What is up with the 21-day shipping deal?!?

Question

I've gone on some online shopping sites and so they have this shipping thing where it says that the "product usually ships out within 21 days.." or something of the sort.

Anyway, I try ordering something and it says that it's going to take them 21 days just to get the thing out to ship!!! And that doesn't even include your paid shipping days! So it's like, a month!

What's up with this and why they take so long just to ship out the product?

Answer 1

Three scenarios

1)  Due to the number of orders ''in house'' ahead of you, it may take the company that long to process your order thru the company, (orders usually go thru several hands / departments in the company, before they hit the shipping dept)

--- or ---

2) Online shopping companies do not always carry all the items they provide in-stock or do not project proper inventory on certain items to keep up with supply and demand.,

They are covering their ''turn-time'' / ship time, to the customer by letting you know up front it could be 21 days ship from date of order.

This way if they are out of stock, they are able to get the product in  form the manufacture and ship to you.

OR...

3) The online company is a middleman,/ call center ( no inventory / no stock) .  They order everything from the manufacture as needed.

The Manufacture ''blind/drop ship'' to you ( Manufactures name never appears on shipping label, consumer has no Idea.) all very legal.

Ship time is set by Manufacture to Online company , so orders do not get canceled

I know it can be frustrating to wait for a product you've been wanting or needing. But companies  have to live up to their contract of committed ship dates. They cannot afford order cancellations due to breech of contract / therefore they try to give realistic ship times

Hope this Helps