Generally, the “origin post is preparing shipment” update is an automated one sent by the originating country’s post office. It implies that your item(s) is readily available for shipping.
Did you come across the “origin post is preparing shipment” update? The good news is that you are not alone and shouldn’t worry much. It is an automated update that should change in less than 5 days.
In this article, I will discuss the USPS “origin post is preparing shipment” update. I will also answer other questions related to this update. So, let’s dive right in.
What does “origin post is preparing shipment” mean?
When an item is sent from the postal office of another country, its details are first sent electronically. This is to inform the USPS of an incoming shipment and make the process faster.
Once the information for the package is received by the USPS, the “origin post is preparing shipment” update follows. So, this update implies that your package is prepared for shipment.
How long does this update stay?
There is no straight answer to this question as it depends on certain factors. It usually takes hours for items to be prepared for shipment, but the update will still stand until the USPS receives it.
This is because the item has to be scanned by USPS to indicate it has been received. So, this update may stay for more than 3–5 working days, depending on the distance.
Why is the “origin post is preparing shipment” update stuck?
As I mentioned earlier, this update may stay for 5 days before a new status is updated. However, on certain occasions, it stays longer than customers hope for and is mainly caused by delays.
Some of the reasons for these delays are;
1. Transport complication
One of the most common reasons this update is stuck is transportation complications, which impact the delivery process. Such as lightning storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, aircraft maintenance issues, etc.
2. Customs delay
All packages moving from one country to another must go through customs. It is the standard process and might take longer than expected and cause delays during delivery.
It could be that your package spent an extra day or two at customs, causing this update to take longer.
3. Package has not been scanned
Although it is rare, there is still a possibility that your package has not been scanned. As I mentioned earlier, this update will stay until the USPS scans your package, which implies that it has been received.
It is possible that your package has arrived at the USPS but missed the scan. So, chances are, your package is going through the normal delivery process but is not reflecting. Nevertheless, the status should be updated once it is scanned along the way.
What should you do?
The “origin post is preparing shipment” update is very vague. It becomes even more frustrating when it takes longer for this update to change.
Again, you should note that you are not the only one, which should not cause you any worry. The best practice is to wait it out, as there is only a little you can do from your end.
However, if this update stands for more than 5 working days, an issue was probably encountered. Contacting the USPS customer care or the shipper for more clarity would be the best move.
FAQs
What is the origin post in China?
The origin post in China is called the China post.
What does it mean when it says “preparing for shipment”?
It simply implies that your package is being processed or labeled for shipping.
Conclusion
The “origin post is preparing shipment” update is very cryptic. It sometimes gets annoying when you don’t get more information following this update. This makes customers worry that their packages have been sidelined.
However, this update is normal for international shipments. It implies that the post office of the origin country is preparing your item for shipping.
This update will have to stand until the USPS scans it on arrival. It may take longer if issues were encountered, causing delays. If you find yourself in a situation like this, then contacting the USPS or the shipper is the best move.
I hope you found this article helpful. If you did, you should also see how to cancel a USPS shipment.
Thanks for reading.
