What Does Pre-Shipment Mean?

Pre-shipment is the first tracking status that appears when a seller creates a USPS shipping label but hasn’t handed over the package. We like to call it the “step zero” of the shipping process. 

As a store owner, you might have a clue what it means. But your buyers may not. Many get confused with this status. Some even voiced out their confusion on Reddit, like this one user:

We also heard similar issues from our clients. And if you don’t reply or take any action to avoid the pre-shipment notice, it can harm your customer relationships.

You must protect the excitement your customers feel when they place an order and wait for it. The least you want to happen is for them to see “pre-shipment” for days on their end. And let them overthink that their package was lost or forgotten, or worse, that they’ve been scammed.

So, we wrote this article to break down “what does pre-shipment mean,” why packages get stuck there, and what you can do for your customers in this phase.

Defining the Pre-Shipment Tracking Status

You might be wondering what pre-shipment status looks like from your customers’ P.O.V. Well, they usually look like these:

• Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS, USPS Awaiting Item
• Pre-Shipment Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item 

The pre-shipment status means that a shipping label has already been created. But the shipping carrier (USPS) hasn’t received the physical package yet. It can still be with the seller or the fulfillment center.

For example, one of your customers, Charles, reordered his favorite coffee blend from your store. You processed his order, printed the USPS label, paid the postage, and got a tracking number.

At this point, the shipment’s and Charles’ information is already in the USPS system, such as weight, destination address, and shipping service. But the actual box of coffee is still with you (or the warehouse).

What “Pre-Shipment” Means for Different Carriers

FedEx, UPS, and DHL have their own version of “pre-shipment” status. Here’s how the other popular shipping companies describe this waiting period:

Carrier	Status Message	What It Means
USPS	Pre-Shipment	Label created, package not yet received by USPS
FedEx	Label Created	The carrier printed the label and is preparing the package
UPS	Label Created	Shipment details received, waiting for the physical package
DHL	Shipment Information Received	Waybill number generated, package not yet in DHL’s possession

The terms may be different. But the bottom line is still the same: label created, shipment pending.

Understanding the Pre-Shipment Phase in the Shipping Process

Now that you know what pre-shipment means. It’s time for the next question: What really happens during the pre-shipment phase?

During this time, the seller is mostly in control (yup, you’ll be the busy one!) and not USPS or any other carrier. The pre-shipment stage looks like this:

• Order processing: This is where you get the notification that someone bought from your store. You check if the item is available and get it from your inventory.
• Verifying the details: Here’s where you double-check your customer’s information. That includes name, delivery location, item quantities, and any special requests.
• Packaging the item: It’s time to wrap everything up safely so your item will be in good condition. You can add bubble wrap, tissue paper, or whatever keeps your products secure.
• Sticking the printed label: Print out that shipping label and attach it neatly to the package. You have to make sure that it’s placed well and everything is readable.
• Scheduling for pickup/bringing to the facility center: You can schedule a carrier pickup from your location or drive to the local post office (or USPS facility’s collection boxes) to drop off the item.
• Notifying your buyer: Next, send a confirmation with the tracking number to show that their order has been packed. This is optional. But we recommend that you do it for the customer’s peace of mind.

Imagine that a mom ordered a brush set from your store. You received the payment notification from Shopify. You went online, signed in to USPS, and created a shipping label.

At that point, USPS marked it as “pre-shipment” because they knew a package was coming but hadn’t received it yet. You then packed the items carefully, printed and attached the label, and notified your customer.

Until you actually dropped it off at the post office or handed it to your mail carrier, the status changed.

Why Packages Stay in Pre-Shipment

Ever heard of the word “pre-parcel anxiety?” Sounds like a future problem, right? But it’s real and has been happening to many people for years now.

It refers to that nervous (or sometimes angry) feeling that shoppers get while waiting for their online orders to arrive. It’s a price we pay for convenience. Just look at what some people are asking on Reddit:

And the numbers back this up. One study found that buyers expect their orders to be delivered within 24 hours. Another report shared that 90% of customers believe that 2-3 day delivery should be the standard.

There is no official statistic that tells us exactly how long pre-shipment should be. But based on the expectations above and our experience, pre-shipment usually takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Of course, this will still depend on whether it’s an international, provincial, or local delivery. For example, international shipments might take 5-7 days due to customs paperwork. But local deliveries could move out from this status within hours if you drop the items off at the right time.

3 Common Reasons for Delays in Pre-Shipment

Most of the time, pre-shipment delays happen because of product customization, peak season delivery, and unforeseen events. Let’s discuss them each.

1. Product Customizations

If you’re selling customizable items, such as wallets, handmade bags, or event t-shirts, then pre-shipment delays are more common in your business model.

Let’s say you personalize wallets. Ryan ordered one with “World’s Best Dad” engraved on it from your store on Monday morning. But you already created the shipping label and sent the confirmation with the tracking number (because you’re organized like that).

The “pre-shipment” or “label created” status would be active immediately, even though you haven’t started anything yet. And that’s what Ryan saw when he checked the tracking.

2. Peak Season and Holiday Chaos

We all know how it goes wild during the holidays.

Online shopping carts overflow, credit cards get a workout, and everyone’s racing to get gifts delivered on time (we relate).

USPS even mentioned that they deliver 800 million packages from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Wow. That’s roughly 19 million packages every single day.

With this amount, there’s a huge chance that your delivery will get caught in the holiday shipping traffic. You may also have some backlogs due to an excessive number of orders. Brace yourself (and your customers) for that.

3. Unexpected Events

While we mentioned that the pre-shipment stage is “under the sender’s control,” there are also some moments that nobody can predict or prevent.

Natural disasters, severe weather, or even global events can stop pickups cold. Remember when Hurricane Ian hit Florida in 2022? Major carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS had to halt their operations.

If carriers couldn’t operate at that time, neither could the sellers. That means packages sat in pre-shipment until postal services slowly resumed days later.

Another unforeseen events include system errors. Sometimes, packages get dropped off but are never scanned into the USPS system. Or the tracking status updates lag by several days. Plus, even if this happens rarely, orders can also get misplaced right before the transit starts.

How to Improve Customer Experience During Pre-Shipment?

We’re done with the reasons. Now, it’s time to talk about how important pre-shipment is in the customer experience.

The truth is, how you handle this stage really affects how customers feel about your store (and your business’s future).

We know one merchant who learned this the hard way. They sold handmade ceramic mugs that took 5-7 days to create. They’d process shipping labels immediately to add tracking numbers to confirmation emails. But they never told customers about the production time (oopsie).

You want to know what happened next? They received WISMO emails and even got angry reviews saying things like: “Seller took forever to ship our order.” That’s because their buyers saw “pre-shipment” and expected packages to ship right away.

We don’t want you to experience that. So let’s focus on prevention. Here are some ways to improve customer experience during pre-shipment, including managing client expectations, sending progress updates, and creating a shipping FAQ page.

• Tell Customers What to Expect: Provide clear timelines and add a buffer for international shipping. Plus, make sure to include the estimated delivery date where they are the most needed (order page, confirmation email, product page, and checkout page).
• Send Progress Updates: Avoid giving your customers the silent treatment (that’s only for toxic relationships). Send a friendly update around day 2 or 3 instead. Something like: “Hi, Rachel! Your custom tote bag is being prepared right now and will ship by Thursday.”
• Create a Shipping FAQ Page: Build a page that explains your entire process. Where should they track their orders for accurate updates? How long does it take for you to ship the item? Link to it from confirmation emails so customers can find answers without messaging you.
• Have Your Own Branded Tracking Page: With your own tracking page, you can provide a more accurate estimate of where the package is and when it’ll arrive.

Order tracking tools like ParcelPanel help you create a powerful tracking page that allows you to deliver real-time updates in your customer’s preferred language.

But what can really help you solve pre-shipment confusion is ParcelPanel’s Custom Shipping Status feature.

This lets you add up to three personalized status updates before the package is handed off to the carrier. You can set your own labels, write short descriptions, and schedule the timing.

For example, if you need a few days to prepare or personalize an item, you can display statuses like “In Production” or “Packing Your Order” instead of leaving buyers staring at “Label Created” for days.

One of our clients, JK Boots, used this feature to lessen WISMO tickets by 63%. The clear status update on custom and ready-made orders eased their customers’ pre-parcel anxiety and improved satisfaction while keeping things manageable for their small team.

What Happens After Pre-Shipment?

Your customer’s package finally escapes pre-shipment limbo once USPS physically scans it into their system. This happens when your carrier picks it up or you drop it off at the post office.

The tracking immediately gets more detailed. Your buyers will see updates like “Accepted at USPS Origin Facility” or “Departed USPS Destination Facility.” Each scan shows exactly where their package is (even at 3 AM when postal workers are sorting mail).

Remember how anxious customers get with vague tracking? Once scanning starts, they’ll see their package move through the sorting facilities, receive “In Transit” updates, and eventually spot it as “Out for Delivery.”

These real-time scans give your customers proof that their order is finally moving.

Conclusion: Managing Your Pre-Shipment Phase

Pre-shipment is a normal part of the delivery process. But it can cause real anxiety if not handled well. We covered what it means, what your customers see, and why packages sometimes stay stuck there.

The most common reasons include custom orders, seasonal volume spikes, and unexpected delays like weather or system errors.

If you want to reduce confusion and build trust, we recommend setting clear expectations and using tools like ParcelPanel. With custom statuses and branded tracking, you can keep your buyers informed and confident from day one.

Ready to take some control of your customers’ post-purchase and shipping experience? Install ParcelPanel for free and start building custom updates your customers will appreciate.