What Does “Included in Shipment” Mean?
“Included in Shipment” is a status that tells you the item you ordered is physically packed and ready to leave the warehouse—it’s in the box headed to your customer, but it hasn’t actually shipped yet. This status typically appears 1-2 business days before the tracking number generates and the carrier picks up the package.
Understanding the Status
When an order moves to “Included in Shipment,” it means our warehouse team has picked the item from inventory, verified it matches your order, and placed it into a shipping box with your packing slip and any branded inserts you’ve requested. The package is staged in our outbound area, waiting for the carrier to scan and pick it up during their next collection window.
This is different from “Shipped” or “In Transit”—those statuses mean the carrier has physically taken possession of the package. “Included in Shipment” is the bridge between order fulfillment and carrier handoff.
During this phase, your item is no longer in our active inventory bins. It’s committed to this specific order and customer. If your customer’s address needs to change, this is your last realistic window to make that edit before the label becomes permanent and costly to reroute.
Why This Status Exists
Third-party logistics providers maintain this status for operational transparency and to give you a heads-up before the final handoff. Here’s why it matters:
- Carrier Pickup Windows: We don’t ship packages continuously throughout the day. Most carriers (UPS, FedEx, DHL) pick up once daily, typically in the afternoon. Packages packed in the morning might wait until the 3 p.m. pickup window. “Included in Shipment” reflects this real-world timing.
- Last-Minute Changes: If you catch an address error or need to cancel before the carrier scans the package, we can often intercept it. Once it’s in the carrier’s system, you’ll pay $15–$50 USD in rerouting fees or face a failed delivery.
- Inventory Accuracy: This status confirms we physically removed the item from stock. For your accounting and stock level reports, it shows the item is committed.
- Customer Communication: You can tell your customer, “Your order is packed and shipping within 1–2 business days,” which sets realistic expectations.
What Happens Next and Typical Timing
Once an item reaches “Included in Shipment,” here’s the standard timeline:
- Same Day to +1 Business Day: Package waits in the outbound staging area for the next carrier pickup window. If packed after 2 p.m., it typically sits until the next day’s pickup.
- +1 to +2 Business Days: Carrier scans and picks up the package. Status changes to “Shipped” and a tracking number appears in your dashboard and your customer’s order confirmation email.
- +2 to +5 Business Days (typical ground shipping): Package is in transit to the destination. FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, and equivalent carriers take 2–5 business days depending on distance (longer for cross-country shipments).
- +5 to +7 Business Days: Package arrives and is marked “Delivered” by the carrier.
If you’re shipping via 2-day or overnight methods, transit time shrinks to 1–2 business days after the carrier pickup. Weekend and holiday processing may extend these timelines by 1–2 days.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Order Stuck on “Included in Shipment” for 3+ Days
This is unusual. Reach out to our support team—it typically means a carrier pickup was missed or a label issue prevented scanning. We’ll investigate and resubmit to the next available pickup window.
Customer Says They Never Received It (No Tracking Yet)
If the order is still “Included in Shipment,” the carrier hasn’t accepted it. Ask for the order number and we’ll verify the package is still in our facility. If the carrier did pick it up but didn’t scan, we’ll contact the carrier to locate it and generate a tracking number.
Wrong Item Packed
If you notice a packing error while the order is still “Included in Shipment,” contact us immediately with the order number. We may be able to pull it back before carrier pickup (within a few hours), repack the correct item, and resend. After pickup, you’ll need to arrange a return and ship a replacement.
Address Error Caught at This Stage
If your customer notified you of a wrong address and the order is still “Included in Shipment,” reply with the corrected address and order number immediately. We’ll update the label if the carrier hasn’t scanned it yet. If the carrier has already picked it up, you’ll face rerouting fees.
No Tracking Number 2+ Days After “Included in Shipment”
This can happen if the carrier doesn’t scan barcode immediately. Check back within 4 hours—the tracking usually populates. If it doesn’t, contact support with the order number so we can verify the package was picked up or nudge the carrier system.
When to Escalate to Support
Contact our helpdesk if you experience any of these scenarios:
- An order remains “Included in Shipment” for more than 3 business days without explanation.
- A tracking number doesn’t appear within 2 business days of the status update.
- You discovered a packing error or address issue and need immediate intervention.
- A customer reports non-delivery and the order still shows “Included in Shipment” beyond your expected pickup window.
- You need to cancel or modify an order at this stage and want confirmation it’s possible.
Provide your order number, customer name, and a brief description of the issue. Our team typically responds within 2 business hours during weekday business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST).
Still stuck? Contact us at [support email/contact method] and we’ll sort it out.