Shipping vs. Delivery: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between shipping and delivery is the point at which the product is transferred from the seller to the carrier, and the point at which it is received by the buyer.

Before we move to more differences, let’s first understand Shipping and Delivery:

  • Shipping: Shipping refers to the process of transporting goods from the seller to the buyer through a carrier or a shipping company.
  • Delivery: Delivery refers to the process of bringing the product from the carrier to the buyer’s doorstep.

Now, let’s get to Shipping vs Delivery:

Major differences between Shipping and Delivery

Shipping Delivery
Shipping refers to the movement of the product from the seller to the carrier. Delivery refers to the movement of the product from the carrier to the buyer.
Shipping is usually done by a third-party carrier, such as a courier company. Delivery can be done by the carrier or a third-party delivery service.
Shipping can take several days or even weeks, depending on the shipping method and distance. Delivery is typically faster and can take only a few hours to a few days.
Shipping fees are usually charged by the carrier or shipping company. Delivery fees are often included in the product price or charged separately by the carrier or delivery service.
Shipping involves preparing and packaging the product, printing a shipping label, and transferring the product to the carrier. Delivery involves the tracking and scheduling of the shipment, as well as the final delivery of the product.

So, these are the main differences between the entities.

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