Trying to Understand

[dusty]

what effects shipping times.

I have two Shopsmith orders that were placed on the same day. One reportedly arrives here on Saturday (tomorrow) but the other one is not forecast to arrive until 11/19 (a full week later). The first is coming USPS and the other is FEDEX. The later weighs 1.4 lbs (per the tracker) and the other is less than that.

I have a third order that was initiated a day later (a requested addition to the second order). The current status on that order is "Being Shipped".

Why three orders. Because I screwed up doing an on line order. I did not know that it was limited to five items and I did not pay attention when I posted the order. I had to amend the order. I attempted to combine them but I was too late. One had already "Shipped". Then I decided I wanted still a another item. That item could not be added to the second order because the second order was already "Being Shipped". The third item is also "Being Shipped" and "NO COST TO ME" but is coming as a third shipment.

I gotta get my act together but I still wish I understood the process better.

[mbcabinetmaker]

I have Amazon prime and get free shipping on most all orders. I had a large order recently that was split into 3 separate shipments one being a single tube of caulking that was shipped from Washington state to South Carolina. I just wonder what it cost them to ship a $2.00 tube of common Dap caulking all the way across the country?

[jsburger]

I think the most obvious thing is there are two different shipping companies. Then there is the actual method of shipment. USPS first class or priority mail arrives faster than parcel post (does the USPS still have that?) because the first two have a higher priority. The FedEx package is probably coming standard ground which is their lowest priority. Then since it is two different shippers the packages follow different routs and go through different sorting hubs along the way.

The last thing I got from FedEx came as two shipments from the same place and arrived together. The last thing I ordered from SS came first class mail and was here in 3 days. The two FedEx packages took a week.

[ecom1]

Is it possible there is a stocking issue? Perhaps some items were on hand, and others had to be retrieved from an off-site warehouse.

[colday]

As jsburger said, the method of shipment.

Plus I've had companies provide me with a tracking number & yet the item has not actually been "shipped" for a few days after that. They meet the "We ship the day we get the order", but it hasn't actually gone anywhere.

USPS has 1st class (must be light), Priority (will take from 2-3 days), Express (1-2 days), and standard mail (1-2 weeks). All times are from actual pick up to delivery attempt.

The other's have similar methods and they also partner with the USPS for a (ahem) "SmartPost" type. Basically slower than ground, or standard.


Steve

[JPG]

Is it possible there is a stocking issue? Perhaps some items were on hand, and others had to be retrieved from an off-site warehouse.

More likely it's that SS's 'warehouse' is their supplier or assembly vendor.

Remember their downsizing included reduced floor space.

[jsburger]

As jsburger said, the method of shipment.

Plus I've had companies provide me with a tracking number & yet the item has not actually been "shipped" for a few days after that. They meet the "We ship the day we get the order", but it hasn't actually gone anywhere.

USPS has 1st class (must be light), Priority (will take from 2-3 days), Express (1-2 days), and standard mail (1-2 weeks). All times are from actual pick up to delivery attempt.

The other's have similar methods and they also partner with the USPS for a (ahem) "SmartPost" type. Basically slower than ground, or standard.


Steve

Yes, most vendors send you the tracking number as soon as they print the label and call it shipped. The shipper doesn't have it until they do the pick up scan which could be the next day.

Oh yes, FedEx SmartPost. I live on a dead end road in the country. The post office is only 2 miles from me. The FedEx delivery truck is in the area almost every day. I would guess the truck that delivered my SmartPost package to the post office is the same truck that comes down my road to deliver to the house. All it does is add another day to delivery. Of course the vendor that used SmartPosc doesn't know that.

[rlkeeney]

I sell a few things on line.

The tracking number is generated when the label is generated. You can't have one with out the other. Many (maybe most) of these systems consider an item shipped when the label is generated. If your order system is connected with the system that generates the labels the purchaser will be sent the tracking number immediately.

I use USPS exclusively. I've never seen an item show up on their tracking page before it gets scanned at the sorting station. I drop it at the post office at 0700, they scan it and give me a receipt. It usually gets scanned at local sorting station at around 1730 and shows as in transit a short time later.

When does shipping start? I think it starts when the label process begins. After all I am the shipping department. Now I don't have a lot of customers so I let them know hat is going on right up until I hand it over to the post office. I have a tablet computer and send them email directly from the post office parking lot right I drop off the package.