Partial shipping
Partial shipping
E-commerce
Fulfilling one order in more than one shipment, for example when some items are out of stock.
What is Partial shipping?
Partial shipping, also called split shipment, sends the items that are ready now and ships the rest later. It happens when part of an order is backordered, when items ship from different warehouses or when a preorder is mixed with in-stock products.
Communicate clearly. Customers should know which items are on the way, which are coming later and whether they will be charged extra. Each shipment needs its own tracking, and the order stays open until everything has shipped. Splitting orders can raise shipping costs, so many stores set rules for when to split and when to wait.
Example
For example, a customer orders three items, and one is backordered for two weeks. The store ships the two available items today with tracking, and the third later in a second package, at no extra cost to the customer.
Why Partial shipping Matters
Shipping what you can right away keeps customers happy, as long as they know exactly what to expect.
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