# When Amazon says 'On the way, but it's running late' - does it ever turn up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278 "2020-11-23T16:44:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/1 "2020-11-23T16:44:40Z")
Amazon has been pretty reliable for delivering what they say, when they say, in my experience, but every now and again, I get an order (not marketplace) where the delivery gets bumped to the next day, then changed again for a later estimated delivery period (now spanning more than a day), then it turns to ‘On the way, but it’s running late’ with no specific delivery date. The item never turns up; I claim a refund, and all is eventually well again, but I’ve never seen a case where it recovers and is actually delivered, after getting bumped like this - have you? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/2 "2020-11-23T17:01:47Z")
Amazon has been berry, berry, good to me. I think once or twice a Prime package has been a day late, and Amazon was apologetic about it. At the start of quarantine, my gf ordered an office chair. After two apologies/delays the shipment was canceled and her money returned. She was unable to re-order that specific chair. Office chairs were very difficult to find, but she eventually found one and bought it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/3 "2020-11-23T17:03:19Z")
I can’t think of a package that got an “it’s running late” email that didn’t show up. Must be related to the exact type of things being ordered. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/4 "2020-11-23T17:08:27Z")
I’ve gotten that message a handful of times; I think that there was one occasion where it simply didn’t ever show up; I flagged it as such on Amazon, and they sent me a replacement (which did). ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/5 "2020-11-23T17:15:13Z")
Sometimes. A few weeks ago, I ordered a unusual large socket for a wrench. It was supposed to be delivered on a Wednesday. I really needed it, so I was tracking it. On Wednesday morning, all tracking updates ceased, with the item scanned into the nearest large UPS facility, but no subsequent updates. Amazon then said it would be delayed. I heard nothing for the next five days. At some point thereafter, Amazon then told me the new expected delivery date would be the following Tuesday, and that if it didn’t show up within 48 hours after that, I could ask for a refund. In the meantime, their remaining stock for the item dwindled down until there were only two items left. So on Sunday, with no tracking updates for four days, I decided the first item was never going to show up, so I ordered it again. The next day, the first item popped up on the tracking again. It was in another large UPS facility at the other end of the state. (It must have gotten put on the wrong truck and lost for a few days.) It was delivered the next day. Two days later, the second item was delivered. So now I have two large sockets. 🙄 (I’ll just keep both, because I try to avoid returning items to Amazon.) The first one ended up taking 10 days to reach me; the second one took only 4 days. Other times, though, I have had items simply never show up. I have gotten refunded for them, but annoyingly the refund is classified as a “return.” ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/6 "2020-11-23T17:15:14Z")
I’ve ordered a lot from Amazon. I’ve only had “it’s running late” a handful of times, and the items have always shown up eventually. I think I’ve only ever had one item get double-delayed - everything else showed up within the first revised delivery estimate. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/7 "2020-11-23T17:32:39Z")
I got one package that was late but the rest never showed up. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/8 "2020-11-23T17:34:20Z")
The only time I had it say “delayed”, and never show up was one time I bought a LED grow-light that shipped from China, and vanished into the Customs process, never to be seen again. Eventually, I just escalated it with Amazon, and got my money refunded. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/9 "2020-11-23T17:39:52Z")
About two months ago I ordered a pair of shoes from Amazon and a day or two before the delivery date the message changed to “running late”. A few days after the original delivery date it changed to “undeliverable, damaged in transit” and that when the return was processed, my payment would be refunded. After about six weeks without a refund, I got on chat with a customer service person and they refunded me. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/10 "2020-11-23T17:40:23Z")
“On the way” sounds like it shipped. If FedEx is involved they seem to have some weird issues lately where packages get stuck or directed to the wrong place. It usually sorts itself out but may take 4 or 5 days. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/11 "2020-11-23T20:19:05Z")
I’ve had a “running late” that never arrived and they forced a refund on me as the item was no longer available (at the price I paid) but was magically available for $20 more. Another item had already been delivered when I received the “running late” warning. Hmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/12 "2020-11-23T20:25:20Z")
> [@robby](#): > > At some point thereafter, Amazon then told me the new expected delivery date would be the following Tuesday, and that if it didn’t show up within 48 hours after that, I could ask for a refund. Yep, I got one of those recently. I gave it an extra day then asked the company through Amazon for either a replacement order or a refund. After confusing two different orders for a day or two, the company refunded me. Then the package arrived three days later, about two-three weeks late. Basically I got two ( relatively inexpensive) items for free, though pretty late. I actually would have been fined if they had turned around and re-charged me after delivery but looks like they ate the cost for the inconvenience. Which is good customer service far as I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/13 "2020-11-23T20:37:10Z")
I’ve had both scenarios happen. I order from Amazon a lot, and I’ve had things delayed, but they turned up, and I’ve had things marked as delayed, then either continue that way, but a refund was offered or try changed to undeliverable/damaged in transit,and a refund was offered. The one that’s really bugging me right now is something my spouse bought for me for my birthday, as a used/damaged packaging item. The price was about 50% of new, and she would not have otherwise bought it. It never got marked shipped – they kept sending messages saying it would be delayed and we could cancel, or we had to approve the delay. But we want it at that price. I don’t know why they don’t cancel at their end – it seems they don’t have the item. I think they ought to send a new one at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/14 "2020-11-23T20:46:11Z")
Add my vote to some never showing up. One was “out for delivery” and then “will be delayed”. Had to order another one, got a refund on the lost one, I suspect someone in my neighborhood got a surprise present. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/15 "2020-11-23T20:50:22Z")
I must have great Amazon karma. I have ordered from them a lot for over twenty years and have never had something not show up. I have had the running late notice maybe five or six times and even then it was only late by a day or two. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/16 "2020-11-23T20:54:33Z")
I’ve never had anything not show up. And, if it is shipped by Amazon, it’s never been more than a day or two late. One time, though, when I ordered a thermometer from a separate seller, it took a really long time to get here. I actually, after like a month, asked for a refund since it hadn’t arrived. The seller got back with me and gave me a refund, saying it must’ve gotten lost in the mail, and that I could keep it if it arrived. Thing is, I’d just checked my mail and found it, and was about to try and write back that I didn’t need the refund after all. But, given what they said, I just kept it. Probably more work for them to return it. (Oh, and yes, this was during the pandemic, when the supply shortages were in full swing. That’s why I ordered one—I couldn’t get one at any of the drug stores or department stores. Even all the ones shipped by Amazon were out of stock.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/17 "2020-11-23T21:12:45Z")
Had a couple of things never show up, but no running late notices with those. One was definitely sent to the wrong address, however Amazon immediately sent another one which was received the next day, no idea if they tried to get back the first one. Another one just disappeared into the ether, and again they quickly sent another one. So far Amazon has been great dealing with any problem. One product broke and they stepped in to get another one sent out quickly. Got the wrong item and they sent the right one and didn’t ask for the first one back. A bunch of things were delayed or had long delivery times back in the spring due to you know what and everything eventually showed up. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/18 "2020-11-23T21:24:32Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#): > > About two months ago I ordered a pair of shoes from Amazon and a day or two before the delivery date the message changed to “running late”. A few days after the original delivery date it changed to “undeliverable, damaged in transit” and that when the return was processed, my payment would be refunded. I tend to obsessively track shipments and I had one that got as far as the Amazon Locker location before the status changed to “Damaged in transit” and they cancelled the order and refunded my credit card. I have no idea what happened there. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/19 "2020-11-23T21:38:43Z")
Around 90% of the time when I get that the item shows up just a day or two after the promised delivery date. The times when it didn’t both seemed to be related to wildfires. A couple of years ago I ordered something just before Amazon closed their local distribution center due to poor air quality from wildfires in the area. That item just never arrived, I’m guessing lost in the shuffle with the backlog of orders they had to get through after they reopened. Amazon marked it as lost and refunded my money. I reordered the exact same item, and that time it arrived on time. A few month ago during the most recent wildfires in California I decided I should get an air purifier. Predictably, they were sold out at all the local brick and mortar stores, so I turned to Amazon. Much of why I chose the specific one I did was because it had the earliest shipping date, even though that was still a week and a half in the future. The promised delivery date arrived, and it was “on the way, but running late”. At least a week went by after that, and it changed to “your item may be lost”. And then it finally showed up on my doorstep. I don’t know why it was so delayed; maybe the sudden high demand for air purifiers threw off the algorithm that predicts delivery dates or something. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278/20 "2020-11-23T21:45:57Z")
I’ve never had a problem; in fact it seems things often arrive at the start of the range of dates they give. Once in a while they tell me something is running late but I always get it without excessive delay. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-amazon-says-on-the-way-but-its-running-late-does-it-ever-turn-up/926278.md?page=2)