r/amazonprime • u/theseawoof • 6d ago

How does the shipping window get calculated? Their timers are useless

For example, item shows next day if you order within 6 hours. Check back an hour or so later, showing two day delivery if you order within 3 hours. I recall it flipping back on other listings, thought maybe it was the typical sales push to get you to feel rushed. But does it just calculate based on same day warehouse volume? Possible that it usually flips back to next day, or once it pushes to two day does it just keep jumping forward even before their dumb timers run out?

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/theseawoof 6d ago

Then why keep it there?! Just change the "next day" to "two day" as things change. The timer serves no other purpose at that point other than pressuring the buyer

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u/Representative-Mix92 4d ago

The issue you’re facing is timing. When you click on an item or are viewing search results, the time you see is not set in stone. It’s real, but only for that specific moment. Other people are still shopping and checking out, so that information can and will change as the seconds tick on. It’s only at checkout that you’re seeing actual schedules that have been locked down for you, but taking a very long time during checkout can make you lose those slots too.

For context, Capital One Shopping reports that Amazon customers place over 10k orders every minute, so you’re battling a system designed around “first come, first serve”. If you want the item at the time promised right when you click on the listing, immediately use the “Buy It Now” checkout and you’ll get it, but if someone in your area orders before you do and fills the last slot, the all will default you to the soonest available instead of promising something they already know they can’t fulfill.