Workflow

7 AliExpress Tracking Statuses That Mean 'Shipped' for eBay Dropshippers

Manually checking AliExpress order statuses is a time sink. For eBay dropshippers, the goal is often to update an eBay order to 'Shipped' as soon as the AliExpress supplier has actually dispatched the item. But AliExpress's logistics_status field has many values, and not all of them mean your item is truly on its way.

This guide identifies the seven specific logistics_status values from AliExpress that reliably indicate an order has been shipped and is in transit. Mapping these correctly in your Google Sheet with Fetch Order Tracking ensures your eBay orders are updated promptly and accurately, without false positives or unnecessary delays.

The Problem with Ambiguous 'Shipped' Statuses

Many dropshippers incorrectly map a broad range of AliExpress statuses to 'Shipped'. This can lead to issues:

• Premature 'Shipped' updates: Updating an eBay order to 'Shipped' when the item hasn't actually left the supplier's facility can create customer confusion if tracking information isn't immediately available or shows 'label created, not yet in system'.
• Delayed 'Shipped' updates: Waiting too long for an overly specific status means your eBay customers are left in the dark for longer than necessary.
• Refund complications: Understanding when an item is truly in transit versus stuck in processing is critical for managing refund requests, especially for 'item not received' cases.

The solution is to use a precise set of logistics_status values that confirm physical movement of the package.

The 7 AliExpress Statuses for 'Shipped'

Fetch Order Tracking pulls the logistics_status directly from AliExpress. Here are the seven values you should map to 'Shipped' in your Google Sheet. These indicate that the package has been handed over to the carrier and is actively moving through the shipping network.

1. WAIT_BUYER_ACCEPT_GOODS: This is the most common and definitive status indicating the item has shipped and is now in transit, awaiting customer receipt. The order_status will typically be BUYER_ACCEPT_GOODS when this logistics_status is active.
2. SELLER_SEND_GOODS: While this can sometimes appear early, it often indicates the seller has physically handed over the package to the carrier, especially when followed quickly by tracking updates. Use this with caution, but it's generally safe to consider 'Shipped' if it persists.
3. TRANSPORT_PARTIAL_DELIVERY: This status indicates that some items in a multi-item order have been delivered, implying the others are still in transit and thus 'Shipped'.
4. TRANSPORT_DELIVERY_FAILED: If a delivery attempt failed, it means the item was shipped and reached the destination country, making it a 'Shipped' status.
5. TRANSPORT_DELIVERY_SUCCESS: Obviously, if delivery was successful, the item was shipped. While your eBay order might move to 'Delivered' at this point, it was 'Shipped' long before.
6. TRANSPORT_CLOSED: This status typically means the tracking has concluded, usually after delivery or a long period of transit. It signifies the item was shipped.
7. TRANSPORT_WAIT_RECEIVE: Similar to WAIT_BUYER_ACCEPT_GOODS, this explicitly states the package is in transit and awaiting receipt by the buyer.

Focusing on these seven logistics_status values provides a robust and accurate definition of 'Shipped' for your eBay orders, balancing prompt updates with factual accuracy.

Statuses to AVOID Mapping to 'Shipped'

There are several logistics_status values that might seem like they mean 'Shipped' but actually indicate the order is still in processing or has encountered an issue before true dispatch. Avoid mapping these to 'Shipped':

• WAIT_SELLER_SEND_GOODS: The seller hasn't shipped yet.
• WAIT_SELLER_CONFIRM_SEND: The seller needs to confirm shipment.
• SELLER_DELIVER_GOODS: This is a rare status and often indicates a local delivery by the seller, not a carrier.
• TRANSPORT_CANCEL: The shipment has been canceled.
• TRANSPORT_RETURNED: The item was returned to the sender.
• TRANSPORT_REACH_DESTINATION: While the item has reached the destination, it might not be in transit to the customer yet (e.g., stuck in customs). It's safer to wait for WAIT_BUYER_ACCEPT_GOODS.

Implementing in Your Fetch Order Tracking Sheet

In your Fetch Order Tracking Google Sheet, you'll have a column for logistics_status. You can use a formula to check if the value in this column matches any of the seven 'Shipped' statuses and then update your eBay order status column accordingly.

For example, if your logistics_status is in column K and your eBay status in column L, you might use a formula like this (simplified for illustration; your actual sheet might have more complex logic):

=IF(OR(K2="WAIT_BUYER_ACCEPT_GOODS", K2="SELLER_SEND_GOODS", K2="TRANSPORT_PARTIAL_DELIVERY", K2="TRANSPORT_DELIVERY_FAILED", K2="TRANSPORT_DELIVERY_SUCCESS", K2="TRANSPORT_CLOSED", K2="TRANSPORT_WAIT_RECEIVE"), "Shipped", "Processing")

This allows for automated updates based on concrete data points from AliExpress.

Conclusion

By precisely defining 'Shipped' based on these seven AliExpress logistics_status values, you can significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of your eBay dropshipping operations. This reduces customer inquiries, streamlines your refund process, and ensures you're providing the most up-to-date information to your buyers. Spend less time manually verifying statuses and more time scaling your business.

To further automate and refine your tracking workflow, explore more features of Fetch Order Tracking at fetchordertracking.com.

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