First, find out how late
Ask your supplier for a new ship date and a tracking number, not just an apology. A clear date tells you whether this is a small slip or a real gap.
Hi [name], our order [reference] was due on [date] and hasn't arrived. Could you let me know when it shipped or will ship, and share tracking if you have it? If some items are ready, could you send those now and the rest when they're done? Thank you.
Work out which products will run out
For each product on the late order, divide what you have on hand by what you sell a day. That's how many days you have left. Compare it with the new arrival date. Products that run out before the delivery need a plan. The rest can wait.
Ways to cover the gap
- Ask for a partial shipment of the products you'll run out of first.
- Ask for faster shipping on part of the order, and who pays for it.
- Order a small top-up from another supplier, if you have one.
- Slow sales gently on the products at risk: pause ads, and don't feature them in emails.
- Keep selling with clear dates. If you take preorders or backorders, tell customers when to expect them.
- Point people to alternatives on the product page if something does sell out.
Afterwards, fix the plan
- Update the supplier's lead time if deliveries keep running late.
- Raise safety stock on products from suppliers that are less reliable.
- Note when it happened. If the same supplier is late in the same month each year, plan for it.
How Posto helps
Posto sets an expected arrival date when you send an order and shows orders that are overdue, so a late delivery is visible the day it slips. Each product shows its days of cover, so you can see what will run out before the delivery lands. You can edit the order and email the supplier an update from Posto, and if part of the order arrives, receive what came and keep the rest open.