Amazon is an American company, based in Seattle and created in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. Today it is a global e-commerce market leader. Amazon initially started as an online marketplace for books before expanding its range of products and launching international delivery options.
Amazon, or Amazon Incorporated, is an American multinational company based in Washington that specialises in technology services, namely e-commerce, digital streaming, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.
When the company was founded by Jeff Bezos on July 5, 1995, it initially only operated as an online platform to buy and sell books. However, it quickly expanded to sell other items, including, software, hardware, computer games and gaming equipment, garments, furniture, food, toys, and jewellery.
Since its humble beginnings, Amazon has gone from strength to strength and enjoyed huge success, earning the company its place as one of the big five US companies, alongside Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In 2015, Amazon surpassed Walmart as the most valuable retailer in the United States and three years later its own in-house two-day delivery service (Amazon Prime) surpassed some 100 million global subscribers.
Today, Amazon is the largest company in the world if measured by revenue and in 2020, Amazon recorded the highest brand evaluation worldwide. The company's success is down to its effective disruption of well-established industries through innovative technology-based solutions.
Amazon continues to push technological innovation in its products, expanding into audio and video streaming through Prime Video, Amazon Music, Twitch, and Audible subsidiaries and has also moved into publishing and film and television with the launch of Amazon Publishing and Amazon Studios. The company now also produces consumer electronics, including its popular Kindle e-reader series and Fire TV devices.
Amazon uses a variety of couriers for the delivery of its orders, including UPS, USPS, and FedEx among others. It also has its in-house delivery capabilities, through an extensive transportation portfolio which includes its trucks and planes. The latter takes flights from around 20 airports around the US to various destinations, to continue to meet the growing demand for products.
Below is the list of carriers that Amazon most commonly uses for deliveries.
However, Amazon also uses several other carriers including ABF Freight System Inc, CEVA Logistics, Australia Post, Deprisa, DB Schenker, ECMS EXPRESS, i-parcel, Fidelitone, Innovel Solutions, Israel Post (ILP), Landmark Global, Lonestar Overnight, NSD, Parcel Pool, SF Express, WnDirect, XPO Logistics, TForce Final Mile, OnTrac, Pilot, Menlo Worldwide/UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and LaserShip.
The Amazon distribution network was first launched in 1997 with processing centres first opened in Seattle and Delaware. Now, Amazon has multiple types of distribution facilities, including cross-dock centres, fulfilment centres, sortation centres, and delivery stations.
A computer system is used to check goods in and out thus recording the location of orders. The system also helps the company map out routes for pickers.
Order tracking on any carriers used by Amazon can be done through the Ship24 homepage using the tracking number that buyers either receive from the seller upon purchase or which can alternatively be found on the Amazon website or inside your email inbox.
If you have a problem with your order, you can either contact the Amazon support team or if you are aware of the courier your parcel is with, you can contact them directly.
However, buyers should note:
Several options are available for consumers to track their Amazon orders.
Consumers can either use:
This is where buyers can check on their Amazon parcel locations using their Amazon tracking ID numbers or codes. Buyers will be able to see a map showing them the location of their Amazon parcels in real-time. This function can be accessed as many times as desired by the buyer and operates on a twenty-four-hour seven days week system.
This is another platform where buyers can access and track Amazon parcels, with up-to-date information readily available on their order when they add their tracking code.
When using either of these options, buyers should:
This is where consumers can track their parcels. Depending on which courier the seller has chosen, you can request a tracking number. With the tracking number, you can copy it and then paste it onto the Ship24 website to get the latest updates on where your parcel is.
However, if the website or app says that no tracking information is available, customers should go to the Amazon Missing Packages section, which will contain information about any missing packages.
Some of the features included on the Amazon website and which are available to customers are explained in more detail below:
Amazon Map: This feature is a live map function on the app or website which gives buyers a visual location of their orders in real-time. Buyers can use this option to check on the progress of shipped packages on a live map. This can be accessed by clicking on the "Track Package" option from either a confirmation email or in the "Your Orders" section.
SMS Text Tracking: This feature allows you to track your Amazon parcel thanks to the information sent to you via SMS.
Buyers can also track their Amazon parcels using the Ship24 website, with just their Amazon tracking ID number. Anyone wishing to track their Amazon parcel will just need to go to the homepage and enter the Amazon tracking code into the search bar to get instant tracking information about the status of their Amazon package.
Although Amazon is a marketplace, there are some merchants or sellers who use third-party couriers to deliver their items. When this is the case, you can request the tracking number from the merchants/sellers to provide you with the tracking number. Depending on the courier used, a tracking number used for your Amazon order should consist of a 9 to 14 digit number. With the tracking number, head over to Ship24 to track your order. Ship24 is a universal tracking system that has access to more than 1200 couriers to make sure that you are connected to order every step of the way.
There could be several reasons why the tracking number is not working. It could be because the order hasn't been processed yet or there could be some errors on the tracking number that you have typed such as a missing number or letter or you may have just mistyped the tracking number.
If it is still not working, try to wait several hours more or wait for 24 hours before trying again. Else, contact the merchant or Amazon customer support care.
There are a variety of businesses that offers Amazon API. Some of which usually relate to advertising an Amazon product or using a third-party vendor for Amazon.com. However, when it comes to Amazon tracking API, Ship24 is the best place to get a tracking API. With incredible benefits such as blazing fast integration, access to more than 1200 couriers, true end-to-end tracking, and much more.
Integrating a tracking API into your platform just takes a few minutes after creating an account and subscribing to a tracking API plan.
Most sellers on Amazon, including Amazon itself if you are buying an Amazon product, ship your order within 2 business days.
The following list shows the average Amazon shipping timeframes unless otherwise mentioned in the seller's policies:
Like all shipping methods, the delivery time may vary based on the destination of the package, customs, holidays, and other unforeseen delays which should be taken into account. If the seller is aware of any potential delays, they should notify the customer upon purchase. However, buyers should also be aware that busier periods, such as around Christmas and Chinese New Year, could mean parcel deliveries are delayed due to a higher than normal volume of orders.
Also, the weight, size, and destination of the Amazon order will have some effect on the time it takes to deliver the package. It is best to check with the seller if your package is particularly large or it is destined for a rural location to see whether there will be added delays on top of the usual delivery turnaround.
Although most Amazon package deliveries operate smoothly without any problems, it is important to be informed of what delays you may face and plan accordingly if the order is required within a certain timeframe.
When you reach the checkout stage of your order, you will be given the option to choose how the items in your cart are delivered. Buyers should be aware that if they do not see a particular delivery option, then delivery isn't available for that order to the set location.
Amazon is one of the largest international online marketplaces that are consequently delivering products to a large number of global destinations. Delivery options include both customers within the United States, as well as internationally, such as in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Spain, Australia, Italy, India, Mexico, and China. More and more countries in Asia and Africa are being added in line with Amazon's continued growth
Some of the countries where Amazon does not ship include North Korea, Cuba, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Botswana, and Myanmar.
Amazon ships products overseas via Amazon Global. The available products and shipping rates using this service may vary depending on your location. To check which items are eligible for international shipping, check the "Search for Items Eligible" option in the international shipping section of the app or website.
Amazon does ship internationally to over 100 countries and regions outside the United States, though it is not a case of whether they do or do not ship to a country, as it will depend on the specific order. You'll have to change your default shipping address to see the items that are available for specific international destinations.
To ship your international Amazon parcel, you will need to follow the steps below:
Once you have set that address as a default, you will be able to search for items that can be shipped to that international address.
After placing an order, you can update the shipping address any time before the actual shipment of your order. Once your order has shipped, Amazon will not let you change your Amazon delivery shipping address. You can edit your address directly from the Amazon account home page. You can also contact Amazon directly or through the Amazon Customer Service section on their website.
If you want to change your address before your order is shipped, you can take the following steps:
The total shipping cost for each product may vary. However, shipping on some Amazon parcels is free and buyers should keep a lookout for free shipping options when browsing products.
However, the standard shipping prices are as follows.
Generally, prices within the United States are the same, however, if you are sending to remote areas of the US then buyers may see an increase in prices. This is especially true if you are sending to non-mainland US lands, such as Guam, Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Federal States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.
The total cost is calculated by adding the per-item cost with the per-shipment cost. The per-item cost varies because of the number of items, volume (which is also known as dimensional weight), and actual weight. Prices will depend on order size and weight as well as the shipment method. Equally, international shipping costs depend on the method chosen for delivery and the number of products.
For more pricing information, please see the Amazon website to find the specific costs for your particular item. To track your Amazon parcel or package, simply go to the Ship24 website and enter your tracking ID into the search bar, for information about your package status and current location.