What to do if your Amazon Prime delivery is late
Ensure your Prime purchases arrive on time
Amazon is known for its convenient, ultra-fast deliveries. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you get even more delivery options. However, even the biggest online retailer in the world can drop the ball from time to time. So how can you avoid an Amazon Prime late delivery when shopping at Amazon? Especially now that Prime Big Deal Days is almost here.
Below are some pointers on what to do if you receive an Amazon Prime late delivery. This is especially important as a Prime members pay $139/year for this service. Additionally, with competition from Walmart Plus and My Best Buy, Prime members have more options than ever for expedited delivery.
(Also, check out our guides on how to cancel Amazon Prime and how to cancel an Amazon order. If you're looking for deals, check out our best VPN deals, mattress deals, and Amazon promo codes this week).
Understanding the perks
Amazon doesn't promote its Amazon Prime late delivery refund policy. In the past, you'd get one free month of Amazon Prime. The free month was typically tacked on at the end of your subscription, so subscribers' end dates would be extended by one month. However, that practice has ended and the customer service page where it was mentioned has been taken down.
Instead, Amazon will now offer you a refund on your shipping fees. It makes no mention of Amazon Prime specifically. You will instead need to contact Amazon customer service, which according to many Internet users, will wind up giving you a free month.
Keep in mind that some internet users have reported even better perks in return for a late Amazon Prime delivery. Several posters have reported that the e-tailer offered anywhere from a $5 to $20 gift certificate toward any product on the site, a 20 percent discount on an Amazon Prime membership, or other offers.
It's unclear exactly what triggers Amazon to offer one deal over another, and it might have something to do with the time of year and whether you've complained before or not. But a quick look online clearly shows that Amazon is willing to offer more than just an extra month of Amazon Prime.
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So, the question becomes, how do customers actually take advantage of such deals when their packages are later than Amazon promised?
Contacting Amazon
To contact Amazon, it's best to use the company's Contact Us page. Here you'll have the option to either chat with a messaging assistant that can answer basic questions or direct users to the proper place to have their issue addressed.
The page also gives users the option of having Amazon call them, as well as a wait time, so they have a sense of how long it’ll take to hear back from the company.
MORE: Amazon Prime Best Movies
If neither option is suitable, Amazon also provides quick access to a slew of help pages on everything from checking an order and managing content on devices to getting help with Amazon Prime and updating payment information.
Generally, Amazon recommends selecting the phone option to get support more quickly; customers can specify which phone number the rep should call. Still, online-chat waiting times aren't bad and we've been able to speak with Amazon reps after waiting just a few minutes.
Talking to customer service
Once it's time to talk to a customer service rep, the process is somewhat simple. Customers simply confirm that they purchased a product and that it hasn't arrived. Amazon customer service will look into the claim, quickly determine that the package hasn't arrived and, in most cases, automatically offer a free month of Amazon Prime service.
But as mentioned, some people have been lucky enough to get more than a free month of Prime, so it's a good idea for customers to push back a bit and explain why the delay is such an inconvenience.
Perhaps you ran out of critical household goods or you were counting on the product to land in time so it could be given as a gift. Whatever the case, the commenters suggest customers who come up with a good reason Amazon's delay is upsetting them are in a good position to get a bit more. As long as it's all done in a polite manner. In other words, writing in all caps or too much complaining will probably get you nowhere.
Given that Amazon’s official policy only allows for customer service representatives to offer a freebie on the first late Amazon Prime delivery, the company might be less willing to offer a deal if delays start to pile up. As such, it's a good idea to go for it all the first time around or face the possibility of more pushback on subsequent attempts.
Bonus tip: Avoid social networks
One more thing: While it's fine to complain to Amazon on X (formerly Twitter), the company discourages sharing order information on the social network and typically directs users to its customer service page. So, although social networks might be more convenient, it won't expedite a resolution.
Today's best Amazon sales
- Alexa device sale: Alexa devices, Blink cameras from $19
- Adidas: up to 50% off polo shirts, sneakers, jerseys, more
- Apple: save on iPad, Apple Watch 7, more
- Chromebooks: HP, Lenovo, Acer up to 45% off
- Deep fryers: Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, more from $31
- Fitness: Puma, New Balance, Under Armour deals from $24
- HDTVs: smart TVs from $79
- Headphones: Sony, Bose, Anker deals from $10
- Heating/cooling: fans and air conditioners from $8
- Kitchen appliances: save on Ninja, Keurig, Instant Pot from $64
- Laptops: save $200+ on MacBooks and Windows machines
- Luggage/travel: sets and accessories from from $8
- OLED TVs: LG, Sony, Vizio deals from $676
- PS5 games: deals from $14
- Robot vacuums: iRobot, Shark, more from $109
Skechers shoes/apparel: from $11 @ Amazon
Amazon is having a massive Skechers sale post Prime Day. The sale includes sneakers and apparel for men, women, and children on sale from $11. As part of the sale, you can get the Skechers Hands Free Slip Ins for $54 (was $110, pictured).
Crocs sale: deals from $20 @ Amazon
Amazon is having a massive Crocs sale right now. As part of this savings event, you can save up to 50% off select men's, women's, and children's Crocs and accessories. After discounts, deal prices start from $20 for Crocs or $3 for accessories. The sale includes slip-resistant clogs, boots, sandals, loafers and more.
iPhone 16: for $0.01 + $65/month with Unlimited @ Amazon
Amazon is offering any iPhone 16 model for just $0.01 when you purchase it with a Boost Infinite plan. Boost Infinite is a membership plan for iPhone users. From $65/month, you get unlimited talk, text, and 5G data. Plus, you'll get a free iPhone 16. After 12 consecutive monthly payments, members can upgrade to the latest iPhone model at no extra cost. There is no trade-in requirement to join, which means you can keep your current iPhone or sell it to a third party.
Don Reisinger is CEO and founder of D2 Tech Agency. A communications strategist, consultant, and copywriter, Don has also written for many leading technology and business publications including CNET, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, Computerworld, Digital Trends, TechCrunch and Slashgear. He has also written for Tom's Guide for many years, contributing hundreds of articles on everything from phones to games to streaming and smart home.