Have you ever come across a situation when things need to be put on hold for a moment?

Whether it’s because of a delay in launching new products, an upcoming service outage, or something else that you can’t control, there are times when things don’t go as planned.

When that happens, rather than leaving people hanging, you need to make sure everyone is aware of what’s going on. And when it comes to it, there’s nothing more effective than a simple “thank you for your patience & understanding” message.

In fact, the best way to manage people’s expectations while also keeping them in the loop is to let them know how much you empathize with their situation.

Expressing your gratitude for their patience and understanding shows them that you are aware of their needs, and it also gives them the time they need to address their concerns without feeling rushed by an impatient email response or phone call.

In this article, we’ll show you 25 examples of the best ways to express appreciation in an email in a way that’s sincere and polite.

So whether you’re trying to communicate with your customers or even just one person whose patience and understanding is especially important right now, these messages will help make sure they feel heard and cared for.

Tips for crafting the perfect “Thank you for your patience & understanding“ message

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1. Start with a friendly greeting (e.g., “Hey there!”, “Hi [Customer name]!”)

2. If you’re a freelancer or business, share some details about why the project is taking longer than expected (e.g., “The content creation process has taken longer than we anticipated.”).

3. Emphasize that you understand that they may have been inconvenienced by this issue (e.g., “We know how frustrating it can be when things don’t go as planned.”).

Make sure to be honest and genuine. If there’s anything you can do better, address it in your message.

Also, don’t shy away from tough topics – if something has been bothering your customers or friends, they’ll appreciate knowing that you’re listening and taking it seriously!

5. Explain what you’re doing to fix the issue (e.g., “We’ve hired an additional writer who will start next week.”). You can also remind them that the problem has been resolved. or will be resolved soon (e.g., “We’ve fixed the issue, so everything should be back to normal now!”).

If you’re a business, don’t forget to offer solutions for future issues or questions they may have about the product or service provided by your company.

Also Read: Thank You For Coming To My Birthday Party Message Examples

“Thank You for Your Patience & Understanding” Message Examples

1. Business to customer message examples

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If you’re a business, you’re bound to hear from a customer every now and then who wants a refund for a late shipment, threatens to leave your company because of an incorrect order, or has an issue using your website.

Here are some examples of messages you can send when that happens:

Technical issues

#1 Hi, [Customer name]

We are writing to thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to resolve the issue you have been experiencing with our website. Our team has been working around the clock to unblock your account and we hope that we will be able to provide you with a resolution soon.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please let us know by contacting our customer support team at [phone number], or by emailing them at [email address].

#2 Dear [Customer Name],

Thank you for your patience and understanding during the recent outage. We know how frustrating it can be to not have access to your data, so we’re happy to report that we’ve restored service and are back up and running.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [phone number]. We value your trust and want to make sure you have all the resources you need so that we can continue providing the best possible service.

#3 Dear [Customer name],

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition. We know it’s been a long road, and we’re so sorry for any inconvenience it has caused you. We know that when you select a service provider, you want to be confident that the company will provide you with the best possible experience.

We’re happy to report that service has been restored, and we are back up and running at full capacity. We hope this note finds you well, and let us know if there is anything further we can do to help!

Delivery delays

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#4 Hi, [Customer name]!

We’re so sorry for the delay in getting your order shipped. We know that you’re looking forward to receiving it, and we’re doing everything we can to get it out to you as soon as possible. We’ve been experiencing some delays at our warehouse, but we’re working hard to get them sorted out.

If you’d like to check on your order status, please contact customer support at [your email address]. We will provide updates in the event that we experience any further delays.

#5 Dear Customer,

We know that you have been waiting for the item you ordered. We are sorry for the delay. We are currently experiencing some unforeseen issues with our delivery system, so we have decided to cancel your order and issue a full refund.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

#6 Hello, [Customer name]!

We’re so sorry to inform you that we will be experiencing delays in our shipping process. We know how frustrating this can be, and we want to personally apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate your patience while we work to get back on track as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [phone number].

Customer service

#7 Hi [Customer name],

We’re very sorry for the problems you’ve been experiencing with our customer service. We know how frustrating it can be when you’re trying to get in touch with someone, and we want to make sure that you feel heard and supported while you’re waiting for a resolution. We are currently working on a solution to this problem, but in the meantime, we would like to offer you [reward/coupon code].

Please let us know if this works for you or if there’s anything else we can do for you.

2. Freelancer to client message examples

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When you’re a freelancer and your project is taking longer than expected, you need to take time off to handle personal matters, or you are late in your communications, you need to explain to your client what happened and how you plan on making it up to them.

Here are some great “thank you for your patience and understanding” message examples you can use to deal with these situations:

#8 Hi [Client name],

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding over the past few days. I know that it’s been a bit difficult to get in touch with me, but I’m happy to report that I’m back on track now, and everything is moving along as planned. I’ll be sending you an update at the end of the week, but until then, please enjoy your weekend!

Best Regards,

#9 Hello, [Client name]!

I know it’s been a while since we last spoke, but I wanted to reach out and thank you for your patience and understanding. I know that things have been a bit slow at work lately, but I’m so excited about what we’re going to be able to accomplish together once things pick up again.

I hope all is well and that you’ve been staying safe. Please shoot me an email if there’s anything else I can do to help you with your projects.

#10 Hi [Client Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the issues with [project name]. I am working hard to get it resolved as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, some unforeseen issues have come up that have thrown off our timeline.

Thank you so much for being so kind about the situation and for keeping me in the loop about what’s going on at your end. It really helps me feel like we’re making progress! If there’s anything else I can do to make things easier on your end, please let me know. I’m happy to help in any way I can.

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#11 Hi, [Client Name]!

I hope you’re doing well and that you’ve had a chance to take a breather from your busy schedule. I know it’s been a while since we last communicated, but I wanted to reach out and let you know that I’m still looking forward to working with you on this project.

I really appreciate your patience as we work through this challenging time. I know how frustrating it can be when things don’t go as planned, but I hope you know that it’s not a reflection on our relationship as client and freelancer.

I’m looking forward to hearing back from you soon!

#12 I’m sorry it’s taking so long to get this finished. I know you’re ready to get started, but I’ve been swamped with other projects that have taken priority. I promise that as soon as I finish those and have some free time, I’ll get us back on track!

Thanks for being so understanding about the delay.

3. Personal message examples

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If someone has been there for you when you needed help with anything – whether it’s just listening to your problems, making dinner for your family, or giving you rides back and forth from work, these messages should give you some ideas on how to word your gratitude in the right way.

#13 Hey there [name of friend]!

I’m sorry for the delay in my response to your message. I know it’s been a few weeks since we last spoke, and I hope you understand that I’ve been very busy. Thank you for your patience as I’ve tried to get back to you in a timely manner. I hope all is well with you, and please know that I am thinking of you!

#14 Hi [name of friend],

I just wanted to thank you again for your patience and understanding. I’m sorry it’s taken so long for me to get back to you by email, but I’ve been busy with schoolwork and trying to manage my classes and extracurricular activities. I know it must be really hard on you, but I’m doing my best to get back to normal as quickly as possible.

I hope that things have been going well at home. If you need anything, let me know! And thanks again for all the patience and understanding while I’ve been gone. It means a lot to me.

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#15 Dear [family member],

I just wanted to let you know that I’m sorry for being so late in getting back to you about your birthday present. I’ve been really busy with work, and it slipped my mind. But I promise that your gift is coming soon!

#16 Dear [family member],

I know it’s hard to hear that I’m moving out of state. But I just want you to know how much I appreciate your patience and understanding. You’ve been there for me through so many things, and even though this is a big change, I know you’re going to be there for me too. Thank you for being such a wonderful role model and mentor. I couldn’t have done it without you!

4. Student to Professor message examples

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If you’ve been late with some assignments, have had a tough semester, or simply want to thank a teacher who’s been really patient with you while learning something new, these are some good examples of how you should express your gratitude:

#17 Dear Professor,

I know that you’ve been waiting for my assignment and I appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

I’ve been working hard to get it done, but unfortunately, I had to miss class last week due to an unexpected event at home. The good news is that I’ve come back refreshed and ready to work on the project! It should be ready within the next couple of days.

Please let me know if there’s anything else you need from me while we wait on this piece of work.

#18 Hello [professor’s name],

I hope you’re doing well!

I just wanted to send you a quick message to say thank you for your patience and understanding. I know I’ve been late with some assignments, but I’ve been working hard on them, and I’m excited to get them to you soon.

I’m also so grateful that we were able to meet up last week and talk through some of the things that are going on in my life right now. It was really helpful and reassuring to hear your thoughts on what’s going on – and it’s helped me feel more confident about my ability to handle things.

Again, thanks for everything!

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#19 Dear Mr/Ms. [professor’s last name],

I am writing to thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. I have been struggling with a lot of things lately, but I am trying my best to stay positive and keep up with the coursework. I know that things can get hectic around this time of year, especially since we are nearing finals, and everyone is giving their best effort.

I understand that you have a lot on your plate, but I also appreciate your understanding of my situation and your willingness to work with me on it. Thank you so much!

#20 Hello Mr/Ms. [professor’s last name],

I’m writing to let you know that I will be taking a leave of absence from [university name] in order to focus on my mental health. I am not sure how long this will last, but I hope it will be as short as possible. I have already spoken with my professors and they have been very understanding and accommodating.

I would also like to thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this process.

5. Co-workers message examples

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If you’ve had a rough day and want to thank a coworker for their patience and understanding, these “thank you for your patience and understanding” messages are for you:

#21 Hi there [co-worker’s name],

I hope this note finds you well, and that you’re able to enjoy some time off. I know how busy you are, so I just wanted to say that I appreciate your patience with all of the last-minute changes we’ve had to make recently. It’s been a tough few months for everyone here at [company name], but we’re getting through it!

Thanks again for all your hard work on this project. You really saved the day!

#22 Hey [co-worker’s name], I just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for your patience and understanding this week.

We’ve been really busy, and it’s been hard for the team to keep up with everything that’s going on. I know it can be frustrating to hear from me about yet another deadline when we haven’t met the last few—I’m sorry about that! I also wanted to let you know that I appreciate how hard you’ve been working.

It’s easy for us all to get overwhelmed by everything sometimes, but you’ve been doing an amazing job of keeping it together and getting things done. Keep up the great work!

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#23 Hey there! I just wanted to say thank you for your patience and understanding while I’m out on maternity leave. I’m so excited to be able to take this time with my little one and watch her grow up, but it’s hard leaving you guys in the dust. I’ll be checking in from time to time, but if you have any questions or concerns about anything related to [project’s name], please reach out and let me know!

#24 Hello [co-worker’s name],

I’m so sorry. I know you’ve been waiting for this report, and I’m finally ready to send it. Whoops! Sorry that it took me so long!

I’ve attached the report, and I’ll be sending an email soon with a link to a PDF version of it. I hope that helps. Thanks for being so patient and understanding with me, and I hope this is the end of our waiting game together!

#25 Dear [co-worker’s name],

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the changes that result from the acquisition of our company by [acquirer]. While many things about our jobs haven’t changed, we do have to juggle some new priorities as we transition into a new company. I appreciate that you have continued to keep up with your office tasks and have been flexible in your approach to the changes.

I also want to thank you for being so responsive when I’ve needed help with something or when I’ve had an idea. You’ve come through every time, even if it’s been in the middle of the night. Thank you so much for helping us make this transition a success.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this period of change. It means a lot to me and the team that we can count on you to be there for us when we need you most.

Summary

Now that we’ve taken a look at our tried-and-true examples of “thank you for your patience & understanding” messages, go forth with confidence!

Remember: there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to expressing your gratitude.

While the examples listed above are a great way to kick off what should be clear and concise communication between two people, you can use them as a template and add a little extra personalization.

Just make sure whatever you choose reflects the tone of your message and the relationships you have with the people who will be receiving it.