Imagine you ordered something you have been trying to get for a very long time, only to find out that there was a hiccup in the entire process. It can get very frustrating when you don’t get your order on time, especially when needed. There can be many reasons why your order might get late, including a delivery exception.
There can be many reasons why delivery exceptions are made: an incorrect address, damage to the product, the customer not being available at the time of delivery, and so on. If you want to know why the delivery exception is showing when you are tracking your package, don’t worry—we have you covered. In this article, we have mentioned everything you need about delivery exceptions.
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Part 1: What is Delivery Exception?
What is delivery exception meaning? If you are wondering the same thing, we have the answer. A delivery exception can be defined as a temporary delay in the transit of your order due to an unforeseen reason. This delay can ultimately cause the package to be delivered late to the customers.The delivery exception, also called a shipping exception, can happen for many different reasons. These reasons can range from the order getting damaged or lost to problems during transportation. Some of these reasons can be unpredictable and out of control, but some can be prevented if the delivery is done correctly.
Part 2. Common Causes of Delivery Exception
Delivery exceptions can be very annoying and frustrating for online shoppers, and they might want to know why this is happening to their orders. Below, we have mentioned some of the most common reasons for delivery exceptions.
1. Custom Delays
If you have made an order from an overseas company, then there can be many challenges that your order might have to face before it reaches your doorstep. One of the many reasons for delivery exceptions is customs delays. Your orders get checked at customs; sometimes, this process can take time. Not only this, but because of this checking, the orders also get displaced. All of this can cause a delay in the delivery.
This is why the brands need proper tariff codes to track the order and ensure the delivery is swift and on time.
2. Incorrect Address
Many people tend to add the wrong address when making an order. This is one of the common causes of delivery exceptions. The parcel goes through the entire process and arrives at the incorrect address. This can cause many problems for both the customer and the company. The order needs to be replaced, and then again, it will be delivered to the right address. All of this can take time and hence cause delivery exceptions.
3. Missing or Damaged Labels
Packages have labels; if the labels are missing or damaged, this can cause a delivery exception. The carrier may also find it hard to read the address or be unable to scan the shipping codes, which can cause many problems with the package’s delivery.
The unstable shipping codes can sometimes be claimed as illegal, and an exception code will be generated. This means that the company has to start the process again by shipping the new package with the correct labels that are not damaged. All of this can also cause delivery exceptions.
4. Recipient Not Available
Recipient unavailable means when your order is at your home, but no one is there to receive it. The owner might not be at home, or the delivery was done when they could not receive it. Sometimes, this also happens when there are no proper instructions for the house, and the carrier cannot reach the address.
In such cases, the order is returned to the post office, and re-delivery is done. Sometimes, the customer is asked to pick up the order themselves, which might cause a delay in the order.
5. Severe Weather
If severe weather conditions, such as a tornado, heavy rains, hurricane, or even flood, make the delivery route unpassable, your package will likely be delayed. This is not predictable and can’t be controlled. In such cases, the carriers’ safety is prioritized, and when the weather is in control, the delivery process is resumed. This is a common cause of delivery exceptions. However, there is nothing the shipping company can do about it.
Part 3. What Happens After a Delivery Exception
Some of the reasons mentioned above are unpredictable; however, some can be prevented. Even if your order is delayed, the shipping company can take a few actions to ensure that the customer gets their order even though it is a little late.
1. Delivered on Time Anyway
Sometimes, according to the weather forecasts or the customer’s issues, the customer is notified that there might be a delivery exception, so they know beforehand. However, if everything turns out fine and the package clears customs on time, the package is delivered according to the delivery time frame provided by the customer.
2. Delivered Late
Even if your pancakes face delivery expectations, the delays are very short. Sometimes, you might get your package the next day after you receive the message regarding the delivery executive. The shipping companies ensure that even after facing different problems, they can send the parcels to the customers as soon as possible.
If the receiver cannot receive the parcel, the carrier will deliver it the next day. This ensures that even though the delivery is late, the customers still get their parcels.
3. Package Returned
If the package cannot be delivered to the customer due to an incorrect address or damaged labeling, the parcel is returned to the post office. Sometimes, they try to contact the customer so that they can pick up their parcel. However, if there is no contact, the parcel is returned to the sender, and they send a message to the customer to inform them about the entire situation.
Part 4. How to avoid Delivery Exception
Delivery exceptions can happen for many reasons, but some are predictable. Proper actions can be taken to avoid or reduce the chances of delivery exceptions. Below, we have mentioned some steps companies can take to prevent this issue from happening frequently.
1. Provide Real-Time Tracking
One of the primary and most helpful things shipping companies can do to avoid delivery exceptions is to provide real-time tracking. This helps the companies and customers know every package move and where it is present. It also reduces the chances of losing the parcel and ensures the delivery is timely.
The customers get real-time updates on their parcels, and they can check on their parcels every day. This is a perfect way to keep the customer in the loop about what is happening to their order.
2. Verify Shipping Address
Wrong shipping address is one of the most common issues because of which delivery exception happens. This is why it become essential for the shipping companies to verify the address from the customers. There are a lot of different strategies they can use here. First, they can ask the customer to enter the address twice to ensure no typing error. Other software also helps the customer pinpoint their location and deliver to the comrade’s location. Hence, location is an essential thing that shipping companies need to keep a check on to reduce delivery exceptions.
3. Enable Shipping Notifications
Hipping notifications can also help customers know where their package is and keep track of everything. This means sending the customer messages and emails and sharing updates with them regarding the delivery, tracking links, and other things so that they are in sync with everything. This also helps reduce the chance of losing the order and the chances of delivery exceptions.
Part 5. How To Respond When There Is a Delivery Exception
When you receive the delivery exception message, you can respond to it differently. One is to contact the carrier. You can verify the address with them to ensure they deliver it to the right place.
The company should inform the customers about the delivery exception. If they provide the wrong information, you must obtain the correct address. Provide your customer’s compensation and ensure you deliver their package within the next two days of the expected delivery time.
Final Words
There are a lot of challenges that come with delivering a package. Delivery exceptions are one of the challenges you might see commonly happening to many customers. This means that the customers get their packages late. There are many reasons why this can happen: weather conditions, customs delays, wrong address, and so many other things. If you want to ensure that your orders are being delivered to the customers on time without issues, then check NextSmartShip. Hence, we hope this article was beneficial for you in learning what delivery exception is.
