One of the most frequent tracking statuses when shipping packages by courier or having orders delivered from online stores is “parcel still in transit” but what does it mean when a package is in transit? Find out what are the reasons for delays in transit times and what to do when your package is stuck in transit.
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Parcel still in transit: what does it mean?
Most of the courier companies will show the status “package in transit” when the package you are tracking is moving along its delivery route. “In transit” can both mean that the package has just left the collection warehouse, is in between two hubs, or is already on its way to your address. In summary, if your parcel or order is “in transit”, this just means that everything is as it should be, and you should receive it soon.
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What does “package stuck in transit” mean?
While the status “in transit” means your parcel is moving, sometimes your package may no longer be progressing towards its destination, and it is either kept in one of the courier company’s depots for further checks or stuck in customs.
But don’t worry! In most cases, the parcel is released, and it continues its transit. Have you shipped with Eurosender and want to check the status of your parcel?
What if a package from Aliexpress is still in transit?
Shipments from China are increasingly popular and courier companies do their best to avoid delays in transit times as much as possible. However sometimes you may see a status like “parcel is still in transit, no worries, we will delivery it to you as soon as possible”: this is a common tracking status from Aliexpress and it simply means that your order transit is progressing as usual and that your parcel is still on its way to you.
Have in mind that with the new regulations about shipments from outside they EU valid since July 2021, all parcels are now subject to the payment of VAT so keep following your package from Aliexpress to make sure it doesn’t get “stuck in transit” due to customs delays.
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Why is my shipment still in transit when it was supposed to be already delivered?
Many situations can justify a delay in transit times, especially for overseas shipments. See what it can mean to have a shipment still in transit when it was already supposed to be delivered:
- Customs clearance – In general, items shipped between countries in the EU, do not need special documentation, unless the shipment is a matter of state monopoly or contains prohibited and restricted items. However, if the package is shipped from/to a country outside of the EU, then the customs declaration should be provided. Failure to provide the necessary documentation will have your shipment further stuck in transit.
Solution: Contact the courier company to tell you all the details and needed documentation to finalize the customs clearance. - The package is oversized/overweight – Packages may be measured in the warehouse of the courier company. Therefore, if they notice that it is heavier than stated, then they could either return it to the sender or have you pay additional surcharges (this depends on the courier company).
Solution: If you know that the package is overweight or oversized, it is better to contact the courier company and see if you can add additional kilos to the order. But once the shipment is in transit, you can just wait for additional information from the courier. - Changes in the order – If you have asked the company to change the destination address, then this could be another indicator of why your shipment is stuck in transit.
Solution: It might take a while for the change to be processed, especially if the package was already in transit. Therefore, we advise you to wait for the updates in the tracking system and contact the courier company is the status hasn’t changed to “in transit” within a couple of days. - Undeliverable shipment– Have you shipped some items that are on the list of prohibited and restricted items from shipping? Courier companies scan the shipments at different depots therefore, we advise you not to ship any forbidden items as in some cases, they can be easily detected.
Solution: Unfortunately, the courier will either destroy the package or return it to the shipper. - Improper packaging – This does not only apply for the safety of the goods, but also for the safety of the staff taking care of your package. Therefore, if your package shows any signs of leaking or sharp items inside, the courier will most likely stop its transit.
Solution: If the parcel shows any signs of leaking, it will be further inspected. Unfortunately, if the courier finds any items that are non-recommended for shipping, it will be either returned to the sender or destroyed. - Wrong or incomplete address – This is the most common cause for undeliverable shipments. You should always double-check if your address has all the necessary details for it to be transported.
Solution: Contact the courier company once you have realized that your order has some incomplete or wrong details written. - Weather conditions or traffic – It is not so rare that during busy periods, such as holidays, or heavy snow, the transit times can be extended, and your parcel may take longer to arrive at its destination.
Solution: We understand it might be difficult, but in such cases, it is best to just wait for the package to arrive. - Lost package This is something you would not want to hear. But unfortunately, it is something that could indeed happen.
Solution: You can start a claim procedure if your package is lost and ask for a refund.
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- How long will my package be stuck in transit?
- Why was my package stuck in transit?
- Check the tracking status
Why is my shipment still in transit when it was supposed to be already delivered?
As long as the tracking system is getting regularly updated and no strange status has appeared, you parcel should still be in transit and on its way to you. If the parcel has not moved for some time now, then most likely some of the above-mentioned reasons have occurred.
It is important to note that the tracking statuses can sometimes take up to 24-48 hours to be updated, so do not panic yet if your parcel has not changed its status yet.
How long will my parcel stay in transit?
It is important to keep in mind that the estimated delivery time is exactly that, an estimation. It is an average calculated based on the time it usually takes to a given courier company to bring a package to its destination.
The estimated delivery time depends on the distance and the type of service you have booked.
- If you have booked a standard shipping service, specific transit times cannot be generalized.
- If you have booked a freight or express shipment, you will get a specific delivery time, depending on the location, volume and type of shipment.
Am I entitled to a reimbursement in case my parcel was stuck in transit?
If you have followed the courier’s instruction for shipping, you are entitled to reimbursement. However, if the reason that your parcel is stuck in transit is that you have missed some of the courier’s guidelines, whether that be the packaging, the content, required documentation or anything else, then, unfortunately, you are not entitled to reimbursement.
Have you shipped with Eurosender and your parcel got stuck in transit? Contact us and our agents will see the reason why it is stuck in transit, as well as the steps to be taken afterwards.
This article was written in collaboration with Annalieke Muelders.