My Amazon Order Taking So Long to Ship Out?
Sometimes Amazon orders get delayed beyond the average processing times. Here are some potential reasons your order shipment might be held up:
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High demand. For very popular items, Amazon can run out of stock and need time to restock. This leads to orders waiting longer to ship as inventory is replenished.
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Inventory shifts. Your order may have transferred between multiple fulfillment centers to locate the right items. This adds extra time into the shipping process.
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Weather or natural disasters. Severe weather and natural disasters can occasionally impact Amazon‘s ability to ship on time from affected facilities.
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Missing items. If one item from your order is out of stock or lost, it can hold up the entire shipment. Amazon may wait for it to become available again.
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Damaged goods. If an item arrives damaged at the warehouse, they will need to source a replacement, which can cause delays.
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Third-party sellers. Independent sellers on Amazon may experience their own inventory or shipment issues that slow things down.
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Holiday demand. Orders spike during the holidays, so Amazon often has much higher volume to work through, leading to longer ship times.
If your order has taken over a week to ship with no update, definitely check in with Amazon‘s customer service about it. They can look into the reason for the holdup.
What Happens If an Amazon Seller Doesn‘t Ship My Order?
When buying from Amazon‘s third-party Marketplace sellers, occasionally a seller may be unable to ship your item – usually because it‘s suddenly out of stock.
In these situations, Amazon requires sellers to cancel unshipped orders within 2-3 days and issue a refund. If the seller does not comply, you can report them to Amazon for account suspension.
Amazon will also notify you if the seller has cancelled, at which point you can re-order the item from another seller or ask Amazon to provide the refund. Getting your money back quickly is their top priority in these cases.
Why Has My Amazon Order Not Shipped After 2 Weeks?
Two weeks is an exceptionally long time for an Amazon order to remain unshipped without any status update. There are a few possible explanations for such a lengthy delay:
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Long pre-order wait. Some newly released or pre-ordered products can take up to 2 weeks to arrive in Amazon‘s warehouses once launched. This causes extended shipping times.
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Major warehouse delays. Severe weather, inventory issues, or other major problems at the fulfillment center can sometimes create a massive backlog of orders.
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Seller performance problems. Amazon may temporarily suspend a seller who has too many complaints, which halts shipment ability.
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International shipping hang-ups. Orders shipping abroad may get held up in customs, have extra processing, or require other special handling.
No matter the reason, a 2 week-plus delay warrants contacting Amazon to see if they can provide clarity or speed things up. Getting stuck in limbo that long is not normal.
What Does "Not Yet Shipped, We‘ll Email You" Mean?
This message indicates the item you ordered is temporarily out of stock with Amazon. They don‘t currently have enough inventory to fulfill your order.
When Amazon expects to get more stock in, they will send you an email with an estimated delivery date for your order. This allows you to keep your place in line to receive the item once it‘s available again.
Some common reasons Amazon may be waiting on more inventory:
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The product is so popular that demand exceeds supply.
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There are manufacturing or distribution delays from the supplier.
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Newly released items sold out the initial quantities.
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There was a supply chain disruption that caused low inventory.
While you wait, Amazon will hold your order and payment information until stock opens up. Then they will ship out your items automatically.
Conclusion – Getting Amazon Orders Shipped Faster
Having an Amazon order stuck in "Not Yet Shipped" status can quickly get frustrating. Use the information in this guide to better understand what‘s going on and resolve shipment delays faster.
To recap, reasons your order may not have shipped include:
- Processing delays at the warehouse
- Inventory shortages
- Pre-ordered items not released yet
- Third party seller issues
Be patient for a day or two, but contact Amazon customer service if your order still shows as unshipped after 36 hours. They can look into the reason for the holdup and get your package moving!
With millions of packages to process daily, the occasional hiccup is inevitable. But Amazon‘s excellent customer service ensures you won‘t be left hanging when you need questions answered or orders accelerated.
