# How to Avoid Parcel Delivery Delays: The Best Time to Order

When ordering online, we often assume that if a webshop promises delivery within two or three working days, the parcel will definitely arrive within that time. However, during certain periods of the year, the volume handled by logistics networks can multiply in just a few days. When this happens, even a minor disruption can quickly affect the entire delivery process.

So, when should you place your order, and during which periods should you expect longer delivery times?

## **When does parcel volume increase the most?**

The busiest period clearly runs from the second half of November until Christmas. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, seasonal promotions and Christmas shopping generate enormous parcel volumes within a short time. Although courier companies prepare for this surge, the capacity of warehouses, sorting centres, vehicles and delivery staff cannot be increased indefinitely.

The busiest periods typically include:

*   11 November and the days around Black Friday;
    
*   the two weeks following Black Friday;
    
*   the final 10–14 days before Christmas;
    
*   the period between Christmas and New Year, followed by early January, when exchanges and returns increase;
    
*   the days before Easter and other long weekends;
    
*   the back-to-school period, especially late August and early September;
    
*   major national and international online sales campaigns.
    

A rise in parcel volume does not necessarily mean that every delivery will be late. However, the risk of congestion and delays of 24–48 hours increases significantly. DHL also recommends allowing more time during peak periods, as high shipment volumes can create bottlenecks across logistics networks.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/uploads/covers/697c724c45ff07a2c20c0f5c/3810ec2c-48be-43c0-bc5b-e90d08680349.png align="center")

## **When should you place your order?**

If you need a parcel for a specific occasion, do not plan solely around the webshop’s best-case delivery estimate.

During normal periods, it is advisable to leave at least two or three additional working days. Around Christmas, Black Friday and other major sales events, place your order seven to ten working days in advance. For international parcels—especially those shipped from outside the EU—allowing a safety margin of two or even three weeks may be sensible.

If possible, avoid ordering on the final day of a promotion. At that point, the courier network may not be the only part of the process under pressure. The webshop itself may also be dealing with a backlog. A product may be in stock, yet the retailer might need several days to prepare and hand it over to the delivery company.

It is also worth checking whether the displayed timeframe refers to the expected delivery date or merely the expected dispatch date. There can be several days’ difference between the two.

## **What are the most common causes of delivery delays?**

Delays are not always caused by one major incident. More often, several smaller disruptions add up.

**Overloaded warehouses and sorting centres.** When several times the usual parcel volume arrives within a short period, processing and forwarding shipments can take longer.

**Incorrect or incomplete address details.** A wrong postcode, missing floor or door number, or an incorrect phone number can prevent the parcel from being assigned to the right delivery route. FedEx also identifies inaccurate addresses and incomplete information as common causes of delays.

**Unsuccessful delivery attempts.** If the recipient is not at home, cannot be reached by phone or the courier cannot access the building, another delivery attempt must be arranged.

**Traffic, road closures and severe weather.** Congestion, accidents, snow, freezing rain and storms can disrupt not only the final delivery stage but also transport between cities and logistics hubs.

**Limited staff or vehicle capacity.** During peak periods, there may simply not be enough couriers and vehicles available to deliver every parcel on schedule.

**Customs clearance issues.** For orders arriving from outside the EU, missing documentation, an inaccurate description of the contents or unresolved customs duties and taxes can hold up the shipment.

**Technical problems.** A temporary outage affecting a logistics platform, label-printing system or data connection can slow down the processing of thousands of parcels within a short time.

## **You can also help your parcel arrive on time**

Before placing an order, check your address and phone number carefully, monitor the shipment status and choose a delivery method that fits your schedule. If you know that you will not be at home during the day, a parcel locker, pickup point or preselected evening delivery window may be a more practical option.

The final few hundred metres are an especially sensitive part of the delivery process. This is where flexible solutions such as TOURMIX’s hybrid delivery model can help. By combining community-based and professional courier capacity, TOURMIX can also provide evening and weekend delivery options in Budapest. This can be particularly useful when conventional daytime delivery is difficult to fit into the recipient’s schedule.

The most important rule is simple: if a parcel absolutely needs to arrive by a specific date, do not place the order at the last possible moment. During the busiest weeks of the year, allowing just a few extra days can save you considerable inconvenience.