# Send Email Notifications for Delayed Deliveries 8 min setup No coding required Runs automatically Proactively address shipping delays by notifying customers if their package hasn't arrived. This MESA workflow template sends an automated email after 20 days if a package remains undelivered, providing customers with a status update and reassurance. The timeframe is fully configurable to suit your needs, helping you manage customer expectations and reduce support inquiries by keeping them informed throughout the delivery process. ## How it works 7 steps to get email notifications when packages take longer than expected to deliver ### Fulfillment Status is In Transit App connector: [Tracktor](/content/apps/tracktor/integrate "View Tracktor integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 0 minutes (Auto-configured) **Why this matters:** This trigger activates the workflow whenever a package enters "in transit" status, establishing the starting point for tracking delivery timeframes. This step automatically monitors all fulfillments in your store and triggers when Tracktor detects a package has moved into transit status. No configuration is needed - the system will detect this status change across all your shipments and begin the delay countdown. When triggered, it passes the fulfillment ID and tracking details to the next step for processing. ### Delay App connector: [Delay](/content/apps/delay/integrate "View Delay integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 1 minute **Why this matters:** This creates the waiting period that defines when a delivery becomes "delayed" - without this pause, notifications would send immediately when packages ship. Set how many days to wait before considering a package overdue by entering a number in the "How many days would you like to wait?" field. The default is set to 20 days, which works well for most shipping methods including international deliveries. The delay runs in the background and automatically proceeds to the next step only after the specified time period has passed. ### Retrieve Fulfillment App connector: [Tracktor](/content/apps/tracktor/integrate "View Tracktor integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 0 minutes (Auto-configured) **Why this matters:** This step fetches the current tracking status to verify the package still hasn't been delivered before sending a notification email. The workflow automatically retrieves updated fulfillment information using the original fulfillment ID from the trigger. This includes the latest tracking status, delivery confirmation, and current package location. No configuration is required - it pulls fresh data to ensure accuracy before proceeding with notifications. ### Filter: Confirm Still Undelivered App connector: [Filter](/content/apps/filter/integrate "View Filter integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 0 minutes (Auto-configured) **Why this matters:** This prevents sending unnecessary emails by checking if the package was actually delivered during the delay period. The filter automatically compares the current package status against "delivered" to confirm the package is still undelivered. If the package was delivered during the waiting period, the workflow stops here and no email is sent. Only packages that remain undelivered after the delay period continue to the next steps. ### Retrieve Order App connector: [Tracktor](/content/apps/tracktor/integrate "View Tracktor integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 0 minutes (Auto-configured) **Why this matters:** This gathers customer contact information and order details needed to personalize the delay notification email. The workflow automatically fetches order information including the customer's email address, full name, order number, and purchased items. This data comes from the original order associated with the delayed fulfillment. The retrieved information feeds directly into the email template to create personalized customer communications. ### Retrieve Shop App connector: [Shopify](/content/apps/shopify/integrate "View Shopify integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 0 minutes (Auto-configured) **Why this matters:** This pulls your store name to sign the notification email, making it appear as an official communication from your business. This step automatically retrieves your shop's name and details to include in the email signature. This ensures customers receive notifications that clearly identify your store as the sender. The shop name appears at the bottom of the email template in the sign-off line. ### Send Email App connector: [Email](/content/apps/email/integrate "View Email integration page"/index.html) • Time to complete: 2 minutes **Why this matters:** This delivers the actual notification to customers, keeping them informed about their delayed package and maintaining trust through proactive communication. This step sends a personalized email to the customer using their order email address with the subject line "Sorry your package is taking so long!" The email body includes their name, order number, list of delayed items, tracking URL, and your store's contact information. You can customize the email subject and message content to match your brand voice and customer communication style. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I send different delay notifications for different shipping methods? Currently, this template uses one delay period for all shipments. To customize by shipping method, you'd need to add filter conditions that check the shipping service name and route to different delay periods accordingly. ### What happens if a customer's email address is invalid or they don't receive the notification? The email step will log delivery failures, but the workflow doesn't include retry logic. Consider adding your customer service email as a BCC recipient to track which notifications might not reach customers. ### Will this send multiple emails if I have several delayed packages in the same order? Yes, since this triggers per fulfillment, customers could receive separate delay notifications for each delayed package in their order. If you prefer one email per order regardless of fulfillment count, you'd need to add logic to group by order ID first. ## Make this template your own! Customize this workflow even further: Set custom delay periods Adjust the delay duration based on shipping methods - use 7 days for domestic express, 14 days for standard shipping, or 30 days for international orders. Add order value conditions Filter notifications to only send for high-value orders above a certain threshold, focusing your customer service efforts where they matter most. Connect to customer service tools Link this workflow to Help Scout or Zendesk to automatically create support tickets for delayed packages, giving your team visibility into potential customer concerns. Store delay data in tables Save delayed shipment information to track patterns, identify problematic carriers, and measure delivery performance across different shipping methods. ## You're in good company Avg. App Store rating 4.9/5 Merchant reviews 157 Avg. time saved per week 3.5 hrs "MESA has been a game changer for us. And, if you ever get stuck, their support team is always super helpful." - - - - - **PetFriendly** "It's like Zapier but exactly designed for Shopify. I have been able to complete all the workflows that I've needed." - - - - - **Zailys** "The MESA team has been amazing at helping us set up our automations. We would highly recommend this app!" - - - - - **Rothy's**