What Does “Origin Post is Preparing Shipment” Mean?

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posted on 1 month ago — updated on 1 second ago

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“Origin post is preparing shipment” can mean a lot of different things, like a delay in transit or a complication with the pallet that the package was attached to. In this guide, we’ll walk you all the possible reasons you might be seeing this message—and, most importantly, what steps you can take next to stay in the loop about your package.

What does “origin post is preparing shipment mean” in USPS?

“Origin Post Is Preparing Shipment” Meaning

“Origin post is preparing shipment” means your package is in the early stages of transit. If you’re seeing this status, there’s a good chance that your package was scanned, but it hasn’t made any significant progress in the transit system yet. It could also signify that your package is slowed down in some way (like it was unable to be placed on the first outgoing flight). Some netizens find that this status is used as a grab-bag label for a variety of different circumstances.

How long do I have to wait?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to know exactly. The “origin post is preparing shipment” status is notoriously vague, and USPS doesn’t actually provide an explanation (or time estimation) for this label on its website glossary. Some believe that this shipping status points to a 1-2 day hold-up, though it’s possible that you may have to wait longer for the status to change.

Reasons You’re Seeing This Message

Your package went on a later flight. Many packages travel via plane to reach their final destination—but when there are a lot of packages to process, your parcel might find itself on a later flight. In the meantime, a vague “origin post is preparing shipment” label gets stuck to your package.

There was an issue with the pallet your package was attached to. During shipment, your package will likely be condensed with other packages in a larger pallet. If something goes wrong with the pallet (e.g., the packaging becomes unsecure), the packages in the pallet will be delayed (with the “origin post is preparing shipment” label attached to it).

USPS didn’t scan your package when it first arrived. USPS employees work super hard to field tons of packages on a daily basis, and a few sometimes slip through the cracks in terms of scanning. There’s a chance that your package could be moving through transit as normal, but the scanning system just doesn’t reflect that.

There were general delays in transit. There’s a chance that the transportation used to move your package along ran into some sort of delay, like poor weather or maintenance issues. This can stick your package into a frustrating point of limbo.

What to Do Next

Call USPS at 1-800-275-8777. Make sure that you have your tracking number on hand when you make the call, so you can get assistance with your specific package. Alternative: Paste your tracking number onto this webpage to send the USPS customer service team an email about your order. If you’re having an issue with a non-USPS order, find the contact information for the origin courier of your package to make an inquiry.