You found the perfect item. You clicked buy now. Days pass. Then weeks.
You check the tracking… and it hasn’t moved.
Now you’re stuck in e-commerce limbo, asking yourself the question no one wants to ask:

Did I just get scammed — or is this thing just really, really late?

In the age of global shipping, complex logistics, and shady third-party sellers, it’s hard to know whether to stay patient… or start filing a dispute. But the truth is, most people don’t know how to read the signs — or what to do when their order goes silent.

Here’s how to tell the difference between a simple delay and a package that’s actually gone — and what tools you can use to effectively track a package and save the day.

First, breathe — but don’t wait forever

Before you go full Reddit detective, know this: shipping delays happen — a lot.

Between customs hold-ups, weather delays, warehouse backlogs, and misrouted packages, even the most legitimate retailers sometimes lose visibility on your parcel for days (or weeks). And if you ordered from a site that ships from overseas — looking at you, AliExpress, Temu, and Shein — transit times can be long and updates can be delayed.

But here’s the key rule: If tracking hasn’t updated in 7–10 days and you’re past the estimated delivery window, it’s time to investigate.

Your tracking status might be lying to you

Let’s decode some of the vague phrases that show up on tracking pages:

• “In transit” — a catch-all that can mean anything from “left the warehouse” to “stuck in customs.”

• “Arrived at facility” — helpful if you know what and where that facility is. Usually, you don’t.

• “Delivery attempted” — sometimes true. Sometimes it just means the driver scanned it and moved on.

Many tracking updates are automated or delayed. And some carriers (especially overseas) use placeholder messages that don’t reflect real movement. That’s why buyers often assume the worst when the package is just sitting idle… or lost in a black hole of handovers.

Use a real-time universal tracker

Here’s the trick most people don’t know: you don’t have to rely on the tracking page the seller gives you.

Often, that page only shows one leg of the journey — say, the Chinese courier or the local delivery company — but not the full picture.

Instead, plug your tracking number into a universal tracking tool like Ordertracker. It automatically detects the courier, pulls info from all carriers involved, and shows you the entire journey of your parcel — across borders, languages, and handovers.

For example:

• You ordered sneakers from an overseas seller.

• Your tracking number only shows Chinese updates… and then nothing.

• Ordertracker may show that it’s actually been handed off to USPS, and it’s on a truck in your city.

That difference? Huge. It could save you from opening a claim — or missing your delivery entirely.

Look for these red flags

If your package is actually missing or never existed in the first place, there are signs:

• The tracking number was issued, but never updates (common with scams or fake stores).

• The shipping info says “pre-shipment” for more than a week — meaning the label was created, but the item was never sent.

• The status jumps around nonsensically — like going from “out for delivery” to “at origin facility” again.

If you spot these patterns, it’s time to reach out to the seller — and maybe open a dispute with your payment provider or credit card company.

Timing is everything

Every platform has a dispute window. Amazon, eBay, PayPal, and credit card issuers all have deadlines for filing a claim.

Waiting too long could mean you lose your chance to get a refund, even if your package never arrives.

Using a tool like Ordertracker helps you monitor the timeline accurately. It gives you more confidence to wait — and more proof to act if things go wrong.

The bottom line

In the messy world of modern delivery, most “lost” packages aren’t actually lost — they’re just poorly tracked, stuck, or miscommunicated. But every now and then, yes, someone’s trying to rip you off.

The smartest thing you can do?
Track smarter, act sooner, and don’t rely on vague emails from sellers.

Because that package might not be gone forever — but if it is, you want to be the first to know, not the last.