The 7 Common Reasons That Cause Your Packages to Arrive Late

It’s happened to us all – you order something online, you’re excited about the delivery, but it ends up taking way longer than expected. Few things are as frustrating as your awaited delivery exception, we know.

If you’re experiencing a delayed shipment, don’t worry – it could be for any number of reasons, and it’s bound to arrive at some point. But knowing what can cause your packages to arrive late will help calm you down in these situations. That’s why we want to give you some insight and share the most common causes of delayed packages.

Once you know that there are legitimate reasons that cause your packages to arrive late, it’s easier to accept that and remain patient. So, keep reading to get some behind-the-scenes information.

What is Delivery Exception?

What is a delivery exception? A delivery exception is when your package arrives later than the expected delivery date. This can be due to many different reasons, such as bad weather or a misrouted package. Whatever the reason, it’s frustrating for the customer and can lead to other issues, such as a canceled order.

Not only do the customers sometimes cancel their orders, but these delays can damage the company’s image. If a company often has issues with late deliveries, it can experience a decrease in sales and lose customers due to providing non-satisfactory services.

Common Reasons for Delayed Deliveries

1. Incorrect or Incomplete Address Details

If you’ve ever had to move or change your address, you know how important it is to update your information with the courier company. If you don’t, they will deliver your packages to the old address, and you’ll have to wait even longer to get them.

The same thing goes for incorrect or incomplete address details. For instance, the delivery company may have trouble finding your address if you forget to include a suite number or your ZIP code. As a result, your package will be delayed until they can locate where it’s supposed to go.

2. Failed Delivery Attempts

If you’re not home when the carrier arrives to deliver your package, they’ll try again the next day. But sometimes, they may be unable to make it on the second attempt, either. If this happens, you’ll likely have to go and pick up your package from their facility.

Of course, this isn’t the most convenient solution. But it’s usually faster than waiting for them to make another delivery attempt.

3. High Volume Shipments

Behind each shipment, there is a team of people doing their best to ensure on-time deliveries. But in periods of an increased volume in shipments, it becomes impossible for them to prepare and ship every single order as quickly as usual. After all, they’re only human.

There are a few instances when companies experience a higher shipment volume and struggle to complete orders on time:

• New product launches – When a company launches a new product or collection, they often have a spike in orders thanks to its marketing campaigns.
• Discounts – Sales, discount codes, and limited-time offers drive customers to all shop at the same time and buy more things than they normally would. As a result, it takes more time for orders to leave the warehouse.
• The holiday season – Holidays are a challenging time for carriers for multiple reasons. Among other things, because of the increase in sales.

4. Holiday Season

As we’ve said, one of the most common times for packages to be delayed is during the holidays. Like most people, transportation companies don’t operate on national holidays either. This means the orders are being placed, but the carriers aren’t there to pack and ship them in real-time. Instead, the workers have a high volume of shipments to sort through when they return to work.

Not only that, but the holiday season is usually the time when there are more orders than usual. So, because of the increased number of orders and the delay in fulfillment, you can end up waiting longer than expected to receive your package.

5. Damaged or Lost Packages

Although it doesn’t happen often, sometimes the carriers cannot deliver your package on time because it’s not in good shape. If the package contains fragile objects, liquids, or similar goods that are easily ruined, there’s a risk of damage if the items aren’t packed properly.

Other than damages in transportation, another instance when the package delivery is delayed is when your package gets lost. Unfortunately, this isn’t something anybody can control. But when this happens, delivery companies do everything they can to solve the issue as fast as possible.

6. Customs

Customs can also cause shipping delays, especially for international shipments. Depending on the country of origin and destination, some different rules and regulations need to be followed. And if even one document is missing or incorrect, it can cause a major setback.

Not only that, but customs can be a slow process. Your package may be held up in customs for days or weeks, and there’s nothing the shipping carrier can do to speed up the process. So, if you’re expecting an international shipment, be prepared for the possibility of a delay.

7. Severe Weather Conditions or Natural Disasters

Another common reason for shipment delays is severe weather conditions. If there’s a storm or hurricane in the area, the carriers may not be able to make it to the warehouse to pick up the packages. And even if they can get there, they may not be able to reach their destination because of road closures.

In the same vein, natural disasters can also cause a delivery delay. Suppose there’s an earthquake, tornado, or similar event in the area. In that case, it can damage the infrastructure and make it difficult or even impossible for the carriers to reach the warehouse or destination.

In such cases, the workers’ safety is always the priority. So, even if it means a delay in your shipment, they won’t take any risks.

What to Do When Your Package Is Late

What can you do if you find yourself in the middle of a delivery exception? First, check the tracking information for your order. This will give you a better idea of where it is and when it’s expected to arrive.

If the expected delivery date has come and gone, contact the company to let them know. They may be able to give you a new estimated delivery date or even overnight the package to you.

Delivery Exceptions Are Frustrating but Solvable

While delivery exceptions aren’t that common, they do happen from time to time. And even though you feel irritated, remember that these things are relatively easy to resolve, so you’ll get your package soon. It can be challenging, but try to be understanding with the company. They’re likely doing their best to get your package to you as quickly as possible.

So, if you’re expecting a package, be prepared for possible late delivery. And if your shipment is running late, don’t hesitate to contact the carrier and find out what’s going on.

Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is an ecopreneur, consultant, advisor, speaker and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection, conservation and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Salman is the Founder of EcoMENA, a popular voluntary organization based in Qatar. He is also the Founder and CEO of BioEnergy Consult, a reputed consulting firm active in biomass, waste-to-energy and waste management segments.
Salman is a professional environmental writer with more than 350 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass environmental awareness in different parts of the world.
Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org or salman@bioenergyconsult.com

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