A guide to Amazon delivery delays and how to get a refund

“Package delayed in transit” is the last update any Amazon shopper wants to see with their order; after all, it means that the package won’t be arriving on its original delivery date. Don’t worry, though—we’ll walk you through everything you need to do if your package is delayed, like confirming your shipping address and checking your email inbox. If you go more than 2 days without updates, we’ll teach you how to get in contact with Amazon (or a third-party seller) so you can get compensated.

Things You Should Know

  • ”Package delayed in transit” means that your package is running late and won’t arrive on the expected delivery date.
  • Give the package 2 more days to arrive at your residence. If you still don’t receive it, contact Amazon’s customer service team to request a refund or replacement.
  • If a third-party seller shipped the item, contact them directly. If they don’t reply in 2 days, get in touch with an Amazon customer service agent to receive a refund.
Section 1 of 3:

What does “package delayed in transit” mean?

  1. While Amazon is known for their speedy 1- or 2-day shipping (especially for Prime members), their delivery system can run into delays, like heavy traffic and poor weather. Because of this, packages may not always arrive on the expected delivery date.[1]
    • Delays may also happen during the holiday season, since Amazon delivery drivers are handling a lot more packages.
    • Your package might also get sent back if it gets damaged while being shipped. Then, it will be marked as undeliverable, and you can be refunded for the item.[2]
  2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

What to Do if Your Package Is Late

  1. If you’re on desktop, click the “Returns & Orders” tab to access your most recent orders. If you’re on mobile, tap the bottom-center person icon followed by “Your Orders.”[3]
    • For third-party packages, you may need to check this on a specific courier site, like USPS.
  2. Check your spam folder, too, in case anything ended up there.[4]
  3. If you’re on desktop, go to this page; if you’re on mobile, tap the bottom-central icon, followed by “Your Account” and “Your Addresses.”
  4. Amazon suggests checking the Transactions page to ensure that your payment was processed correctly. An issue with your payment could cause a delay in transit/delivery.[5]
    • If you’re on mobile, tap the bottom-central icon, followed by “Your Account,” “Your Payments,” and “Transactions.”
  5. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

How to Get a Refund or Replacement

  1. Unfortunately, Amazon can’t officially help you until you’ve gone at least 2 days past the delivery date without receiving your package. Keep an eye on your tracking info in the next 48 hours to see if anything changes.[6]
  2. Go to Amazon’s customer service page and select the item that was never delivered. In the “Ok, how can we help with this item?” list, select an option like “Track shipping” or “Arrived too late.” Select the “I need help with something else button” on the next page to get redirected to a customer support agent. This agent can help you get compensated for your late/missing package.
    • Amazon lets you either receive a phone call from an agent or chat with an agent online. Online chats are often quicker and give you more flexibility.
    • If you end up receiving the package after getting refunded, you likely won’t be recharged for the item.[7]
  3. If your shipment wasn’t fulfilled by Amazon, head to “Your Orders,” pick out your order, and hit the “Problem with order” option. From there, select the prompt that best applies to your situation, followed by “Contact seller.”
    • Amazon recommends waiting 2 days for a third-party seller to reply. If you don’t hear back after that time, check that your order is covered by Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee. Then, reach out to Amazon’s customer service team to request a refund.
  4. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

What to Do if Amazon Package Is StolenWhat to Do if Your Amazon Package Is Lost or Stolen: Full Guide
Amazon Package Delivered to Wrong AddressWhat to Do When Amazon Delivers to the Wrong Address
Get a Refund for Late PackagesGet a Refund for Late Packages
What Does It Mean when a Package Is in TransitWhat Does “In Transit” Mean & How Long Will It Take to Get Your Package?
Delay a Delivery on Amazon Change Your Delivery Date & Time on Amazon
Usps Says Delivered but No PackageWhat if USPS Says Your Package Was Delivered but You Never Got It?
Usps Moving Through NetworkWhat USPS’s “Moving Through Network” Tracking Update Means
Ups Says Delivered but No PackageWhat to Do When Your UPS Package Is Missing (But Says Delivered)
Fedex Delivered to Wrong Address Recover or Get a Refund for Your Misdelivered FedEx Package
Return an Item to AmazonReturn an Item to Amazon
What Does Pre Shipment MeanWhat Does "Pre-Shipment" Mean at the USPS?
Awaiting Delivery ScanUSPS Status “Awaiting Delivery Scan” Explained
Cancel an Amazon Order After It Ships Using the AppCancel an Amazon Order After It Ships Using the App
Linehaul Office MeaningWhat Does “Received by Line-Haul Office” Mean on AliExpress?
Advertisement

About This Article

Janice Tieperman
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 34,545 times.
12 votes - 40%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: December 11, 2025
Views: 34,545
Categories: Amazon
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 34,545 times.

Did this article help you?

Advertisement