Black Friday 2025 is shattering sales records and straining delivery networks to their limits. U.S. holiday retail sales are expected to surpass $1 trillion in 2025(news-journalonline.com), with millions of eager shoppers clicking “Buy Now” on irresistible Black Friday deals.
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But for many, the thrill of a scored deal is quickly replaced by anxiety and frustration as packages go missing, shipments get delayed, or boxes arrive damaged (if they arrive at all). Peak shopping season has a dark side: overwhelmed carriers, porch pirates, and plenty of customer horror stories.
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Let’s unpack what Black Friday 2025 looks like beyond the checkout page, the good, the bad, and the delivery ugly.
Unprecedented online sales = unprecedented shipping chaos. In other words: a record number of orders in 2025 means a record number of things can go wrong between checkout and delivery.
The convenience of online Black Friday shopping means carriers like FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Amazon’s own network are inundated with packages. Shipping is slower during Black Friday because carriers face overwhelming order volumes, labor shortages, and seasonal delays(retainful.com). Even major delivery companies with generally good performance struggle when volume spikes by 30%+ above normal in the holiday rush.
Delivery delays of 2-7 days for domestic orders are typical during Black Friday week(retainful.com), and international shipments can take even longer.
Reddit users across various communities confirm that 2025 is no exception.
As one user plainly put it, “It’s the holiday season and this is to be expected.”Carriers’ networks get overwhelmed, sorting hubs back up with trailers full of boxes, and “something somewhere along the supply chain [breaks] down”(reddit.com) leaving customers in the dark about their orders.
So, what kinds of delivery problems are people actually facing this Black Friday? Let’s hear it straight from the shoppers themselves since they have taken to Reddit to vent about their Black Friday delivery fiascos.
Here are direct quotes from users who’ve endured everything from weeks-long shipping delays to stolen packages, real voices that highlight what can go wrong after you score that bargain.
1. Long Shipping Delays
Many shoppers report packages sitting in transit for weeks with little to no tracking updates.
“My FedEx package is delayed shipping from east to west coast… It’s been two weeks, and I have no idea what is going on.”
Others describe orders stalling in distribution hubs for days:
“My order sat in California for a week before it moved.”
“Stuck in Austell for days… ‘out for delivery’ yesterday but never came. Didn’t arrive today either. It was MIA for over a week lol.”
And in remote areas like Hawaii, delays are even worse:
“Expect super long ship times, 20 days+. I just waited 6 weeks for my last order.”
2. Stuck on ‘Out for Delivery’
Some packages reach the local truck… and then mysteriously stay there.
“I’m in Tallahassee. My package was out for delivery for almost 2 weeks… supposed to be delivered 12/5, I finally got it 12/17.”
Others lose entire days waiting for a delivery window that keeps changing:
“Estimated between 10–2. It’s 4:35, and now it says ‘will update when it starts moving.’ Just tell me when it’s coming so I don’t waste 2 days waiting.”
The emotional roller-coaster of watching tracking flip between Out for Delivery and Delayed is a common theme.
3. Lost or Misdelivered Packages
One of the most frustrating scenarios: tracking shows delivered, but the doorstep is empty.
“I ordered 10 items. One package arrived, the other two still showed at the facility… yet emails say all three were delivered. How do three packages go missing on three different days?”
Another user shared:
“I got 1 out of 6 items. The rest were never packed or lost/stolen. I got refunded but I’m hesitant to order online anymore.”
Black Friday hauls sometimes vanish without a trace.
4. Porch Piracy & Theft
Even when carriers deliver on time, packages aren’t always safe.
“FedEx drivers are dumping packages and marking them delivered. Good luck.”
With over 1.7 million packages stolen daily in the U.S., Black Friday deliveries become especially vulnerable as boxes pile up on porches in plain sight.
5. Multi-Carrier Tracking Nightmares
Hybrid shipping services often lead to confusion and finger-pointing.
“Shipped by UPS, handed off to USPS… UPS can’t help because USPS has it, USPS has no updates… everyone tells me to file a claim with someone else.”
The result? No one takes responsibility for the lost package.
6. Customer Service Meltdowns
When things go wrong, customer service should help, but many Redditors say otherwise.
“Call CS every day, no help. They just apologize, but nothing gets solved.”
“Tracking never updated. I didn’t cancel, but the retailer refunded it anyway.”
Some shoppers end up resorting to chargebacks or insurance claims just to get their money back.
Why do so many packages go missing, arrive late, or get lost in transit during Black Friday? Based on thousands of Reddit posts and broader shipping data, several patterns come up again and again.
1. Overwhelmed Carriers & Systemwide Delays
Black Friday and Cyber Monday push shipping networks beyond capacity. High order volumes, limited staffing, weather disruptions, and bottlenecked hubs create massive slowdowns.
“We deliver 99% of our local load on time… but our on-time metric was 93% because 7% of stops were delayed in Memphis.” FedEx employee on Reddit
Major hubs like FedEx Memphis or UPS Louisville often clog, causing cascading delays across the country. What normally ships in 2–3 days may take 10+ days during late November.
2. Last-Mile Delivery Failures
The journey from the local depot to your doorstep is where many problems happen, driver overload, scanning errors, address confusion, or simple human mistakes.
“Contract drivers couldn’t find the address… the package bounced between facilities for days.”
Some users report drivers marking deliveries that never happened, while others miss packages because signatures are required.
“Just tell me when it will be here so I can plan… not waste two days waiting.”
The last mile is often the most unpredictable.
3. Porch Piracy at Peak Season
Holiday season is prime time for package theft. With millions of boxes delivered daily, porch pirates know high-value items are easy targets.
Over 1.7 million packages are stolen every single day in the U.S., and the problem spikes between Black Friday and Christmas.
Some Redditors shared losing multiple packages in a week, leaving them hesitant to order online again without an alternate delivery solution.
4. Shipping Errors & Lost Packages
With unprecedented holiday volume and temporary staff, mistakes multiply. Labels get damaged, boxes go to the wrong city, or shipments sit in warehouses unscanned for days.
“It was on the van but went on the wrong van… now it’s been sitting in the warehouse for almost a week with no scans.”
Others received boxes containing someone else’s items or only partial orders. When warehouses are overwhelmed, accuracy plummets.
5. Slow Economy Shipping Delays
Free or economy shipping, popular during Black Friday, often means hybrid services like UPS SurePost or FedEx SmartPost, which hand off to USPS.
These options can take weeks, not days.
“Cheapest shipping can take about a month.”
“Can’t beat free… but next time I’m paying more for faster shipping.”
What’s advertised as 5-7 business days can easily stretch to 2-3 weeks during holiday volume surges.
6. Customer Service Breakdowns
When a package disappears, retailers and carriers are often overwhelmed with inquiries. Many users describe long waits, unhelpful responses, or inconsistent updates.
“CS apologized every day but nothing ever got solved.”
While most major retailers eventually refund or replace lost orders, it’s frustrating, especially when the item was limited stock or needed for an upcoming event.
Knowing the seller’s refund window and claim process becomes crucial during the holiday season.
High volume + staffing shortages + weather + human error + theft + slow shipping tiers = the Black Friday delivery nightmare many shoppers face each year.
So, how can you as a shopper avoid these pitfalls?
After reading through these threads, one recurring question stands out:
“How do I make sure this doesn’t happen again?”
To answer that, the next section breaks down the root causes behind these delivery issues,and the most practical ways to avoid them during the Black Friday rush.
Scoring a great deal is exciting, getting it delivered is the real win. Here are the most effective ways to avoid the delivery disasters that peak season often brings.
1. Consider Faster or Premium Shipping
If timing matters (especially for gifts), upgrading from economy shipping can prevent long delays. Carriers prioritize expedited tiers, and many shoppers learn the hard way that free 20-day shipping often means weeks of anxiety.
Check retailers’ holiday shipping deadlines, ordering after those dates with budget shipping almost guarantees delays.
2. Use Secure Pickup Options (Including Stowfly)
Protect your packages from theft or missed deliveries by sending them somewhere safe. Options include:
Stowfly removes the risk of porch piracy and eliminates waiting at home for signature-required items, perfect for Black Friday chaos.
Learn how to avoid Black Friday 2025 shipping chaos with package receiving services here.
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3. Track Your Packages & Set Alerts
Sign up for carrier text/email alerts so you know the moment your package moves (or stalls). If it hasn’t updated for several days, contact the seller or carrier to initiate a trace.
Apps like Parcel, AfterShip, or official carrier apps help you monitor all deliveries in one place, knowledge speeds up resolutions.
4. Plan Ahead for Gift Deliveries
Peak season delays happen, even when everything is done right. Order gifts early, keep a buffer, and consider having a small backup ready. One shopper reported a Black Friday order arriving December 24th,the ultimate close call.
If shipping directly to recipients, do so only when confident in timing; otherwise, receive it yourself first.
5. Use Store Pickup to Skip Shipping Delays
Many stores offer Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) or curbside pickup. If an item is in stock locally, you can avoid carrier delays entirely and pick it up within hours or days. Sometimes waiting in a short in-store line beats waiting weeks for a wandering package.
6. Insure High-Value Purchases
For big-ticket items (electronics, jewelry, luxury goods), ensure proper shipping insurance is included. Standard carrier coverage may not protect expensive purchases. Insurance won’t prevent loss, but it definitely eases the claims process.
7. Be Polite but Persistent With Customer Service
If a package is missing, file a claim with the seller (and the carrier when possible). Provide tracking details and ask for an investigation once the delivery window has passed.
Retailers often offer refunds or replacements, but polite persistence helps speed things along.
With a bit of planning and the right delivery strategy, you can avoid most Black Friday shipping headaches. Now that your deliveries are covered, let’s get to the fun part, the best last-minute Black Friday 2025 deals trending across the U.S.- explore our category guide for more details.