Worried about product delays or shortages for online orders? There are a bunch of different factors that can impact the shipment of your order. Let’s talk about a few of the many reasons for shipping and delivery delays and how you can avoid issues.
Potential reasons for product delays and shortages
Here are examples of some of the reasons you may experience a product delay or shortage:
- Parts shortages. Modern consumer goods require many complex parts and ingredients. Crop failures, natural resource availability, and resource demands from other industries can make it difficult for producers to get what they need.
- High demand. Public trends or fads can create high demand for specific products, causing supply to fall behind.
- Global events. Issues like war, pandemics, or changes to treaties, trade agreements, and import tariffs can make getting certain products difficult and costly (especially imported goods).
- National or local issues. Things like strikes and labour shortages can also lead to delays and problems with the supply of consumer products.
How to plan around product delays and shortages
- Consider shopping close to home. Buying products in-person from local businesses ensures you get what you want right away. It also helps stimulate your local economy and helps your community.
- Try to ship from within Canada. While this isn’t always a solution (depending on the reason for the delay), if you have the option, buying closer to home may the easiest option for delivery. International imports often have extra fees, customs requirements and can experience complications as they enter the country.
- Check on product availability or the current shipping timelines. Call ahead or check the stock of a product before clicking “place order”. If you need an item urgently, like for a special event like a birthday or holiday shopping, contact the business and confirm if that timing will work given the current shipping situation.
- Be patient. Most of the time supply shortages and product delays are out of a retailer’s control. Remember to be polite and work with the business to come to a solution. Depending on the product, retailers may offer waitlists or referrals to help you get what you want.
Where to go for help
If you’re dealing with a delay after ordering something online, the first step is to contact the business and inquire about the status of your order. Remember that some delays are outside a business’s control. Try to be patient with them and work together to reach a reasonable solution.
If the delay is extensive (more than 30 days after the expected delivery date) you may be within your rights to cancel your order and request a refund. We oversee specific laws for online purchases that offer certain protections in situations where items are severely delayed. Learn more by exploring this post: How to get a refund if your online order never arrives.
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are not-for-profit regulator responsible for overseeing certain industries and specific consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will try to offer a referral to a relevant organization, if one exists. Other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.