We recently started using Shopify shipping instead of stamps.com for many of our outgoing packages. Now customers are complaining that their packages have been delayed, and the USPS tracking for Ground Advantage shows “Delayed for postage assessment” and no movement for several days. Three to five days later, the package shows “item in transit to destination.” Our customers are irate about the longer delivery time. I called the USPS and they said that they occasionally pull packages to make sure that the correct amount has been paid and we did not do anything incorrectly; but in the last week, we had about 10 packages with this status. We never saw this when we purchased postage from the other provider so it almost seems they are targeting packages with postage from certain platforms. Is anyone else experiencing this? It is already so hard as a small business!
Topic summary
Multiple merchants report USPS packages being flagged as “Delayed for postage assessment,” causing significant delivery delays—sometimes 3x longer than normal. The issue primarily affects USPS Ground Advantage shipments purchased through Shopify Shipping, with packages often rerouted to Columbus, Ohio regardless of destination.
Key Details:
- Merchants report 10-13 packages affected per business
- Delays started late March through late April 2025
- Packages eventually deliver but take 7-14 days instead of 2-3 days
- Priority Mail appears unaffected
Conflicting Information:
- One USPS Territory Executive claimed “parcels are flagged because the USPS had yet to receive payment” from Shopify
- However, other USPS reps say this is routine postage verification
- Similar issues reported across Etsy, eBay, and other platforms—suggesting a broader USPS Ground Advantage problem, not Shopify-specific
Merchant Response:
- Many switched back to Stamps.com or removed Ground Advantage as a shipping option
- Some shipping replacements via UPS to satisfy angry customers
- Shopify support only confirmed delays would occur during assessment
Status: Ongoing issue with no clear resolution timeline, though one USPS business rep indicated it “should be resolved shortly.”
I’m having the same issue. I’ve removed USPS Ground Advantage as a shipping option for future orders, but this doesn’t help my current customers. If the packages aren’t delivered soon, I will start shipping replacement orders via UPS.
Thanks for the reply. When did you notice this issue? It just started for in the last 1.5 weeks…
We had 13 from April 28 ours were all Priority! uhg!!
How do you purchase your postage? Is it through Shopify shipping or another service?
shopify
Hi, Shopify Labels..
My Regional USPS business REP has pretty much confirmed this is an issue
and should be resolved shortly.
My problems started on March 26th. All affected shipments were USPS Ground Advantage and purchased through Shopify.
I am having the same issue with all shipments with a postal date of April 27. All orders with Ground Advantage. Priority mail is fine and delivered already at this point. Very frustrating to deal with and damage control. Seems like a USPS-wide issue since within a week since it was just posted about now.
We are experiencing this as well with packages shipped out April 24th, 4 out of 10 packages were routed to Columbus, Ohio no where near where they are supposed to be shipped to showing Delayed for postage assessment, Item in transit to destination.
Yes, ours ended up in Columbus as well! And Ohio is quite a detour!
We are going to use stamps.com until shopify does something.
I am surprised a SHOPIFY rep has not replied here yet.
We contacted Shopify; they were only able to tell us that “shipments in this state will be delayed as they are assessed by USPS” but will eventually be delivered.
Not super helpful..
Yeah, we ended up returning to stamps.com as well
We were just told by a USPS rep that this is happening because USPS has not been paid for postage from SHOPIFY.
"Ron,
I understand your frustration. I spoke with the Consumer Affairs Manager and the Plant Management. They have seen an influx of issues like yours.
Plant Management states that the parcels are flagged because the USPS had yet to receive payment. Contact Shopify to know what issues they’re having."
I’ll keep you posted on any additional information I receive.
Michael T
Territory Executive
US Postal Service
I’m having the same issue right now
13 days in transit so far, held for “postage assessment”…did Shopify really not pay the post office???
I am having the same issue. repeatedly. right now I have a package sitting for almost 2 weeks. it weighs just 1 lb and is traveling only about 60 miles within the state! wtf is going on? I’ve had many understandably irate customers…demanding money back or a new package to be sent. costing me money, hurting my brand.
After shipping replacement items with a different carrier or issuing refunds, I decided to remove USPS Ground Advantage as an option. UPS Ground and Priority Mail don’t have the constant delivery problems of Ground Advantage. Despite the increased cost, my customers seem happy with the service.
I thought this might be a problem specific to labels purchased through Shopify, but a quick Google search shows otherwise. This service from USPS is just terrible.
I’m having same issue I’ve been shipping all week usps and nothing then one package has gotten this flag delayed because waiting for payment when it’s already paid already and there’s nothing to do about it. USPS tells me to talk to Shopify and Shopify is telling me to talk to usps very frustrating.
Has anyone’s packages ended up being delivered? If so how long did it take?