Sender preparing item

What this status means

"Sender preparing item" means the sender has told Royal Mail that a parcel is on its way and has created the shipping label or tracking record. This is the very first stage of the journey. Royal Mail has the details electronically, but the parcel has usually not yet been handed over or scanned by Royal Mail. It is most likely still with the sender.

Is my package delayed?

No, this message by itself is normal. It is not an exception or a sign of a problem. It only becomes a concern if the line stays the same for longer than you would expect given what the seller told you about dispatch.

What happens next

Once the sender hands the parcel to Royal Mail or drops it off, it is scanned for the first time. The tracking history then moves on to a collection or acceptance update, followed by the usual sorting and transport stages. Until that first scan, the tracking will not change.

What you can do

• Wait and keep checking. The update depends on the sender passing the parcel on.
• If the line stays unchanged for longer than the seller's stated dispatch time, contact the seller first, as they hold the parcel.
• Have your tracking number and order details ready when you write to them.
• Contact Royal Mail only after the parcel has been scanned and then stops moving.