What to Do If a Parcel Is Late

Waiting for something you are excited about is hard, and it is easy to worry when a parcel does not arrive on the day you hoped. Most late deliveries turn up within a few days, and the ones that do not can usually be sorted with a little patience.

Check the delivery estimate

Look again at the listing and your order. Many sellers make or prepare items by hand, so the time to send can be longer than you expect. Count from the day the seller marked the order as sent, not from the day you paid.

Use your tracking number

If the seller sent the parcel with tracking, check it on the courier's website. It will often show that the parcel is on its way, waiting at a depot or held because nobody was in.

Check your address

Look at the delivery address on your order. A missing flat number or an old postcode is one of the most common reasons a parcel goes astray.

Message the seller politely

If the parcel is well past its estimate, send the seller a short, friendly message with your order details. Most sellers want you to be happy and will check with the courier for you. A calm message gets a faster answer than an angry one.

Give it a few more days

Busy seasons and bank holidays slow everything down. A parcel that seems lost is often simply delayed, and arrives a day or two later.