Delivery Exception Meaning

You have made a sale, and it is time to ship. The next moment, consumers wait for the package tracking as they can’t wait.

You have taken all the necessary steps. Printed labels. Hired the shipping company. Now, we are finally shipping it to the consumers.

Out of the blue, you think you should track the order. Instead of updating the status to DELIVERED, you receive a DELIVERY EXCEPTION.

Now, you’ll start wondering what “delivery exception” means. Does it affect your business? How can you tackle it?

We will dive deep into the delivery exception and highlight various cases. Also, buckle up and get tips to find possible solutions.

Let’s discuss it!

 

1: Delivery Exception Meaning

 What is the delivery exception?

Delivery Exception refers to delayed shipping due to any reason. Whenever users track the orders on the website, they receive the status. DELIVERY EXCEPTION.

Due to unfavorable circumstances, your order can be delayed in delivery. It can be internal issues associated with shipping companies or global crises.

 Why is it essential to understand shipping statuses?

Understanding shipping statuses can be helpful for both sellers and buyers.

Here is how it plays a crucial role.

• Customer satisfaction. Customers can be confident about their delivery. They build trust in the sellers with real-time tracking facilities. If a seller doesn’t offer tracking, it can be a blind scene for the customers. They might abandon their sales as well.
• Inventory management. Are you waiting for the stocks to arrive? In case of stockouts, online sellers can trace their delivery. Have faith in the shipping. And manage their inventory effectively.
• Streamlined Operations. Forget all those complex processes. Shipping statutes ease up all the operations. It helps tackle the issues in the primary phase. You can better elevate the seamless experience of consumers.
• Higher sales levels. Suppose you provide customers with tracking information. They will become loyal to your business. Repeat purchases can exponentially enhance your sales graphs.

2: 8 typical reasons for delivery exceptions

We have been babbling so much about the delivery exception. Do you know exactly what causes the delivery exception?

Here, the eight most common cases linked to the delivery exception are discussed.

Customs delays

Are you shipping from one country to another? Customs play a crucial role on both borders. On the export borders, they check the necessary papers. On the import borders, they go through a comprehensive inspection.

Sometimes, the customs department takes more time. Our products get stuck at the customs facility for the following reasons.

• Incomplete documentation
• Inaccurate documentation
• You are shipping prohibited products.
• The shipping company doesn’t pay the customs duties.
• Customs staff are unavailable or busy due to bulk clearance.

All such cases result in one thing— delayed delivery to respective addresses.

Holidays

The holidays are normal and one of the most common reasons for delayed shipping.

Holidays can be:

• National days
• Independence days
• Events
• Parties
• Festivals
• Religious days

You can assume the holidays depending upon the country. For example, you are shipping from China. Due to different reasons, suppliers may delay the shipment. The common ones are the Dragon Boat Festival and Independence Day.

You may wonder why the delivery exception happens.

This is for the reason of blocked transport, or possibly a lack of staff when there are limited staff or staff is not allowed to go out of the house to work. They can’t deal with the bulk orders to be shipped. So, you have to wait until the situation restores to its original position.

Weather conditions

Have you ever been in the rainy season? Indeed it stops most of the activities. Especially if you are shipping from one country to another, it is a problem. Airplanes can’t fly until the weather is perfect.

Extreme weather conditions are a significant hurdle to transport. Air to sea freight stops spontaneously. In such cases, you can receive a delivery exception status.

Missing labels or incorrect address

One of the biggest reasons behind the failure of the delivery!! Most orders don’t reach their destination due to incorrect addresses.

Sometimes, shipping labels are lost in transit due to bulk transport. Whatever the cause is, you can receive delivery exception status!

Handle such cases by entering the accurate address. Don’t shift to other places without the address confirmation. Moreover, accountable staff can take care of shipping labels.

No receiver available 

Think for a moment. A delivery man comes to your doorstep. Unfortunately, you are not present. Your home door is locked.

So, what is the next step? Most couriers try to contact the receivers through phone or online sources.

What if your phone number is off?

Well, that happens in some cases where the recipient is not present. In that case, the order is returned to the delivery office. You can see the status of the delivery exception in such a case.

Missing documentation 

Suppose you ship products from one location to another in the same country. Necessary product info with the relevant commercial bills is necessary. Moreover, you have to show that products are not prohibited.

In local shipping, you less often experience such cases. In international shipping systems, such cases are imminent. Sometimes, you forget to get the bill of lading. Commercial invoices are missing as you don’t know the customs rules.

The result?

 We all know what happens. Your products will not reach their destination. You’ll get a status of delivery exception when shipping such products.

Security delays

Security concerns are a big deal when shipping products. Common causes of security include the shipping of prohibited inventory.

Sometimes, the destination country has a curfew due to local issues.

Blocks and strict security due to epidemic or endemic diseases can also result in such a case. Inaccurate shipping labels also prompt such problems.

All such cases are nothing but a headache for the customers. You’ll experience delayed shipping and updated tracking statuses.

Animal interference 

Do you have a pet at your home? Though uncommon, a significant animal attack can pose a risk to the delivery man.

In that case, the delivery person will visit your palace to attempt the delivery. If your pets or dogs bark at him, he may abandon the delivery and return the package to the fulfillment center.

Finally, it returns to the shipping company, leading to the given status.

 

3: Steps After a Delivery Exception

Whatever the reason is, you must ship. Delayed delivery is going to badly hurt your brand reputation. Therefore, don’t leave a single stone unturned. You can contact the recipient and update him about the delivery exception.

Provide 24/7 customer service to win their loyalty. Here are a few steps to follow in case of a delivery exception.

Attempt redelivery on another day.

What is the reason behind the delayed delivery?

Suppose you have reached the target location, but no one was there. Moreover, the recipient’s signature is absent.

In all such cases, how is the idea of reattempting delivery? Well, that can make a significant impact.

Try to contact the buyer and update him about their packages. Get a definite time for the delivery attempt. Some job holders can’t attend to orders in the morning. In that case, attempt delivery in the evening.

Be a relay center between the consumers and the shipping company. Ship products from one location to another without a slight delay.

Hold the package at a facility for pickup.

Suppose the delivery is still not possible at the doorstep. What to do then? The solution is relatively straightforward.

Keep the parcel at your fulfillment center and reach out to the buyer. Tell him about the pickup situation if possible. In most cases, buyers urge for the pickup delivery.

It can also be a best-fit scenario for shipping. Keep the package at the facility and wait for the buyer to receive it. Once the buyer appears, get it signed and update the delivery status.

Return to sender if unresolved.

You have made 100 attempts, but still no results!! The buyer is unavailable. The contact numbers are off. The destination is also different from the provided one.

What to do then?

In such a case, the carrier has no solution except to keep the parcel stored in the warehouse. The sender can contact the buyer to pick up the parcel from the facility or reattempt the delivery.

If still no results, hit the return button. Send the package back to the sender. Keep yourself out of worry for the shipping.

 

4: How to Deal with Delivery Exceptions?

Before we deal with the delivery exception, we need to know the results of improper handling and delayed shipping. Consumers won’t trust your business anymore. It will damage your reputation. Decrease your sales. And bring your business down to its knees.

Don’t waste time anymore and dig out the possible methods to riddle out such cases. Implement accurate solutions and enjoy flawless delivery.

Here is what you can do for your consumers.

Keep an Eye on the Order Status

It is the first thing you can do. But how do you track the order first?

It is simple. Contact your carrier and download the tracking ID for your orders. This ID is critical for order tracking.

There are two central methods of tracking.

• On-site track. Most websites like USPS or FedEx have a built-in tracking system. They assist track the orders immediately and eliminate your concerns.
• Online websites. What if you can’t track the order on the official website? Even for knowledge, you must know additional resources. One of the standard tracking websites is the Order Tracker or ParcelApp. The good thing is the estimated delivery time to your location.

If you see the delivery exception status, don’t fret. Keep an eye on the tracking and contact the customer support of the shipping service. Ask them the reason and possible solution. Also, confirm the estimated date for the issue resolution.

Build confidence in your shipping service and enjoy flawless support.

Inform your Customers

Advising yourself isn’t as necessary as it is for the consumers. You can communicate with your consumers. Advocate them about the possible reasons for the delays.

Have you received a recent update on your tracking? Hit the first message to the consumers. Or try the online automated systems which update the consumers automatically.

Be the relay center between the shipping company and the buyer. Get estimated shipping times from the company. Send it to the consumers to strengthen your position.

 Issue Refunds/Resend Package

Have you ever been on Alibaba? When making B2B trades, there are two reasons for refunds.

• Low quality.
• Delayed shipping.

Well, we are here with your delayed shipping case. If the shipping is prolonged, customers get frustrated. You might not want to lose them due to delayed shipping cases. In that case, engage them efficiently and give them possible solutions such as:

• Receive products and confirm the quality. Share their feedback and promise timely shipping next time.
• Resending packages if the first attempt failed due to the unavailability of the recipient. Or you can keep the packages at your fulfillment center. Allow the buyer to pick it up and confirm the delivery.
• Refunding the price is the final option you can try in such a case. However, all consumers can’t agree to a refund. Some do want the refunds due to delayed shipping. Offering them full refunds will win their loyalty. They will never hesitate to order you.

5: Tips to Avoid Delivery Exceptions

Do not get disheartened by thinking that there is no solution to avoid a delivery exception. Instead, you can take the needed measures to eliminate these delays. It includes the kind of packaging you use for effective documentation. Moreover, you need to choose trustworthy shipping partners so that products are delivered on time.

Here is an overview of the shipping delays with tips to avoid them.

Right packaging and labeling

Improper packing can be quite a big problem. Especially across borders, you can expect delays. Sensitive products in risky packing may cause damage.

So here are a few tips to optimize the packing.

• Know the dos and don’ts of the packing. Go through the necessary instructions added by the company for the shipping.
• Provide safety for the packaging by adding many safety layers.
• Check the moisture-wicking features of the material. It must also be waterproof to avoid the unnecessary damage that blocks the shipping.
• Learn about the standard shipping label materials. Try the one that comes with excellent durability.
• Select the influential picking and packing services.Monitor their packaging processes and labeling options. Attach labels with accurate shipping info about the products.

Weatherproof labels

Mostly, shipping labels are not attached properly. This may cause them to loosen out and drop on the way. You can also expect the text to fade due to wet labels in a rainy season or extreme weather conditions.

So, how do we fight such circumstances?

You can manage such cases quite easily and effectively by purchasing weatherproof labels. You can consider several purchasing options on Alibaba. Test the label for waterproofing features.

The strength of the labels should be very high. It should not tear easily. Moreover, fasten it with blue or staple it with a high-quality stapler.

Check delivery address

Wrong addresses are a headache for the shipping company and the sender. The common cause:

• Customers move to a new location.
• The same addresses or cities are available in the different regions and provinces or states. The users do not mention the exact location, which creates friction.
• Inadvertently the user has added the wrong address.

There is a solution. Cross-check your address and confirm it is correct. In the case of the same city names in different states, add the correct address mentioning the state.

In case you have changed the address recently and want the products to be delivered to new locations; act fast. Reach your suppliers or shipping carriers. Tell them to update your shipping address and ensure the delivery with effective transport.

Prepare extensively

Do not work blindly on the packages. Check everything. Starting from shipping labels to the quality of the package.

Be more attentive to:

• You have all the documents. All the documentation is exactly the way it is required to be. Besides, they need to get verification from the local authorities.
• Read customs requirements for the products.
• Explore the complete list of allowed and forbidden products. Ship those that are not forbidden.
• Assimilate the rules of import and export customs. Clear the import dues and prepare your products as per instructions.

With the preplanned shipping, you’ll have all the evidence. It keeps you away from the shipping issues. Helps you manage the orders effectively. Plus, delivery exception cases are rare to occur.

Allow Tracking

Tracking is the heart of every shipping opportunity. Without tracking:

• Consumers aren’t satisfied.
• They often abandon shipping and purchasing.
• Customers are still in a dilemma about the arrival time of their products.
• It reduces their trust in your delivery services.
• In the case of delivery exceptions, customers are panicked. You have to free their fear and maintain their happiness.

Tracking plays a vital role in winning them. So, select a shipping company that provides more tracking. Real-time tracking is essential. So implement it.

Update your consumers for every moment. Moreover, it is better to work with a company that has a built-in tracking system.

Partner with a Reliable shipping company.

Delivery Exception is sometimes an option. Scammer shipping companies try to fool the users. They delayed the package shipping and showed it as a serious concern due to weather or other cases.

You can also crack this case easily. Just step into the market and select trustworthy shipping partners. Check out the following options when you hunt the shipping company.

• Know the experience.
• Trace out past shipping records of the company.
• Confirm the status of the company’s reputation and credibility.

Top shipping options like JustChinaIt can never be compared to any other in all shipping choices. You could, however, try the USPS or UPS if you need to ship within the US. For international delivery, you should consider FedEx or DHL as the top choice.

They have a successful shipping record with a customer satisfaction rate of 100%.

Do the research and eliminate possible delays.

Research is not just for the shipping company but for all aspects. For example:

• You can dig out the top shipping companies. Compare their costs and hire the one that fits your business needs
• Do not ship in peak seasons. Research about national holidays per country. For example, China has many holidays for Dragon Boat Festivals and other events that are not available in different countries.
• Look for international holidays as well
• Understand the shipping market and ship products on time.

Check the hacks for successful shipment. Apply the quality initiatives for a successful shipment.

 

6: Out of Delivery Exception by Shipping Services

You must have shipped with popular shipment partners, such as DHL or FedEx. They may expose the shipment status.

However, UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx is challenging to compare as they also offer the following exception statutes.

FedEx delivery exception

FedEx is one of the most reliable shipping partners; it has very minimal delays. However, the delays are there because of the weather conditions. Some external factors even affect the delivery.

Per the instructions by FedEx, if users see the delivery exception status, do not think it will come late. FedEx maximally tries to ship products on time, even if a delivery exception exists. It depends more on the type of delivery delay by the FedEx team.

USPS delivery exception

Ever thought about the USPS shipment status? They may indicate the shipment exception. USPS is a government-owned shipping company. If there are any national holidays then delivery may get delayed.

But still, USPS appeals to the users to track their shipment status continuously. It enhances their trust. And helps them get updates about their order shipment.

UPS delivery exception

UPS has been a significant shipping method for most consumers. This is based on speedy shipping and elegant customer service.

But there lies a problem; delayed shipping. It is not a routine job but can occur due to unknown addresses or damaged goods. UPS states that if the user isn’t present for the signature, it can also prompt a delivery return and cause a delay.

DHL delivery exception

DHL is an international carrier that delivers products. Its reputation lies in the efficient team and timely delivery. But people are concerned about the delayed shipping.

DHL claims it to be the cause of the custom for the delayed delivery. Documents are either missing or other cases that cause delivery delays.

 

Chapter 7: FAQs

 

• Is a Delivery Exception wrong?

Indeed, shipment exceptions are toxic weapons that hurt your business. If you fail to ship products on time, it lessens consumers’ trust in you. They wouldn’t think about your business when they would want products. Since you failed them on shipping, they just might refrain from placing orders in your online stores or shops.

• How long does delivery exception take?

There is no specific period for the delivery exception. It may take one week or sometimes one day for the delivery. For example, suppose the extreme weather has bottlenecked the transport for one day. Consider the resolution in one day. If it remains for a week or month, you can assume a longer time for the delivery.

• Why am I getting continuous delivery exceptions?

Various reasons can create delivery exceptions. For example, the extreme weather blocks the transport. Recent examples of COVID-19 halted the whole world. Other than this, vehicle breakdown can be a result of delivery exceptions.

• How can I avoid delivery exceptions?

Try the below hacks to avoid the delivery exception.

• Keep your packages with the proper labeling and packaging protocols.
• Shake hands with the weatherproof shipping labels to avoid mishaps.
• Consider appropriate shipping address labeling.
• Provide order tracking accurately.
• Partnership with appropriate shipping partners like USPS or DHL.

 

 

Conclusion

Incorrect shipping address or non-availability of the receivers may lead to failure in delivery. Extreme weather conditions are a huge problem.

Solution? JustChinaIt. Be it top-of-the-line shipping solutions, sweat-free warehousing in transit, or reliable services to keep you winning those deals, minimize those order returns, and shine brighter as a top brand!