Have you ever experienced your package getting stuck in pre-shipment and doesn’t show any progress at all? The situation can be confusing, especially for those who don’t know about the pre-shipment.
I know how annoying it is when you eagerly await your package to get delivered instead of the tracking status showing you pre-shipment and no significant progress. Pre-shipment indicates that your item/package has not made it to the postal service and doesn’t necessarily mean there is some issue with your package.
Here in this comprehensive guide, we will try to explain everything that you need to know about USPS pre-shipment and how you can get your package without facing any more delay.
What’s the meaning of “Pre-Shipment” in USPS?
Pre-shipment tracking status indicates that the shipping label for your package has been created and its details have been submitted to the USPS however USPS has not taken possession of the package yet.
In simple words, it indicates that the sender has prepared the item for shipping and provided the required detail to the USPS, but they are yet to physically hand over the package to the shipping carrier. Once the carrier has got the package, it will begin its journey through their postal system.
Why the USPS hasn’t taken the Possession of the Package?
There are several reasons why USPS might not have taken possession of a package. Here we have tried our best to explain a few of them so you can understand the situation more clearly.
Sender Delay
The sender might have created the shipping level and provided all the relevant details to the USPS but hasn’t yet dropped off the package at the post office or scheduled a pickup.
In such scenarios seeing the pre-shipment status causes confusion among the recipient that their package is not showing any progress however, in reality, your package is yet to be handed over to USPS to continue its normal journey.
Weekends & Holidays
Suppose you have bought something on Friday or Saturday then the seller may not be able to ship your package until Monday because the USPS does not do residential pickups on Sundays. Keep in mind that post offices are also closed on Sundays in public holidays so there is no chance that the package will enter the USPS system on those days.
In short, your package might arrive late at the USPS facility if there is some public holiday or Sundays in between its pick up or transit.
Volume of Packages
It mostly happens at the time of some holiday or a big sales event where the entire facility of the shipping carrier gets filled up with thousands of packages that remain there until they are scanned and processed in the USPS system.
If the package has already arrived in the facility then it might have to wait for its turn so it can get scanned and show some progress on the tracking status thereby relieving the recipient that their package is fine.
Why does my Package Status remain stuck on the pre-shipment update for days?
Overwhelmed by Packages (Seller)
If the seller is facing overwhelmed or high volume of packages then it may take longer for him/her to ship out your package. If you think your package is getting unbearably delayed then you need to contact the seller and know the actual status of your package.
System Update & Scans
There can be delays in the USPS system related to updating the tracking information of the packages in real time which often leads to confusion that the tracking status has been stuck. These delays are quite rare but they do have the potential to create confusion that the package has been delayed.
Label Created in Advance
Some seller often creates shipping levels in advance to generate tracking numbers for the recipient so they can track the progress of their package. However, it doesn’t mean that they immediately hand over all the packages to the USPS. They schedule a pickup as per their convince which is the main reason why people assume their package is getting delayed while in reality, USPS is yet to take possession of the courier.
Package is Lost
There is a slight chance that the package might have been lost or stolen on its way to the USPS facility. That’s the reason why your package seems to be stuck on the update for so long. However, it happens very rarely but we can’t ignore the possibility.
Operational Issue
If the seller of the shipment is facing some internal issues like a shortage of working staff inventory problems and other disruptions then there is a fair chance that your package status will remain stuck on the pre-shipment update until your package has been finally handed over to the USPS.
What To Do If Your Package Has Got the Pre-Shipment Status?
Reach Out to Seller
If your package has exceeded the estimated processing and shipping time then you need to reach out to the seller and ask politely if there is any delay or any issue with your package. In most of the cases seller has shipped your package way later than they have created their shipping label.
Contact the USPS
If weeks have passed and there is still no progress on the tracking status of your package then it’s the right time to contact the USPS and ask them what’s wrong with your package. They can provide you with more information about your package and the expected time during which it may arrive at your home address.
Initiate Missing Search Request
If you think your package has been lost, then you can also initiate a missing search request. It will alert the shipping carrier that your package might have been lost and they will initiate a proper search to retrieve it and get it delivered to the recipients as soon as possible.
Wait for Update
Sometimes all you require is patience, especially during busy periods like holidays or some festival sales. Some temporary issues like shortage of working staff, and power outages can also cause the package to remain status on the same update for an extended time. In such scenarios, you are just required to wait as the things get fixed on your own without doing anything.