The dropshipping industry is a highly favored sector among entrepreneurs and dropshippers. For online prospects or customers, making online purchases is a small adventure, as it allows them to save more time. For the dropshipper, the system remains simple and intuitive. You just need to click on the “Buy” button, and then the process begins, and the waiting for the package starts for the customer.
The customer will likely receive an email notifying them that the order has been “shipped.” For most customers, they don’t fully understand what this word means. Initial thoughts might be: the order is in the truck heading to your destination, on the ship bound for your country’s port, or waiting to be picked up. With this guide, you’ll get all the details to define the status or the level of your package throughout the dropshipping shipping process. Let’s focus on clear explanations of the term “shipped” for your online order!
What does "shipment of a package" mean?
The term “shipped” may seem simple to read, but in dropshipping, many things can happen. To put it simply, “Shipped” in dropshipping simply means that the package or order has left the supplier’s warehouse or store and is on its way to your destination. The order is shipped and thus in transit to the announced destination.
With online platforms, you have the “Buy Now” option, which allows you to place your order in just a few steps. Then, you can be assured that the order is confirmed, processed, and packaged, with the various statuses being displayed to you.
It’s after this stage that the seller or supplier hands over the package to the company responsible for transporting it. Finally, the status “Shipped” may appear after this long process of a dropshipping order. It’s important to note that the package is not necessarily in a truck, plane, or ship with the “Shipped” status.
With the “Shipped” status, the order may already be with the delivery service, having left the initial facility. This status doesn’t precisely indicate where the package is at every moment. In such cases, you have tracking information to discover the steps your package is taking.
The essential thing is that with the “Shipped” status, you at least know that the package is no longer with the supplier but with the transport company. Not all suppliers ship orders the same way. Some attach a shipping label to your order to indicate that it is in the process of being delivered. However, it’s possible that the order is still in a warehouse or waiting for other packages before being sent to the delivery agency.
To get precise information on the handling of your order, the tracking sheet can better inform you about the journey of your ordered item from the store to delivery.
The different steps in the shipping process
The term “shipped” in the dropshipping order shipping process follows several steps. Here are the stages of shipping a package in dropshipping:
Package collection
At this stage, the package is handed over to the carrier, such as the postal service or a delivery company. It’s after the package is picked up that the e-commerce store’s order tracking page may notify you with the status “Shipped.”
Sorting and routing
It’s important to recognize that your package isn’t the only one being transported to your destination country. Therefore, there is a sorting stage, which involves scanning and sorting packages that can go in the same direction (to the same country). This is a crucial step in the dropshipping shipping process.
Transportation
After the sorting and routing stage, the order will now take the various modes of transport, likely the one agreed upon with your supplier. With the delivery time, you can be assured of when the package will reach the intended destination. The journey may be long or short for the package, depending on the options chosen with your supplier.
Local distribution
With the local distribution center, you can be assured that the package is close to you and will be delivered soon. Again, during local distribution, there is a new sorting process to group packages going in the same direction (region) as your order.
Out for delivery
This is the penultimate step in your order’s journey. The package to be delivered is now loaded into the local delivery vehicle heading to your address. At this stage, the dropshipping platform may notify you with the status “Out for Delivery.” No worries, your package will arrive on time and at the perfect moment you’re expecting.
Delivery
This is the final step, the end of the dropshipping order shipping process. The package is delivered to your door or the delivery point specified in the information provided to your supplier. Everything is completed, and another process can begin if you make new orders.
How long does it take for the product to arrive after it’s shipped?
The ideal time for delivery once your order is marked as “shipped” is a common concern among a billion dropshipping customers. To avoid disappointment, the truth is that you should expect to receive your package within one day to a maximum of one month.
However, several factors can impact the delivery time. Therefore, it is essential to understand these key aspects to better manage delivery times and your expectations.
- Shipping method
The shipping method is important, and you should make the right decision with your seller. The key takeaway is that express delivery is faster than standard shipping. The choice to make is an option that can be profitable depending on your budget.
- Delivery distance
The distance your order needs to travel is one of the important factors that can influence the delivery time of your package. An international transfer or shipment takes longer than a package that needs to be delivered from the city where you live. A package shipped from the United States takes a few days before reaching its destination.
- Origin and destination countries
The route a dropshipping package takes is one of the key factors to consider after placing an order. For example, the route and delivery time are well-defined for orders that need to be delivered from one major city to another; it’s faster. However, for a remote region or from abroad, the package might not arrive quickly, and you simply need to be patient while waiting for your order.
- Customs and border inspections
Generally, international shipments often require customs inspections. These are security measures taken to better control imports, which may even require unpacking orders for a thorough and careful examination of each package’s contents.
- External factors
Exceptional occasions like Black Friday and holiday seasons like Christmas are external factors that affect your delivery time. During these periods, packages often take longer to arrive at their destination. The simple reason is that delivery services have a large number of packages to manage, which somewhat affects their usual operations.
Given all these factors, once your order is marked as “shipped,” you can consider unforeseen events to estimate or approximate the ideal time to receive your package.
Shipped and in transit: what’s the difference?
In dropshipping, the difference between “shipped” and “in transit” is crucial for the dropshipper and their customers. When a product is “shipped,” it means that the supplier has processed the order, packaged the product, and handed it over to the shipping service. At this stage, the dropshipper has completed their first task, but the process is not yet finished. The term “shipped” simply indicates that the order is on its way to the customer, but it doesn’t specify where exactly the package is located.
On the other hand, when the status is “in transit,” it means that the product is on its way and has left the supplier’s warehouse. The customer can often track the package in real-time, which enhances the shopping experience. This stage is crucial for customer satisfaction, as it shows that the product is in motion and close to being delivered.
For a dropshipper, understanding this distinction is essential to provide quality service and correctly inform the customer. Good communication on this subject can prevent dissatisfaction, strengthen trust, and improve the online store’s reputation. A good delivery service can also make the difference between a profitable business and one that faces challenges.
Can you receive an order the same day it’s "in transit"?
Receiving an order the same day it’s “in transit” is possible, and this is due to several reasons related to the very nature of this activity. Dropshipping relies on a model where the dropshipper does not directly manage the product’s stock. When a customer places an order, it is forwarded to the supplier, who is responsible for preparing and shipping the product. This process takes some time, especially if the supplier is located abroad or works with standard processing times.
The “in transit” status indicates that the product is on its way to the customer, but that doesn’t mean it will arrive the same day. In dropshipping, delivery times can vary greatly depending on the supplier, product, shipping origin, and the chosen shipping method.
To improve customer satisfaction, some dropshippers turn to local suppliers or express delivery services, but this remains the exception rather than the rule. In most cases, dropshipping does not allow for same-day delivery, which can be an issue for customers used to faster services, like those offered by e-commerce giants such as Amazon.
Therefore, the dropshipper must manage customer expectations well to avoid any issues related to prolonged delivery times and communicate clearly about possible delivery times.
Is there a difference between shipped and delivered?
There is an important difference between “shipped” and “delivered “. When an order status is “shipped,” it means that the supplier has prepared and sent the product, and it is on its way to the customer. The dropshipper has thus fulfilled part of their role, but the delivery is not yet complete.
On the other hand, the “delivered” status indicates that the product has been received by the customer. This stage marks the end of the order process, and customer satisfaction will often depend on the quality of the delivery service. Good communication about these statuses is essential to avoid misunderstandings and to build customer trust in the online store. Dropshipping thus relies on effective delivery time management to ensure a profitable business.
Tracking
With a package that has the status “shipped,” you can then track the shipping process. Finally, it is the “delivered” status on the seller’s shop page that completes or indicates that the shipment has been successfully carried out.
Responsibility
Once the package is shipped, the dropshipper’s job of delivering it to the customer is complete. As soon as you receive your order with the status “delivered,” the responsibility for receiving the package falls to you, the customer.
Missing package
In case of a missing package, it is recommended not to panic, as the package may have been delivered to the wrong address. The first thing to do is check with neighbors before contacting the delivery service. Remember that delivery may be slightly delayed during the day, and it might arrive the next day. The transport company is also your hope. The shipping policy states that the package can be replaced or refunded if the order is not found along its entire route.
Conclusion
“Shipped” is a simple term but with a lot of debate around it. However, in the context of dropshipping, it means that the product has left the supplier’s warehouse and is on its way to the customer.
This marks a crucial step in the online ordering process, indicating that the sale is in progress. However, it does not guarantee immediate delivery, as transit time can vary depending on the distance and mode of transportation. For the dropshipper, this status represents a key moment where the quality of the delivery service can influence customer satisfaction and, consequently, the company’s reputation in the online commerce market.