Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for providing substitute item recommendations in order status messages are described. In various embodiments, a customer may submit an order for one or more items to a merchant. In various cases, the merchant may fulfill the order by preparing a shipment that includes the one or more ordered items and shipping that shipment to the customer. In some cases, at least one item of the order may be delayed or canceled for a variety of reasons. In various embodiments, the merchant may utilize an exception management component to generate an orders status message (for the customer) that specifies the item has been delayed or canceled. The merchant may also utilize the exception management component to generate the order status message such that the order status message also includes a recommendation of one or more substitute items that the customer may be interested in.