Quick Overview
Here are the key takeaways for understanding delivery timelines:
- An estimated dispatch date is based on current production and delivery timelines and is not guaranteed.
- Orders enter the production queue when payment, order confirmation, and team file checks are complete.
- Factors like large order quantities, finishes, public holidays, and delivery demand can affect timelines.
- If your order is time-sensitive, contact us in advance and allow extra time before your event or deadline.
- Tracking links provide updates to help you monitor progress.
How Delivery Timelines Work
When you enter your specifications into our Instant Quote Calculator for a free printing quote, it provides an estimated dispatch date based on current production and transit times. Estimates are shown in working days, are not guaranteed, and exclude weekends and public holidays.
What is an estimated dispatch date?
An estimated dispatch date indicates approximately when your order is expected to leave the production facility for delivery. It is not the final delivery date. They are available on the Instant Quote Calculator on every product page, in your shopping cart and your order’s Details tab.
Order Timeline At A Glance
Order timelines can change depending on file approval, production requirements, and delivery conditions.
- Quote Created: Choose specifications and upload files
- Order Confirmed: Review proof and complete payment
- Prepress Check: Files are reviewed by our team for technical and quality issues. If changes are identified and your order status changes to Paused, update the files and reconfirm your order or contact us to confirm you’d like to proceed without making the recommended changes.
- Production: Prepress, printing, finishing, binding, and packaging
- Order Handover: Tracking information becomes available
- In Transit: Handled by the delivery provider
- Delivered: Order arrives at the delivery address
Production Time vs Transit Time
Here is a comparison overview of production time vs transit time:
| Production Time | Transit Time | |
| Definition | Time needed to prepare and print an order | Time needed to deliver your order |
| Where does it start? | After payment, order confirmation and prepress checks are complete | The order leaves the production facility |
| What does it include? | Prepress checks, printing, finishing, trimming, binding and packaging | Initial pickup, transportation, regional sorting and delivery |
| What can affect it? | Product type, quantity, file issues, production speed, production facility order volume | Parcel volume, weather, customs, delivery demand |
Planning For Events and Deadlines
If your order is for an event, public holiday, or fixed deadline, we strongly recommend placing your order as early as possible and contacting us before placing it so we can help you plan accordingly.
Allow Extra Time for Important Dates
When planning your order, remember to factor in:
- production time
- transit time
- possible seasonal delays
- time for artwork adjustments or proof approval
For important deadlines, we recommend allowing additional business days or weeks between the estimated dispatch date and the actual event date.
Peak Season Planning
Production facilities and delivery providers experience higher order and parcel volumes during busy seasonal periods, especially during the lead-up to Yearbook season in May and June, and major public holidays in November and December.
During peak periods:
- production queues may increase
- delivery timelines may become longer
- tracking updates may appear less frequently
If you are ordering during peak season, place your order as early as possible and allow additional time for delivery.
Choosing Faster Production Options
The Best Value option reflects a standard production timeline. Priority options, when available, offer faster production for an additional cost. If your order is time-sensitive, consider selecting a faster production option before adding your quote to the cart.
Event Delivery Recommendations
We recommend avoiding event venues, hotels, conventions, or temporary locations as delivery addresses.
Some locations may:
- restrict delivery access
- refuse large shipments
- require scheduled delivery windows
- prevent curbside unloading
Where possible, use a residential or business address that can safely accept deliveries during working hours.
What affects estimated dispatch dates?
Several factors in the setup stage and before production can affect an estimated dispatch date.
File or Artwork Issues
When you upload files to your pending order’s Artwork tab, our system automatically checks them for technical and quality issues that could affect the printed result, such as low image resolution or missing bleed.
If potential issues are identified, you will see an on-screen notification with details and recommended fixes.
Pro tip: To reduce delays caused by file issues, review our Print File Setup Guide before uploading your artwork.
Order Confirmation Timing
Orders enter the production queue after:
- payment is complete
- the order is confirmed
- prepress checks are complete
Our daily cut-off time for confirmed orders is 4 PM GMT on working days.
An estimated dispatch date is based on when an order is originally created and may not automatically update if you return to the order later. Orders confirmed after the daily cut-off time will usually have an additional working day added to the timeline.
Pro tip: Confirm your order as soon as possible after reviewing your files, proof and making payment.
Production Speed Selected at Checkout
The Best Value production option reflects a standard production timeline. Priority options offer faster production for an additional cost.
If your order has a fixed deadline, we recommend selecting a faster production option before adding your quote to the cart.
Product Type and Quantity
The specifications selected on the Instant Quote Calculator will affect production timelines.
For example:
- bound books generally take longer to produce than flat products like flyers
- larger quantities require more production time
- laminations and special finishes may extend production timelines
Always review the estimated dispatch date before placing large, complex, or time-sensitive orders.
What happens after I confirm my order?
When prepress checks are complete and there are no outstanding file issues, we will send your order to one of our production facilities. When your order status changes to In Production, it means the order has entered the production queue.
Orders with unresolved file issues, pending approvals, or incomplete payment will not enter production until all requirements are complete.
What does order confirmation mean?
Confirming your order means you have:
- reviewed your files
- checked your downloadable proof
- paid for your order
- clicked the Yes, I Confirm button
After confirmation, our team performs final prepress checks before sending your files to production.
What is a paused order?
If our team identifies technical or quality issues during prepress checks, your order status will change to Paused.
A paused order means:
- the timeline has temporarily stopped, so action can be taken
- updated files or confirmation is required before it can move to production
You will receive an email explaining the issue and the recommended next steps. You can also view the update directly from your order page.
You can either:
- upload updated files and reconfirm the order
- contact us to approve production without making the recommended changes.
Pro tip: Check your Junk folder if you do not see email notifications in your inbox.
Can I edit my order after it's confirmed?
Confirmed orders can still be edited before production begins.
If you unconfirm a confirmed order to make changes, production may start later, and the original estimated dispatch date may change.
To edit your files:
- unconfirm the order
- upload updated artwork
- review the new proof
- reconfirm the order
To update specifications such as paper stock or lamination:
- go to the Artwork tab
- select Change Options
- update the specification
- select Update Order
Changes to dimensions or format may require new artwork and additional approval.
When can orders no longer be changed?
Once an order’s status changes to In Production, files, specifications, delivery details, and dispatch information can no longer be edited. We recommend reviewing your order carefully before confirming, especially for time-sensitive projects.
Why Delivery Timelines Can Change
Delivery timelines can occasionally change after an order is placed or when it’s in transit. In most cases, delays are temporary and tracking or order updates will provide the latest information. Several factors can affect an estimated dispatch date, including:
Peak Season Demand
Production facilities and delivery providers experience higher order and parcel volumes during busy seasonal periods, especially in the lead-up to public holidays and during November and December.
During peak season:
- production queues may increase
- transit timelines may become longer
- tracking updates may appear less frequently
An estimated dispatch date continues to reflect current production and delivery conditions, but timelines may change as demand increases.
Delivery Provider Demand
Once your order has left a production facility, the delivery provider manages transportation, and delivery timing may change. Delays can occur due to a number of factors, including severe weather, traffic disruptions, and operational issues within the delivery network. We advise you to refer to the respective service providers’ websites for the latest service alerts and updates.
Distance From The Production Facility
We always strive to print orders at production facilities as near to the delivery destination as possible, without compromising cost or quality. Orders travelling longer distances or to remote locations may need more transit time.
Printing Machine Maintenance
Our efficient, professional-grade printers consistently run and produce large volumes of high-quality prints. We always strive to maintain printing and binding equipment and machinery to ensure they meet industry standards.
Occasionally, unforeseen technical issues may delay production. Where possible, affected orders may be redirected to another production facility to reduce additional delays. You will receive delay notifications by email, which will also be logged in your order.
Delivery Address Issues
Incorrect or incomplete addresses can delay delivery or cause failed delivery attempts. Before confirming your order, make sure your delivery address is correct, and your contact information is up to date. We are unable to reroute, intercept, or stop orders from reaching their destination once they have been handed to the delivery provider.
Customs Processing
International orders may encounter customs processing. Customs processing times vary by country and are handled by local authorities. Any duties, taxes, or import charges are the recipient’s responsibility.
How do I track my order?
When your order is physically handed to the delivery provider, you will receive a tracking link by email. Tracking links can take up to 24 hours to become active after dispatch. Once active, the link allows you to:
- monitor progress
- receive real-time tracking updates
- manage delivery preferences where available
You can also access tracking information from your order’s Details tab. You can also use our website chat to check your order’s status and tracking updates.
Why does my order arrive in multiple shipments?
Some orders may arrive in multiple shipments depending on product type, order size and production routing. Tracking updates may appear separately for each shipment, depending on the delivery provider. If part of your order arrives first, check your tracking information by email or your order before contacting us.
I haven’t received tracking information
Tracking emails are sent after your order leaves the production facility. If you have not received tracking information after 7 working days from your estimated dispatch date, check your emails (including Junk folder) and your order’s Details tab before contacting us for support.
My tracking has stopped updating
Tracking scans may occasionally pause for 24–48 hours, especially during peak delivery periods or while shipments move through regional delivery networks. If your tracking has not updated after 48 hours, contact us with your order and tracking number.
Where is my order?
If your order has not arrived by the estimated dispatch date, there are several steps you can take before contacting support.
Check payment status
Go to your order’s Payment tab and confirm that payment has been completed successfully.
Check order confirmation
Open your order page and confirm that the order has been approved using the Yes, I Confirm button. Orders that are not confirmed will not enter production.
Check tracking updates
Tracking information is available in:
- the email sent after your order leaves the production facility
- your order’s Details tab
- the delivery provider’s website or app using your tracking number
Check delivery conditions
Review any recent tracking updates, delivery alerts, weather notices, or seasonal delivery announcements that may explain a delay.
Ask our virtual assistant
You can use our website chat to request order status and tracking updates. You must be logged into your Mixam account to access account-specific updates.
Contact Mixam
If your estimated dispatch date has passed and you cannot identify the cause of the delay, contact support with your order and tracking number.