Buyers please shop pro-actively.  Allow time between your purchase and “need by” date.   This seller works a full time job.   It is rare for me to ship the same day that an order is placed.  Once I release your package to the shipping company, I lose control over how much time will elapse until your package arrives.   Shipping companies do their best; but, their performance can be impacted by several factors.   The sheer volume of packages they need to move goes up dramatically at certain times of year.  Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Mother’s Day are especially likely to cause a spike in volume of packages being sent.   Like all employers, shipping carriers may experience staffing shortages.  While it is not often, there can be routing errors which cause a package to take a scenic route between the shipment origin and destination.  While we don’t like to think about it, accidents involving delivery vehicles can happen.   Severe weather can also cause delays.   I know that I have been impacted in the past by blizzards and ice storms.   Not often; but, there are times when we are told (by State Police Authority) to stay off the roads because it is simply not safe to drive.   As a seller, I do my very best for getting shipments out the door in a timely manner; but, I also like to take my time packing a shipment so the item has a good chance of arriving in excellent condition.    THANK YOU for reading this and understanding a little more about the selling / shipping side of the transaction.   As a buyer, you can reduce your anxiety about receiving an item by simply allowing time between your purchase and “need by” date.