How long does it take Amazon to ship? (Prime, Timeline + more)
Amazon has spent most of the past 30 years streamlining their delivery service and business model. They are known for delivering fast and reliable. However, sometimes, Amazon items still take a while to deliver.
As customers, it is important to us to understand the shipping process and how Amazon determines the estimated delivery time for their orders. This article will explain the details of Amazon’s fulfillment system and how long you can wait for most packages on Amazon.
How long does it take Amazon to ship?
according to Amazon Customer Service, the estimated delivery time is calculated by adding the estimated shipping time to the estimated shipping date. Amazon usually ships within 24 hours of placing an order. Estimated shipping times vary based on the shipping option you select at checkout.
Estimated shipping times should be displayed when selecting each shipping option at checkout.
Times listed are in working days. In other words, Saturdays and Sundays are usually not included in transit time estimates. There may also be some delays in starting to ship items if there are supply issues at the warehouse, or if your shipping information is not filled out correctly.
Amazon Prime members also have access to a free two-day shipping option. Some items are not eligible for free two-day shipping, but we’ll discuss that in more detail later in this article.
Shipping times vary if you order from a third-party seller on Amazon. Some sellers ship items to customers very quickly, while others may fall behind in fulfilling orders. Seller accounts also have the option to be fulfilled by Amazon, so shipping and delivery times will be comparable to items ordered directly from Amazon.
It’s also important to note that there may be delays for international orders or orders from addresses outside the continental United States, and Amazon cannot guarantee delivery times. Unexpected service delays may occur in the event of severe weather conditions, natural disasters or unforeseen events.
Selecting a higher quantity of a specific item may also make the shipment ineligible for immediate shipping due to availability.
How long does it take Amazon to ship with Prime?
Amazon Prime members get some benefits Related to shipping options. If you need expedited shipping, Amazon Prime has many options to speed up shipping. For addresses in the continental United States, these benefits are as follows:
- Free one-day shipping
- Free two-day shipping
- Same day delivery
- Ships Saturday
- Free Amazon Same-Day Shipping
- Free no rush shipping
- Free Standard Shipping
- Free release date delivery
Some items are not eligible for each shipping option, and some options will cost more, depending on what you ordered. For example, large or irregularly shaped items typically cost more to ship. They may also be ineligible for free shipping options.
Amazon Prime members in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico also have some options. Prices for these shipping options vary based on the size and weight of the item. Prices start as low as $5.99 per item for Expedited Shipping and as low as $11.99 per item for Priority Shipping:
- Free Standard Shipping (3-7 business days)
- Expedited Shipping (2-5 business days)
- Priority Shipping (1-4 business days)
Unfortunately, expedited shipping is not currently available for addresses in Puerto Rico. If you’re curious about which items are eligible for the different shipping options with Amazon prime, you can check if the item is eligible on the product page.
Shipping times will still vary based on your location and the shipping service you choose at checkout. Amazon recommends waiting two days from the estimated delivery date before reporting a lost or stolen package. If your item is listed as delivered, but has not been delivered, you may want to check with your neighbors if the package was delivered to them in error.
There are many items that are generally not eligible for Prime Shipping. These include but are not limited to:
- Items from Amazon sellers not marked as eligible for Prime shipping
- Magazine subscription
- Personalized Gift Card
- Any item not listed as eligible for Prime shipping on the product page
- Addresses of U.S. territories, dependencies, and protectorates (except Puerto Rico)
- international destination
- Items scheduled for delivery
Amazon Order/Shipping Schedule
Amazon’s shipping schedules are fairly transparent and streamlined. Once you’ve decided to purchase an item, you can select your desired shipping option during checkout. Estimated delivery time is calculated based on shipping time plus estimated shipping time, depending on your region.
According to Feedvisor.com, the exact schedule looks like this:
- Buyer places an order.
- Amazon Payments processes the order.
- The order is held by Amazon Payments (to allow cancellation if necessary).
- Orders are verified by Amazon Payments.
- If payment is successful, the item will be shipped by Amazon according to the shipping option selected at checkout, or the third-party seller will be notified with shipping information and order status.
- The seller then processes the order and ships it.
- The item is delivered to the buyer, and the buyer receives the item they ordered.
- We also encourage buyers to leave feedback if they purchased through a third-party seller.
Why does Amazon take so long to ship?
Shipping and delivery times for Amazon orders may take longer than expected for a number of reasons. The most common problems are usability issues. In some regions in particular, certain items may not be available at the nearest fulfillment center, so they will not be eligible for certain shipping options. Other common reasons for delayed shipments include weather, natural disasters or unforeseen events.
For items ordered from third-party sellers, shipping times are usually determined by the seller. Some sellers will ship faster than others, and we encourage buyers to leave feedback when purchasing from third-party sellers on Amazon.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these posts to learn what Amazon Flex is, what it means to deliver to a safe location by Amazon, and whether Amazon ships to Hawaii.
in conclusion…
Amazon Prime packages typically ship within 24 hours of placing an order. Other packages, especially those ordered from third-party sellers, may take longer depending on their estimated delivery date.
Amazon is very efficient at shipping and delivering packages, but they sometimes experience logistical delays such as weather and unforeseen circumstances. These situations cannot be planned and may cause your package to take longer than expected to be delivered.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask them in the comments section.
