Are you tracking your package on AliExpress, and see that it’s been updated to ‘accepted by last mile carrier?’
If you’ve never seen this before, it can be a little difficult to understand.
So, what does this message actually mean, and how long should you expect to wait before receiving your package?
In this article, I’ll cover everything that you need to know!
What Does ‘Accepted By Last Mile Carrier’ Mean On AliExpress?
When AliExpress tracking shows a message stating ‘accepted by last mile carrier’, this means that the package has been handed off to the courier that will actually be handling the delivery of your package.
In the United States for example, this may include UPS, Fedex, and USPS, among others.
This is common for AliExpress shipments. The packages may be sent in bulk to your country, then handed off to different couriers to actually handle the final delivery of the package.
It should be noted that at this point, AliExpress may no longer show frequent updates for your package’s tracking. Instead, tracking updates will be provided by the last mile carrier instead.
How Do You Track Shipments That Have Been Handed Off To The Last Mile Carrier?
So, how do you get tracking updates for items that have been accepted by a last mile carrier – even if you don’t know who that carrier actually is?
It turns out, it’s pretty easy!
These days, we have universal tracking tools available to us, that will check your tracking number against many different shipping companies.
So, even if you don’t know who your package is being handled by, you can still plug your tracking number in and get a result back.
Personally, I recommend using one calls Parcels.
Not only do they have an app available for both Apple and Android devices, but they even advertise support for AliExpress packages right on their homepage!
So, regardless of which last mile carrier ends up accepting the package, you should be able to continue tracking its progress, seeing shipment updates, and get an estimate on when delivery will occur.
This makes it an incredibly convenient tool to use, even for packages that end up being tendered for delivery.
How Long Should My Shipment Take To Arrive?
So, once AliExpress has updated with the ‘accepted by last mile carrier’ message, how long should you expect it to take before it arrives?
Thankfully, the answer is not very long!
By the time AliExpress has handed off the shipment and it’s been accepted by the last mile carrier, it has already completed the process of clearing customs within your country.
This is the step where most delays occur, so there is unlikely to be any further issues that delay your package’s delivery.
Generally speaking, most packages are delivered within a few business days after being accepted by the last mile carrier.
However, for the most accurate delivery estimate, you should plug your tracking number into the tool mentioned above, as it will be able to give you the most accurate delivery estimate, provided by the courier that is currently in possession of your package.
My Package Still Hasn’t Arrived! What Should I Do?
So, what should you do if AliExpress has been stuck on ‘accepted by last mile carrier for several days?’
The first thing is to remain patient.
If you think about it, the point in which the last mile carrier accepts the shipment can sort of be thought of as the ‘beginning’ for that carrier.
What I mean by that is this – if USPS would normally take 3-5 days to arrive to your house as soon as you order something online for example, it’s not unreasonable to assume they’d take 3-5 days to deliver as soon as they accepted your AliExpress shipment either.
Generally speaking, it’s best to wait up to a week after the package has been accepted by the last mile carrier, before looking into it further (unless of course, the estimated delivery date provided has already past.)
If it’s been stuck for a while however, the best thing you can do is to contact the original shipper.
Technically, they are the ones responsible for making sure that your package arrives smoothly. If there are any issues, they should sort them out with the courier on your behalf.
And of course if your product never arrives, you should be able to get a replacement or refund from them as well.
Conclusion
When a package has been accepted by the last mile carrier, this means it’s now in possession of the shipping company that will actually be delivering it to you.
This is usually a good sign, as it means that your item is likely to be delivered shortly!
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful, and that it’s answered all of your questions.
If you have any other questions about ordering from AliExpress, please ask them below and I’ll be happy to help.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister