#128 Inquiring About a Delivery Delay｜French Daily Life Phrases

When using online shopping or delivery services, it is not uncommon for deliveries to arrive later than scheduled.

In such situations, it is important to calmly confirm the status of the delay, avoid accusatory language, and communicate the necessary information clearly and concisely.

In this article, I explain useful French expressions and key grammatical points for inquiring about a delayed delivery.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. Je me permets de vous contacter concernant ma commande. Elle devait arriver ce matin, mais je ne l’ai pas encore reçue.
（Good morning. I am contacting you regarding my order. It was scheduled to arrive this morning, but I have not received it yet.）

B

Je suis désolé pour ce retard. Pourriez-vous me communiquer votre numéro de commande, s’il vous plaît ?
（I am sorry for the delay. Could you please provide your order number?）

A

Il s’agit de la commande numéro 54821.
（It is order number 54821.）

B

Merci. Après vérification, il semble que le livreur ait pris un peu de retard en raison du trafic.
（Thank you. After checking, it appears that the delivery driver has been slightly delayed due to traffic conditions.）

A

Je vois. Avez-vous une estimation de l’heure de livraison ?
（I see. Do you have an estimated delivery time?）

B

Oui, la livraison est prévue d’ici une heure.
（Yes, the delivery is expected to arrive within the next hour.）

A

Merci pour ces informations.
（Thank you for the information.）

1. Stating the Purpose of the Inquiry

When inquiring about a delayed delivery, it is important to clearly state the reason for contacting the company at the beginning.

The expression “je me permets de …” functions as a polite buffer, similar to “If I may” or “I hope you do not mind me contacting you.”

Next, explain the issue based on facts.

The phrase “devait arriver” indicates an expected schedule, while “ne … pas encore” expresses that something has not happened yet.

By contrasting the original plan with the current situation, you can communicate the issue clearly and objectively.

2. Providing Information to Identify the Order

When making an inquiry, information that identifies the order is essential.

The phrase “il s’agit de …” is a formal, administrative expression meaning “this concerns” or “this is.” It is commonly used in phone calls, emails, and chat inquiries.

Other possible expressions include:

3. Confirming the Reason for the Delay and the Current Status

Once the order details are confirmed, the other party may explain the situation.

The expression “il semble que …” avoids making a definitive statement and is useful for explaining a situation cautiously.

After understanding the reason, the next key question is when the delivery will arrive.

Using the word “estimation” conveys that an approximate time is acceptable and shows consideration toward the person responding.

4. Responding With the Expected Delivery Time

In response to inquiries about delivery timing, the following type of answer is common:

The phrase “la livraison est prévue …” is a standard expression used to indicate a scheduled or expected delivery time.

“d’ici une heure” means “within one hour,” indicating an event expected to occur within a certain time frame from now.

Commonly used variations include:

All of these expressions convey an estimated time rather than a guaranteed one and are frequently used in official customer service responses.

Summary