If your parcel is on the way and you do not understand its current status, it can raise questions. What does the indicated status mean? Which statuses are especially important for you? Let's analyze all the possible stages of parcel delivery together.

The status indicates the current stage of your parcel dispatch, which is determined by the carrier. As we know, carriers can be postal and logistics companies, each with its own delivery chain. The courier records each stage of the journey and reflects it in the tracking data.

As regular buyers, we want the parcel delivered on time without delving into internal processes. In most cases, this is exactly what happens. However, if there are problems, you must understand what is happening behind the scenes in the parcel tracking system.

Basic Delivery Statuses Explained

Each carrier has its own internal procedures, but experience shows that the main statuses are universal. We call them basic:

Label Created

This status means that the carrier has received information about the parcel from the sender electronically. However, this does not always mean that the parcel is already with the carrier. An intermediary may have registered it, but the carrier is still waiting for it at the cargo reception center. For example, Royal Mail calls this We're expecting it or "Item despatched to Royal Mail," which means the same thing.

In Transit

The parcel is already on its way, moving from one point to another. Minor delays may occur at this stage, as transportation takes time. Do not worry if your international tracking data is not updated daily. Unless you chose express delivery, this process can take a long time, especially during ocean or rail transport.

Out for Delivery

The parcel has arrived at the nearest carrier's office and has been loaded into a vehicle for final delivery. This is the penultimate status of the parcel - it is on its way to your door right now.

Delivered (Collected)

The carrier has delivered the parcel to you or left it in a safe place. If the status says "Collected," it usually means the recipient picked it up from the post office. If you see a delivered" status but don't have the parcel, we have detailed possible solutions in our help section.

Exception (Alert, Pending)

This is the most complex status for the recipient. It indicates possible problems with your parcel. Here is a full list of reasons why this might appear:

• The parcel is officially lost;
• The parcel was damaged during transit;
• The shipment is waiting for customs clearance (documents or payment needed);
• The parcel is delayed due to high volume;
• Force majeure events (weather, strikes) have stopped progress;
• The parcel contains prohibited goods and was rejected;
• The recipient was not found at the address;
• The delivery attempt was unsuccessful;
• The delivery date has been postponed;
• Access to the delivery location is absent (locked gate, code required).

Usually, this status comes with detailed instructions from the carrier. If there are no instructions, find out who your carrier is using in our directory and contact them immediately.

Return to Sender

If the parcel has not been delivered to its recipient or was not picked up, it may be returned. Note that not all services offer free returns. For example, USPS may mark this as Insufficient Address and charge the sender for resending. Be careful when entering the address to avoid wasting money and time.

Parcel Statuses in the China Parcels System

Analyzing the data from hundreds of carriers, we have identified the main categories that describe all possible situations. We use these standardized statuses in our tracking system to make things clearer for you.

Not Found

The parcel is not found. We were unable to find information about your shipment. This happens for three main reasons:

• We were unable to identify the carrier automatically;
• The carrier did not provide data (or the label was just created);
• Internal tracker error (we were unable to retrieve data from the official website).

If you suspect the issue is on our end, please contact us, and we will try to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

In Transit

This covers the basic movement status. It also includes specific events such as "Arrived at facility" or "Departed facility." It simply means the package is moving.

Pick Up

We use this status to indicate that the package is close to you but requires action. It covers these scenarios:

• "Out for Delivery" (it is coming today);
• The parcel is waiting at the courier's office for you to pick it up;
• The parcel has been delivered to a parcel locker.

Important: If the parcel is waiting for you at the office or a locker, do not delay. The carrier may charge an additional storage fee if you wait too long.

Delivered

This status is identical to the basic one. The parcel has been delivered to the recipient or left in a safe place. Read the specific details from the carrier or look at the photo proof if available.

Alert

This corresponds to the "Exception" status. It includes messages from the carrier requiring the recipient to take action (such as paying customs duties). Carefully read the instructions from the transport company. All contact details are available in our carriers' directory.

Expired

We added this unique status for parcels dispatched more than three months ago. In our experience, if delivery takes more than 3 months, the parcel is unlikely to be delivered. We recommend contacting the carrier to determine the cause of the long delay.

We hope this overview helps you understand the different parcel statuses. Now you can analyze the situation independently and react promptly to any problems. We always recommend tracking all your parcels in the China Parcels system to see the full picture from dispatch to receipt.