Are you expecting a package to delivered from Amazon, but tracking is giving you conflicting information?
In some instances, it’s possible that Amazon may still claim that your package is scheduled to arrive today by 8 pm or 10 pm, despite the fact that tracking has yet to update to ‘Out For Delivery.’
This can be confusing, and make you wonder whether or not you’ll actually receive your package or not.
So, what does this mean, and when can you expect your package to arrive? In this article, I’ll cover everything that you need to know!
Amazon Package Arriving Today, But Not For Delivery – What It Means
Thankfully, I’m happy to share that it is indeed likely you will still receive your package today.
However, depending on the specific reason why tracking isn’t showing out for delivery, it may increase or decrease your likelihood. Things like the courier Amazon chose to ship with or where the package is currently showing now can affect your chances.
So, by understanding each possible reason why Amazon shows the package will arrive today even if tracking appears otherwise, you’ll have more insight as to when your package is likely to show up at your door.
Let’s look over each reason now.
1. Amazon Still Predicts The Item Will Arrive Today
First of all, regardless of the circumstances, Amazon genuinely believes that your package is still going to show up today.
It’s important to remember that Amazon ships out over 1.6 million packages every day, on average.
This means that they have an absolutely insane amount of data on how their shipping services and deliveries perform, even in rare and unusual circumstances.
This allows them to make very accurate predictions about when a package is likely to arrive, even if not all of that information is available to you when you go to track your package.
Amazon is set to lose money when packages are delivered late, and this is something they obviously want to avoid.
So, there is a huge incentive for them to delivery packages in a timely manner, and ensure their tracking system is accurate.
If Amazon still states that the package is going to arrive today, their systems genuinely believe this will be the case, based on all of the information that’s been made available to them.
2. Your Package May Be Loaded Onto The Truck Later Today
This one is more common with specific couriers, or during peak shipping seasons (such as around major gifting holidays.)
In certain areas or with certain delivery services, it’s possible that your package is already at the courier’s local hub, and is set to be delivered today.
However, it may not actually be loaded up onto the delivery truck yet.
With couriers like UPS or Fedex, it is common for Priority Overnight or commercial deliveries to be handled first. Then, residential deliveries will take place later in the day.
Or during peak shipping seasons, not all the packages set to be delivered will fit on one truck. So, the truck has to return to be loaded up again with the next set of deliveries.
Only at this point will your package update to share that it’s actually out for delivery.
This behavior seems to be most common if your package is being delivered with Amazon’s own delivery service, Amazon Flex.
Because Amazon’s delivery vans are quite small, drivers may return to pick up packages several times before tracking ends up showing that it’s out for delivery. Some drivers even pick up new packages later than 4 P.M!
Of course, Amazon knows that it’s still going to be delivered today, so they share that with you via tracking.
3. There Is A Delay With Amazon’s Tracking
Next, it’s also possible that there is a delay with Amazon’s tracking systems. This is most common when using a shipping provider that is NOT owned by Amazon.
For example, USPS, UPS, or Fedex.
Once the package has left Amazon’s possession, they rely on data from these third-party couriers to update their own tracking system.
When you go to the page on Amazon’s website to track your order, it shows the most recent updates that have been provided to Amazon by the courier.
The problem is, sometimes there is a delay between when the courier updates their tracking information, and when this new info is actually reflected on Amazon’s tracking page.
This means that Amazon’s tracking page may be out of date.
So, in order to gain the most accurate tracking estimate, you should also copy the tracking number that Amazon provides, and paste it into Google to pull up the courier’s website.
Then, check the tracking on the USPS / Fedex / UPS website to see what their delivery estimate is.
It’s possible that it may show the package as being out for delivery, even if this information isn’t stated on Amazon’s website!
Note: This is most accurate as the package gets closer to the delivery date. Amazon tracking may show movement throughout the country early on, before any updates show up on the courier’s website. Amazon has their own fulfillment network and regularly moves products between their various centers.
4. A Scan Was Missed
Throughout your package’s journey, it is constantly being scanned as it arrives and departs various facilities.
In fact, it is these scans that allow the tracking updates to happen, and give everyone insight as to where the package is.
Unfortunately, in rare circumstances it’s possible that one or more of these scans can be missed, which can cause the tracking system to become inaccurate.
It’s possible that the package is currently out for delivery, but did not end up getting scanned as such prior to being loaded on the truck.
However, there’s no way to know for certain whether or not this is the case. As time goes on and Amazon is not seeing movement with the package, they will update their delivery estimate to reflect when they believe the package will arrive.
So, pay attention to the tracking – both Amazon’s, as well as the courier’s, to receive the most accurate estimate on when the package is expected to show up.
5. There Is A Glitch In The Tracking System
Finally, it’s possible that there may be a glitch in Amazon’s tracking system, that causes issues with tracking to update.
Amazon tends to set delivery estimates conservatively, and most packages arrive before the promised delivery window. However, glitches and human errors (like the scanning issue just mentioned) can cause tracking to become inaccurate.
Additionally, since the shipping network of couriers like USPS, UPS and Fedex are so incredibly complex, it’s possible for things to go wrong at any stage of the package’s journey. While they’re all great at ensuring packages arrive at their destination, each error can cause delays.
These problems are more common when couriers are dealing with a larger volume of packages than normal. So, during the Christmas rush (Black Friday to about December 22nd) as well as major holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day, errors, glitches and delays become more of a problem.
In order to help with this, try ordering gifts and other items earlier to account for any possible delays, especially if the orders are time-sensitive.
Conclusion
Most of the time, Amazon tracking is incredibly accurate. So, if the package says it will arrive today, it likely will – even if it’s not yet out for delivery.
While it can be difficult to know exactly why the order isn’t out for delivery yet, it’s important to remember that you don’t have the same data that Amazon does – and they have a financial incentive to make sure their predictions are accurate.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful, and that it’s answered all of your questions. If there’s anything else that I can help you with, please feel free to ask via the comment form below.
Wishing you the best, and here’s hoping your package arrives soon!
– James McAllister