timing of Recent Sales email notifications

[WHS_Designs]

I've always been curious about the receipt of these email notifications, as there has been great variance in their timing. I have gotten some with date stamps of 2 hours (or less) from the placement of an order (rare but it happens), to 1-2 days (more often) or even sometimes 4-6 days in some cases. 

My understanding is murky here. When I receive a Recent Sales email notification from Zazzle, does it mean that payment (via credit card, etc.) has been automatically accepted / processed by Zazzle?

During the pre-Christmas sales season, Zazzle staff process every order as it comes in, correct?
Is that also the case during the off-peak season as well?

[idraw]

@WHS_Designs 
Logically Zazzle doesn't (automatically) process the charged card, the card company does, so some of the timing depends on how fast the card company processes, accepts, and/or declines the transaction and responds back to Z. Then you get an alert about the item sold when it is shipped. So possibly  if there is a delay in creating the item,(with whatever co is making the item)  there will be a delay in shipment.
I seem to recall from very old (now defunk) posts, that international purchases take longer because of the credit card scenario. Hope that helps....and makes sense. Others can hopefully  elaborate about seasonal processing.

[WHS_Designs]

@idraw thank you! it does help indeed. 🙂