When a delivery fails or a parcel is returned: what happens next
Not every delivery succeeds on the first try. The recipient may be away, the address may be unclear, or the order may be cancelled. This guide explains the steps recorded in MIK Express when a delivery does not go to plan, so you know what to expect and what to check.
Published by MIK Express · Last updated: 7 November 2026
A delivery attempt that is not completed
If the courier tries to deliver but cannot complete it, the order is recorded as Delivery attempted. That status means a delivery was attempted but not completed, and the reason is added to the order history.
A reschedule records an arranged date for another attempt. Your order history shows the steps actually recorded for your shipment, so check it before contacting anyone.
Why deliveries fail, and how to prevent it
Most failed deliveries have simple causes, and most are preventable:
- The recipient did not answer the phone: confirm the number with the customer before you ship.
- The address could not be found: add the building, floor and a landmark.
- Nobody was there to receive it: agree a time with the customer when you confirm the order.
- For cash on delivery, the customer did not have the right amount: remind them of the total in your confirmation message.
When a parcel is returned to the merchant
If an order cannot be delivered, it can be returned to you. A return follows its own journey, with its own statuses:
- Pending return
- Collected for return
- Return in central warehouse
- Return out for delivery to merchant
- Return delivered to merchant
Returned on its own does not confirm that the parcel is back with the merchant. The return history shows the recorded outcome.
Cancelled orders
Cancelled means the order’s delivery workflow has been stopped. Check the order history or contact the team for the recorded reason.
What a merchant should do
Check the order history first: it shows the recorded steps and when they happened. If the history does not explain the situation, contact the delivery company with the tracking reference and the customer’s name and phone number. Keep your own record of what you told the customer.
What each delivery status means · Delivery for online stores · Contact the team
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