Holiday Shipping Delays: What Buyers and Small Businesses Need to Know

Holiday Shipping Delays: What Buyers and Small Businesses Need to Know

The holiday season is magical — but when it comes to shipping, it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year for everyone involved.

As a small business owner and an online shopper myself, I want to take a moment to set clear expectations, offer transparency, and share guidance that helps both buyers and sellers navigate holiday shipping with a little more understanding.

Holiday Shipping = Delays (Even When Everyone Does Everything Right)

Once an order leaves a seller’s hands, it is placed into the carrier’s system. During the holidays, carriers experience:

  • Increased package volume

  • Processing backlogs

  • Missorts and rerouting

  • Delayed scans or skipped tracking updates

Sellers are doing everything possible to create, pack, and ship orders quickly — but once a package is in transit, we simply don’t control what happens next.

Understanding “Free Shipping”

When you select FREE SHIPPING on my website (as clearly noted during checkout), this means economy First-Class shipping in most cases (with limited exceptions). This is the slowest and most cost-effective option available.

If timing is important, I always recommend choosing a shipping upgrade at checkout:

  • USPS Ground Advantage

  • USPS Priority Mail

Shipping speed is ultimately a buyer’s choice, and expectations should align with the option selected.

To Buyers: What to Do If Your Package Is Delayed or Missing

I truly understand how frustrating it can be to wait on a package — especially when it’s meant to be a gift. If your tracking shows “Delivered” but you don’t have the item, here are the steps that resolve the majority of issues:

1. Check with Neighbors

Misdeliveries happen more often than people realize. Many times a well-meaning neighbor has the package and simply hasn’t brought it over yet.

2. Contact Your Local Carrier Office

Skip the national 1-800 number and call your local post office or carrier hub directly. They have access to:

  • Geo-tracking data

  • Exact delivery time stamps

  • Delivery photos (in many cases)

This information is far more accurate than what sellers can access.

3. Review Doorbell or Security Footage

If you have a doorbell camera or home security system, review footage from the delivery window. Sometimes packages are delivered and then moved, taken, or placed at the wrong address.

Where Seller Responsibility Ends

Once an item has been made, shipped, and marked delivered by the carrier, the seller has fulfilled their responsibility.

While it’s incredibly frustrating, small businesses cannot replace items for free when a carrier shows confirmed delivery. Unlike large corporations, we do not have the margins or infrastructure to absorb losses caused by shipping errors or theft.

Kind communication goes a long way — threats or demands rarely lead to a positive outcome for anyone involved.

A Note to Fellow Small Business Owners

Stand firm. Be professional. Document everything.

Unfortunately, most sellers eventually encounter situations where customers push back on carrier-confirmed deliveries. When you calmly guide customers to:

  • Contact their local carrier

  • Request geo-tracking data

  • Review security footage

You’ll often find the issue resolves — or the conversation stops entirely.

You are allowed to protect your business. A carrier mistake (or a dishonest customer) is not your failure.

About Reviews and Platform Protection

If a negative review is left due to a carrier issue outside your control (especially on Etsy), you can submit an appeal with:

  • Tracking information

  • Proof of delivery

In my experience, platforms routinely remove these reviews once documentation is provided.

A Little Grace Goes a Long Way

The holidays are stressful for buyers, sellers, and carriers alike. A little patience, clear communication, and shared responsibility make this season smoother for everyone.

Thank you to those who continue to support small businesses — your understanding truly makes a difference. ❤️

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