Why only one of my two orders shipped
Yeah this is usually a data parsing error on their side, not yours. I'd grab both order numbers and message them directly — most of the time they just reprocess the one that stalled. Quick q though: does your bad one still scan if you test it? If the barcode is dead it's almost always a print issue on their end, not anything you sent.
That sucks, same thing happened to me last month. Usually it's a data parsing error on their end when one order slips through and the other doesn't. Have you checked the PDF417 string format on the one that didn't ship? If the checksum validation fails or AAMVA compliance is off, it throws a red flag in their system. Definitely shoot them a message directly with both order numbers — they'll fix it faster than waiting it out.
Placed two orders with the same vendor two days apart and only received a shipping notification for one. Spent a week figuring out what was happening. Here is what I found.
What the status showed
Order 1 showed "Shipped" with a tracking number three days after I approved the proof. Order 2 stayed on "Processing" for another week after that. Both orders were for the same state, same vendor, different personal details.
What the vendor explained
When I asked, the vendor said Order 2 was waiting on their next production batch for that state. Their production system groups orders by state template and runs batches when there are enough orders queued to justify running the machine setup for that template. Order 1 made it into an in-progress batch. Order 2 arrived after that batch closed and was held for the next one.
This explained the delay — it was not a problem with my order specifically, just a timing issue with their batch production schedule. The vendor gave me an estimated batch date, and Order 2 shipped within two days of that date.
What to do in this situation
Wait until the second order is at least two weeks past the first before asking. If both orders were placed within a few days of each other and one shipped first, the batch timing explanation almost certainly applies. A single polite inquiry at the two-week mark is appropriate. Before that, you are asking before they have anything useful to tell you.
In this case the gap between the two shipments was 11 days. Both cards arrived within a week of each other, making the staggered shipping essentially irrelevant in practice.
Split shipment logic varies by vendor. Some split automatically when a production batch completes ahead of a companion order. Others split when different items in the same order are produced in different facilities. Asking the vendor explicitly when only one tracking number has appeared is the fastest way to determine whether the second shipment is delayed, in transit without tracking updates, or subject to a different production timeline.