Urgent delivery on Shein is a faster shipping option designed for customers who need their orders delivered more quickly than with standard shipping. It prioritises the processing and dispatch of your parcel, aiming to reduce the total time it takes to reach your doorstep. This option is often chosen when customers need items for a specific date or want to avoid delays during busy shopping periods.
How Urgent Delivery Works
When you select urgent delivery at checkout, Shein processes your order ahead of others in the queue. The warehouse picks, packs and hands off your items to a courier with a faster service level agreement. While the delivery itself isn’t immediate or same-day, it typically arrives a few days earlier than standard shipping. The exact timeframe depends on your location and the items in your basket, but it generally shortens the wait by several working days.
Shipping Time Compared to Standard Delivery
Standard delivery on Shein often takes between one and two weeks, depending on where the item is coming from. With urgent delivery, shipping times are usually reduced to around five to seven days, sometimes faster in larger cities or central locations. The difference is most noticeable during peak shopping periods when warehouse processing and courier capacity are stretched. Urgent delivery ensures your order avoids most of those delays.
Cost of Urgent Delivery on Shein
Choosing urgent delivery usually comes with an added cost. The amount varies depending on the order total, delivery location and any ongoing promotions. Sometimes, Shein offers free or discounted urgent delivery if your basket reaches a certain minimum spend. The charge is clearly shown at checkout, so you can decide whether the quicker turnaround is worth the extra fee.
How to Know if Urgent Delivery Is Available
Urgent delivery isn’t always offered for every order. Availability depends on the items selected, your location and the time of year. If the service is available, it will appear as a shipping option during checkout. Items that are sourced from international warehouses or sold through third-party suppliers may not be eligible for the faster option. The system automatically filters what’s available based on what you’re ordering.
Tracking and Delivery Updates
Once your parcel is shipped using urgent delivery, tracking information is usually provided straight away. You can follow the parcel’s journey through Shein’s website or app, with updates as it passes through customs, local depots and onto final delivery. Notifications are often sent via email or SMS, depending on your preferences, keeping you informed at each stage of the process.
When Urgent Delivery Might Still Be Delayed
Although urgent delivery is designed to speed things up, it’s not immune to delays caused by weather, customs checks or courier issues. During major sales events or public holidays, even urgent orders may take slightly longer than expected. Shein usually informs customers if there are any disruptions affecting shipping times. Choosing urgent delivery gives your parcel priority, but no courier can guarantee perfect timing during every possible scenario.
Who Should Consider Using Urgent Delivery
Urgent delivery is best suited to shoppers who are ordering for a specific occasion or deadline. This could include holidays, birthdays, travel plans, or events where timing matters. If you’re relying on the parcel arriving within a certain window, urgent delivery offers the best chance of it arriving on time. It also appeals to frequent shoppers who value shorter wait times and want to avoid the uncertainty that sometimes comes with standard international shipping.
How Urgent Delivery Affects Customs and Import Times
Since many Shein orders are shipped from international warehouses, customs clearance is often part of the delivery process. Urgent delivery may include faster handling at certain checkpoints, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for customs inspection. Items may still be held temporarily if additional checks are required. However, parcels marked for urgent delivery are typically processed faster than standard ones, reducing the risk of long delays in customs.
Packaging and Handling Differences
Urgent orders are often packed and processed in a more streamlined way. Items are sometimes grouped more efficiently to speed up scanning and handling. This means that, in most cases, urgent delivery orders leave the warehouse sooner than standard ones. The outer packaging is the same, but what changes is the speed and priority assigned to the order internally within Shein’s logistics system.
Can You Change to Urgent Delivery After Ordering?
Once an order is placed, it’s usually not possible to upgrade to urgent delivery afterward. Shein begins processing orders shortly after they’re confirmed, which means shipping methods are locked in early. If you realise you need the item sooner, your best option is to cancel the original order (if it's still in the early processing stage) and place a new one using urgent delivery. This only works if the cancel button is still available — once an order has entered the shipping phase, changes are no longer possible.
Urgent Delivery vs Express Delivery
It’s worth noting that Shein sometimes lists both “Urgent” and “Express” delivery, depending on the region. In most cases, these terms are used interchangeably, but some countries may differentiate them based on speed or the courier used. Urgent delivery typically refers to the quickest available shipping option at the time of purchase, but checking the estimated delivery date at checkout is always the best way to confirm how long it will take.
Customer Support for Urgent Orders
If an urgent delivery hasn’t arrived on time, Shein customer service may offer compensation or credit, depending on the reason for the delay. They will usually ask you to wait until the estimated window has passed before raising a query. Having tracking details ready will help when contacting support, and any delivery issues are often resolved directly through Shein rather than the courier.
Summary
Urgent delivery on Shein offers a faster alternative to standard shipping, prioritising your order and aiming to reduce delivery time by several days. It’s useful for last-minute purchases or when you want added peace of mind that your items will arrive sooner. While there’s usually an extra cost involved, many find it worthwhile for the speed and reliability it adds to the shopping experience.