You placed an order last week, but haven't received the shipping confirmation. Maybe the package is in transit, but its location hasn't been updated in days.
NerdWallet.
The supply chain issues that experts warned about have materialized. It is possible that your gifts won't arrive in time for holiday celebrations. What are your options?
If you still want the gift.
Check the order status again.
During the busy holiday season, retailers and shipping carriers may be slow to provide updates. If you can, be patient and wait another day or two. The package is likely to arrive in time.
Call or email the retailer if you are worried. A representative may be able to give you more information about your online order or help you find a solution. If it turns out that your item got lost in the shuffle, the seller may be able to send it back at an expedited shipping speed.
You can reach out to the carrier. If it is in transit, the retailer will have as much information as you. G. Tony Bell is an assistant professor in the department of supply chain management at Rutgers Business School.
Set up notifications.
Jane Thomas, a marketing professor at Winthrop University in South Carolina, says that shoppers can use apps to track packages from multiple retailers in one place. Automatic order updates can be received through notifications.
If you don't see the package after receiving a delivery notice, what should you do? Thomas says to ask your neighbors before spinning your wheels. Follow up with the retailer or shipping service if it is still nowhere to be found.
Give a place holder.
If the gift won't arrive on time, consider a backup plan. Thomas says to write a description of the present in a card or print out a picture and put it in a gift-wrapped box. Even though the item isn't present, the recipient still gets the experience of opening it.
Is your giftee more of an instant gratification type? Get a bonus gift to hold them over until the package arrives. Bell suggests a less expensive gift.
You should be upfront about the situation. Bell says that it is important to set expectations for children who may not be as open to something different.
If you don't want the gift anymore.
Pick a replacement.
If the order goes wrong or the waiting is too much, it might be a good idea to scrap the original idea. Even if there is no time to ship something else, you can still get a new present. A camping trip or a spa day are some of the last-minute options.
Thomas recommends shopping at local small businesses if you want to give something tangible. Many of them have great gift ideas for you that you don't even know about. She says that you will probably have something even more unique when you get a gift.
Super Saturday is the final Saturday before Christmas for retailers. You can get discounted gifts in-store if you shop or pick up orders.
You can either Cancel or Return the item.
You can usually cancel an order if it hasn't been processed or shipped. If you miss the cancellation period, you can return the item after it arrives.
Retailers have holiday return policies. Certain items may be excluded. Macy's has a 90-day return window for most items, but a 14-day window for Apple products and tech accessories.
Check the websites of retailers for policy details. Make sure you understand the conditions and deadlines by reading the fine print.
Take a 14-day return policy. Does it mean that it leaves the warehouse? The clock on 14 days for returns starts to tick. Is it the day that it leaves, or is it the day that it shows up at your doorstep? Thomas says something.
You will want to pay close attention to things like whether you can return the item in-store instead of shipping it back, and whether you can get a store credit for it. If something isn't clear, give the retailer a call or use the online chat function.
Lauren is a writer for NerdWallet. Email: lschwahn@nerdwallet.com Laurenschwahn is on the social media site.
Your holiday gifts haven't arrived yet. It was on NerdWallet.
