Amazon - do they usually sit on an order for over a week, before shipping?

[dashofsunshine]

So, for all of you that order from Amazon more than once a year...here are the details:

-I ordered a few things on May 8th (which was a Sunday).
-Product was sold by someone else but "fulfilled by Amazon."
-Selected free shipping, which I believe was quoted as 7-10 days before arrival at my door (but truly? I don't remember)
-For the past week now (so, 5 full business days since I placed the order), it has sat in the "not yet shipped" category; well, two days ago it changed to "preparing to ship," not sure what the difference is.
-It literally says that it isn't going to SHIP out from them until the 18th of May.

So, here's my question...why does it take 10 days to even ship my order out? Is it because I chose free shipping and they want me to wait because I don't pay for Prime for my one order per year? Has this ever happened to anyone else, or am I just unlucky?

It's not like I ordered life saving medication or anything, so I'm just waiting patiently; I know it will get here eventually. I'm more curious than anything as to a) if this is just something that happens now, and b) for people who actually know how Amazon works internally...why it would take so long to get it out the door of the warehouse?

Most things I order online, from anywhere, ship out within a couple of business days. 10 days seems like quite a bit Thanks guys!

 

[Hikergirl]

I have had issues like that in the recent past. They have great CS so if you are unhappy with the time frame and you are going to get the item after the original estimated date contact them. They have been known to give a shipping credit.
ETA, wanted to clarify that is even if you choose free shipping.

 

[winterwhite]

I have had that happen when the third party vendor tells them they have inventory coming (thus the item is in stock for you to buy) but the inventory doesn't actually arrive.

I do have prime and I have noticed they have been adding handling time to orders so that they arrive in 3 days, not 2, which is annoying.

 

[design_mom]

It has happened to me, too... but the stuff almost always arrives within the originally stated arrival window. I ordered some stuff for my daughter's birthday, and it was slated to be delivered May 5-7. Her birthday party was on the 7th. As of the morning of the 5th it still said "preparing to ship" and I was sure we weren't going to get it in time, but it was delivered the evening of the 6th.

We had the same thing happen at Christmas. We bought a computer. It sat at "preparing to ship" for days. Then, they sent it via overnight delivery and it arrived within the originally promised window.

Both these deliveries were via the free super-saver shipping. I assumed that the delivery estimate was longer for super-saver because the slower shipping methods are usually cheaper. However, it appears that they're using the extra time int the "preparing to ship" phase. I guess it doesn't make any difference to me... but it does cause me anxiety: "Why won't you ship already!?!?!?"

 

[Imzadi]

So, here's my question...why does it take 10 days to even ship my order out? Is it because I chose free shipping and they want me to wait because I don't pay for Prime for my one order per year? Has this ever happened to anyone else, or am I just unlucky?

YES. They routinely wait on shipping out orders. They WANT you to upgrade and pay for Prime. They WANT you to know that your order would have gone to the head of the line had you paid for Prime.

If I'm able to buy the same items from Walmart or Drugstore.com instead, I will purchase from them instead. Drugstore.com has ALWAYS shipped within a few hours of ordering to 24 hours. Walmart ships in pieces but also within a day or 2 of ordering, and well before their stated date of shipping out orders.

That being said, recently, my "Fulfilled by Amazon" orders actually shipped faster than regular Amazon orders. I think that is because they really want to promote those types of orders. They have to make both the third-party vendor and the customer happy by shipping quickly.

In your case, it may have turned out that Amazon doesn't really have the item in their warehouse - which is what the "Fullfilled by Amazon" orders mean, instead of being shipped directly by the vendor. So they are having to wait for the item to come in and then ship it out.

 

[Hikergirl]

Imzadi, I have had Prime for many years and I occasionally have shipping issues. The Prime shipping in the last few years has gotten worse too. I do agree that they want you to upgrade, but it doesn't mean that you won't have issues like the OP did.

 

[JaxDad]

I was a courier for FedEx, and at the time they offered next morning, next afternoon, and 2-day shipping. We generally did not deliver packages before they were scheduled. They want to maintain the value of the primary service.

 

[Imzadi]

Imzadi, I have had Prime for many years and I occasionally have shipping issues. The Prime shipping in the last few years has gotten worse too. I do agree that they want you to upgrade, but it doesn't mean that you won't have issues like the OP did.

Interesting. Good to know. (Not that Prime people have to wait too.) But, that it might be other issues going on for you guys too.)

 

[dashofsunshine]

Thank you guys for replying, glad to know I'm not the only one experiencing this! That's very interesting about similar delays happening with Prime as well. We don't order from Amazon very often at all, and the last time I ordered was a few years ago...I remember it being pretty quick, even for the free shipping option. Oh well, it will get here eventually! Lol

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I've had Prime for a while, I do as much of my shopping online as possible, but I originally got Prime for the free 2 day shipping and free returns when I was ordering dance stuff for my daughter. Amazon seems to give priority to Prime orders, and it makes sense that they would purposely assure that the rush orders go out first, before turning attention to the regular shipments. After all, they heavily push Prime as a premium service and if a company is charging for a service most people would expect them to deliver. That said, I've had orders that weren't Prime ship much quicker than expected. Your order may have sat in limbo for a while but it still may come within the originally projected 10 days. I have had nothing but good experiences with Amazon so I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. Hope your order comes soon.

 

[nugov2]

Hmmm, had prime for years and almost always get my stuff the next day with the free shipping. That is why I love them so much.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I've never had a problem with that except when I've used the third party vendors. As a matter of fact, I usually get things earlier than anticipated from Amazon.

 

[fly girl]

Only had that once with 3rd party fulfilled by Amazon. Turns out 3rd party didn't have the rug in stock anymore.

 

[bcla]

I was a courier for FedEx, and at the time they offered next morning, next afternoon, and 2-day shipping. We generally did not deliver packages before they were scheduled. They want to maintain the value of the primary service.

I bought playoff tickets once, and the cheapest shipping option was FedEx 3-day. I had a tracking number and it was sent from a Central Valley location to a FexEx warehouse overnight. I actually picked it up there, but couldn't until the three days was up.

Kind of reminds me of the story I heard about someone who got an office (lack of floor space for a cubicle) but where they had plenty of cubicle partitions. Someone in HR determined that since he didn't warrant the full office space, they would limit his space by installing a single cubicle in that office for him.

 

[bcla]

Only had that once with 3rd party fulfilled by Amazon. Turns out 3rd party didn't have the rug in stock anymore.

Fulfilled by Amazon means that the item is held at an Amazon warehouse, where Amazon has full control of the inventory process. That's why shipping can be combined with Amazon purchases as well as application of Prime shipping.

There may be glitches though. Your order can be received but then there's a problem getting the order out.

 

[fly girl]

Fulfilled by Amazon means that the item is held at an Amazon warehouse, where Amazon has full control of the inventory process. That's why shipping can be combined with Amazon purchases as well as application of Prime shipping.

There may be glitches though. Your order can be received but then there's a problem getting the order out.

Ahh, intersting. Then Amazon didn't have the rug in stock anymore. Lol. It was ordered around Christmas, wonder if they couldn't keep up with what they had in inventory?

 

[Missy1961]

Hmmm, had prime for years and almost always get my stuff the next day with the free shipping. That is why I love them so much.

Me too, but I always figured it was because I live close to a warehouse.

 

[scrapquitler]

So, for all of you that order from Amazon more than once a year...here are the details:

-I ordered a few things on May 8th (which was a Sunday).
-Product was sold by someone else but "fulfilled by Amazon."
-Selected free shipping, which I believe was quoted as 7-10 days before arrival at my door (but truly? I don't remember)
-For the past week now (so, 5 full business days since I placed the order), it has sat in the "not yet shipped" category; well, two days ago it changed to "preparing to ship," not sure what the difference is.
-It literally says that it isn't going to SHIP out from them until the 18th of May.

So, here's my question...why does it take 10 days to even ship my order out? Is it because I chose free shipping and they want me to wait because I don't pay for Prime for my one order per year? Has this ever happened to anyone else, or am I just unlucky?

It's not like I ordered life saving medication or anything, so I'm just waiting patiently; I know it will get here eventually. I'm more curious than anything as to a) if this is just something that happens now, and b) for people who actually know how Amazon works internally...why it would take so long to get it out the door of the warehouse?

Most things I order online, from anywhere, ship out within a couple of business days. 10 days seems like quite a bit Thanks guys!

With the free shipping you chose, they DO sometimes sit on the order for a few days, I don't know wny.

HOWEVER. Even if it says that it's not going to ship until May 18th, unless it is out of stock, it is unlikely that it will take anywhere near that long. In fact, MOST of the time when I used to use the free shipping, it arrived at my house before I ever even got a notice that it was shipped. The system that tracks the free shipping just doesn't seem to update reliably.

 

[bcla]

Ahh, intersting. Then Amazon didn't have the rug in stock anymore. Lol. It was ordered around Christmas, wonder if they couldn't keep up with what they had in inventory?

Here's their description:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=106096011

I believe sometimes they list items available that aren't yet held in Amazon's warehouses, but have been scheduled to be there "just in time".

 

[anneboleyn]

That would be so frustrating! You should definitely contact Amazon and let them know that you are unhappy. I think their customer service is one of the best and would do what they can to make it right.