What’s Behind Delivery Delays? Lessons from Chinese Amazon Sellers
- 02/04/2019
- Posted by: Charles.YANG
- Category: Industry Insights
The global pharmaceutical and medical device industries have long adhered to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). But recent shifts in how the U.S. FDA conducts international inspections have raised the bar—especially for Asian manufacturers exporting to Europe or North America.
At Eddso, we’ve seen a growing number of clients struggle with regulatory compliance not because their products are bad, but because their documentation, traceability, and audit readiness fall short of evolving expectations.
Common Delivery Myths (and Truths)
At Eddso, we’ve conducted dozens of delivery performance investigations for Chinese suppliers. Here’s what we found:
- Myth #1: “They ship late.”
Truth: In 70% of cases, the delay happened before the goods left the factory—due to raw material shortages, tooling delays, or missed approvals. - Myth #2: “The freight forwarder caused it.”
Truth: Often, the issue is inaccurate lead-time estimation. The factory never confirmed the goods were ready before booking. - Myth #3: “It’s a customs problem.”
Truth: Customs delays are rare. More often, poor documentation or incorrect HS codes trigger clearance issues.
What Amazon Sellers Should Track (But Often Don’t)
- Order acknowledgement delay (How long before the supplier confirms your PO?)
- Material readiness lag (Are raw materials pre-stocked or JIT?)
- Production calendar transparency (Is your order slotted or waitlisted?)
- Final QC sign-off window (Can you verify before packing begins?)
- Buffer built into booking & sailing schedules
Most SMEs rely on WeChat chats or email chains—none of which build a traceable delivery trail.
Eddso’s SO1: OTD Evaluation Framework
Our SO1: On-Time Delivery Performance service helps clients visualize delays through:
- Historical delivery records matched to planned schedules
- Root-cause coding system for delays (supplier vs. forwarder vs. buyer)
- Communication timeline mapping to spot bottlenecks
- Supplier scorecards with OTD %, lead-time variation, and improvement actions
- Clear SLA framework (acknowledgement time, freeze window, response time)
Pro Tips for Amazon SMEs
- Track acknowledgement time—not just shipment date
- Create a simple delay log(Excel works if shared live)
- Use delivery heatmaps—visualizing delays over months reveals supplier trends
- Don’t rely on goodwill—build in process milestones
“Speed is not a feature—it’s a system.”
— Charles.YANG