Tracking emails are typically sent out when a shipping label is printed and affixed to a package. This happens after an item on the order has finished processing and is ready to ship. (Keep in mind, though, if there are multiple items on your order, these items might clear processing at different times, or be shipped from different warehouses. In those cases, your order could ship in multiple packages and likely at different times. When that happens, you will receive a separate tracking email for each package).
These tracking emails will let you know which carrier will be handling your package, and they will include the carrier's assigned tracking number and/or a link to that carrier's website's information for your specific package. (Typically, we use FedEx, UPS, USPS, or one of their affiliates to ship packages). At the same time, the tracking email is sent to you, the chosen carrier is notified that the shipment is ready for pickup from the shipping warehouse (and they are notified as to which of the tracking numbers they had available at the time the label was printed was assigned to that particular shipment). Carriers usually go ahead and post that information on their website right away. So, in effect, they have the framework for your shipment, which you can see by logging into their website using the tracking number and/or link we sent you, but they don't yet have the actual package in their possession. Therefore, there will be no movement showing on the tracking information for some time.
Packages are batched after they receive their shipping labels. These batches of packages are then loaded onto the carrier's truck the next time one arrives at the shipping warehouse to pick up any packages that are ready to be shipped out. There is a minimum of one truck each business day for each carrier we use, and sometimes several trucks each business day for certain carriers, depending on the carrier and volume we are shipping through that carrier at that particular time of year. Even when everything is moving along according to plan, the time it takes for your package to be on the carrier's truck after the label is printed -- and after the tracking email is sent to you -- can vary from a few minutes to several hours. Several factors come into play in determining that time frame.
Additionally, different carriers (and even some divisions within an individual page), have different procedures as to when they first scan the labels on the packages they are handling for us. Some will scan the label when they load the package onto their truck at the shipping warehouse. Others will scan the label later when it arrives at their sorting and distribution warehouse...the package's first stop. Still, others will make the first scan when the package is sorted within their distribution warehouse. Whenever a carrier waits to scan the package until it arrives at the sorting and distribution warehouse, or whenever they wait to scan it as it is sorted within that distribution warehouse, that first scan conducted by the carrier can be as early as late afternoon and as late as early the next morning. A lot of that depends on the volume that particular page is experiencing at any given time. Carriers often work through the night, especially during their busy times of the year. Whenever that first scan is conducted by the carrier is when they start posting tracking movement entries to their website for your package.
As you can see, with all of these factors at play, there can be quite a bit of variation as to when you might first see movement on your package's shipment. Occasionally, though not often, tracking movement will not start showing up for 24 hours, or so, after the shipping label is created. We understand that it can be unnerving and/or frustrating when that happens and we appreciate your patience and understanding. If, however, it has been longer than 24 to 36 hours since you received your tracking email and there still is no tracking movement showing, please feel free to contact us and let us know. We will be glad to look into the matter for you. You can email us at support@grabagun.com or you can call and speak with one of our customer service representatives during normal business hours. Our phone lines here at Grabagun.com are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Central time, Excluding Major Holidays
Note: If it seems your package was moving along normally but then hit a stall of some sort, it is usually best to first contact the carrier directly to see if they can provide you with any insight as to the cause of the delay. They should have the latest information for any specific factors affecting your shipment, such as weather delays, etc., and they should be able to provide you with their current estimate of when your package will be delivered. If you are unable to get the information you need from the carrier, by all means, please contact us at that point.