Why is my package not moving?
The 6 most common reasons
Parcels are only scanned at checkpoints — pickup, sorting hubs, loading, delivery. On a long leg (a truck or flight between cities, or a sea/air freight crossing) there may be no scan for 1–3 days even though the package is moving normally.
On international shipments, “in transit” can mean sitting in a customs queue. Most clear within a few days; duties or random inspection can add more. You usually can’t speed this up.
Cross-border parcels switch carriers (e.g. China Post → USPS). There’s often a quiet gap while the destination carrier receives and re-scans the item.
Scans slow over weekends and public holidays, and pile up during peak season (late November–December). A two-day pause around those dates is routine.
Storms, flight cancellations and strikes hold parcels at a facility with no new scan until movement resumes.
If there’s been no update for 7+ days domestically (or ~2–3 weeks internationally), or the status reads “exception” / “return to sender”, it’s worth contacting the sender or carrier.
FAQ
How long is too long with no tracking update?
As a rule of thumb: up to 3–5 days of silence is normal domestically and 1–2 weeks internationally, especially across customs. Beyond that — or any “exception” status — contact the seller or carrier.
Does “in transit” mean it’s lost?
No. “In transit” simply means it’s somewhere between the origin and destination scans. It’s the most common status and usually means everything is fine.
Who do I contact about a stuck package?
Start with the sender/retailer — they’re the carrier’s customer and can open a trace. If you shipped it yourself, contact the carrier with your tracking number.
Still concerned?
Paste your number above to pull the latest events, or read how international tracking works if it’s crossing a border.