Delivery time is one of the most crucial factors online shoppers consider before buying a product.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no secret that customers want their orders to arrive at their doorsteps as quickly as possible.
We get frustrated if an Amazon package is not delivered on time.
Extended shipping time is a major reason a customer might abandon his cart on Amazon or any other ecommerce platform.
While you can find the expected delivery date beside your order, Amazon doesn’t indicate the exact time.
Amazon does offer an option upon checkout that lets you choose your preferred delivery date and time, but this isn’t always available in all regions.
Even if you get an estimated delivery time, it’s not always accurate.
Are you thinking about buying a product on Amazon? If so, you might be wondering what time does Amazon deliver packages.
I can answer this question for you.
I’ll also share additional insights into Amazon’s delivery process and what you can do if your package is late.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How Early Does Amazon Deliver?
Amazon drivers typically begin delivering packages at 8 AM. However, this isn’t very helpful for people who need to be at work in the morning.
Fortunately, you can enjoy early morning delivery options if you’re an Amazon Prime member. You can request an earlier delivery time (as early as 6 AM).
Amazon often works with carriers like the US Postal Service to manage their early delivery service.
How Late Does Amazon Deliver on Weekdays?
On the other hand, you might be thinking, “What time does Amazon stop delivering?”
You’ll be happy to know that Amazon delivers up to 8 PM, although there can be times they deliver as late as 10 PM.
Amazon now offers the Amazon Key In-Garage delivery service for Amazon Prime members to help prevent your packages from getting stolen late at night.
With the Amazon Key delivery service, the Amazon delivery driver has a unique key or code to access your garage, place your package inside, and lock your garage afterward.
However, this service has a specific delivery window: a four-hour period during which the driver can deliver packages to you.
This four-hour delivery window falls between Amazon’s standard delivery time of 8 AM to 8 PM.
How Late Does Amazon Deliver On Weekends?
Amazon also does weekend delivery. Drivers follow the same schedule for Saturday deliveries as they do on weekdays.
For areas where Sunday delivery is available, expect your packages to arrive between 9 AM to 8 PM.
How Late Does Amazon Fresh Deliver Groceries?
There’s a reason Amazon is the most popular ecommerce site: Amazon always comes up with programs that make people’s lives easier.
One such example is Amazon Fresh, a new delivery service that allows Amazon Prime members to order groceries that Amazon delivers to their homes.
With the Amazon Fresh program, you can expect delivery between 8 AM and 8 PM. You’ll be able to select from a series of two-hour delivery windows.
This two-hour delivery window is necessary to give Amazon workers enough time to shop for your order and then deliver it to your home safely.
However, if you want same-day delivery via Amazon Fresh, you must place your order by 6 PM.
You can also opt for a one-hour window for an additional fee if available.
What Are the Reasons for Late Deliveries?
Amazon delivery logistics are incredibly complex. As much as Amazon drivers want to finish by 8 PM, sometimes events beyond their control occur.
Here are the most common reasons for late Amazon deliveries.
Increased Deliveries
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping has increased to new heights. With Amazon being the largest e-commerce platform, it makes sense that more people choose to shop there.
Thus, the company now deals with thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of daily orders.
The massive number of orders means Amazon has to extend its hours, sometimes even up to 10 PM, to ship out orders within a reasonable time frame.
Order Time
The arrival of your order also depends on the time you placed it.
Amazon sends orders out according to fixed blocks of time. For instance, if you order between 8 AM and 1 PM, your order will arrive by 6 PM.
On the other hand, if you order between 1 to 5 PM, Amazon will send your order out on the last truck of the day. That means your order might arrive at your doorstep at around 10 PM.
This also applies if you’re an Amazon Prime member who opted for same-day delivery.
To check if your order qualifies for same-day or next-day delivery, look at the time left to make your order.
Driver Shortages
Sometimes, there aren’t enough available Amazon delivery drivers to meet demands. Amazon makes up for these situations by increasing the delivery window.
That way, drivers have more time to accomplish their assigned deliveries within the day.
Unavoidable Conditions
On the road, any number of unexpected things can happen that would suddenly derail the schedules of Amazon delivery drivers.
Events like bad weather, traffic congestion, route changes, a vehicle breakdown (and subsequent repair), or an emergency can cause delays.
How Do You Set Your Amazon Delivery Preferences?
You can fine-tune or update Amazon delivery preferences if you’re an Amazon Prime member to ensure that you get your packages within the best time frame.
You can customize your order in two ways.
Before Placing an Order
The first way is to do it before placing an order. Amazon displays options for choosing your delivery day, whether you want a weekday or weekend delivery.
You can also write any delivery instructions or notes for the delivery driver.
However, there’s no guarantee the delivery driver will always be able to accommodate your request, especially if Amazon assigns them a specific route.
Through Your Account Settings
The second way to update your delivery preferences is through your account settings.
Go to the Addresses section of your account and click it. Choose the address where you want Amazon to deliver your package.
You’ll also find a form displaying other delivery preferences.
You can then indicate your preferred delivery hours and if you want Saturday or Sunday deliveries.
Can You Change Your Amazon Delivery Time?
Absolutely! However, you do need to be an Amazon Prime member to do this.
If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can contact customer service to help change your delivery time.
What Should You Do if Your Package Hasn’t Arrived Yet?
Is your package delayed? Don’t panic. Delivery times depend on various factors.
Use the tracking option to get an idea of the status of your order. Amazon tracking is very reliable, and many shoppers vouch for its accuracy.
You should also check if you gave the correct shipping address and if there’s been a notice of attempted delivery.
However, it’s best to contact Amazon’s customer service if your package still hasn’t arrived 48 hours after the expected delivery date.
What Should You Do if Amazon Says Your Package Is Delivered, but It Hasn’t Arrived Yet?
Nobody likes receiving a “package delivered” message when they haven’t received any package.
If this happens to you, the first thing to do is to look for a notice of attempted delivery. Check around your location and ask neighbors if one of them received the package on your behalf.
How Can You Contact Amazon and Seek Help?
If all else fails, it’s time to contact Amazon and report the problem. You can talk to customer support via phone.
Alternatively, you can visit the Amazon website and provide answers to the assisting chatbot’s questions.
How Do You Get a Refund From Amazon for a Late Package?
I know how frustrating it is when your package arrives too late.
If you want a refund, you can request for it by following these steps.
1 – Sign in to Amazon, Go to Your Orders under Your Account.
2 – Look for the order you want to refund.
3 – Select Return or replace items.
4 – Choose your reason for refunding from the drop-down menu.
5 – Click Submit.
The Bottom Line
It pays to exercise patience if you’re expecting an Amazon package from Amazon. Unavoidable weather conditions, driver shortages, and increased deliveries can affect your delivery time.
That said, know that Amazon’s delivery drivers are reliable and always do their best to deliver your orders safely.
Remember that you can also set your preferred delivery date and time to ensure you receive your Amazon packages as close as possible to the time you want.
If you need more tips, we can also show you how to change the delivery date of your package and what to do if Amazon delivers your order to the wrong address.
Visit our blog for more guides to help you navigate Amazon. Good luck!
