Delivery persons have tried to take steps to prevent package theft, and you may sometimes see a message that your Amazon parcel has been delivered to a safe place.
So, what does it mean, and how can it help you? Well, we researched the matter and have lots of interesting information for you here, so keep reading!
What Does “Delivered to a Safe Place” Mean on Amazon?
When you see an Amazon notification that your parcel has been delivered to a safe place, it means that your Amazon order has been left in a secure location where the delivery driver deems it to be safe from theft and bad weather. It could be a covered porch, a garage, or a shed, or the package could be left at a nearby location such as a neighbor’s house.
To find out more about how Amazon delivers to a safe place, keep on reading. You’ll find all the details here!
What Does “Delivered to a Safe Place” Mean for Amazon deliveries?
When you’re looking forward to an important delivery from Amazon, any glitches and delays can be annoying and inconvenient.
One common problem many people encounter is that, even though Amazon tracking shows that a package has been delivered, it is nowhere to be seen.
This usually happens when no one is at home to receive the package. The delivery person is obliged to make the delivery but will try to leave it in a secure location.
They will sometimes take a picture of the delivery location so you know where to find it. You can find the delivery photo by signing in to your Amazon account.
At other times, there will just be a message saying your package was left in a safe place. This could mean a few different things.
Sometimes this is because the delivery person has chosen to leave your package in a safe place where it will not attract unwelcome attention from porch pirates.
The secure place may be so well hidden that you can’t find it. It may also mistakenly have been delivered to a different address, or left beside a garage or shed.
It’s also possible that your package may have been delivered to the wrong house, such as a neighbor, so you can ask around if you feel comfortable doing so.
What If There Is No Safe Place for Delivery?
It sometimes happens that there is no one at home at the delivery address to receive the package and there is no safe place to leave the package.
In that case, Amazon will email the customer, and make three in-person delivery attempts on three consecutive days. Keep in mind this might be three consecutive business days, which may exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
If these attempts are unsuccessful, the package will be returned to Amazon and a refund will be issued to the customer.
What to Do When Amazon Says “Delivered” But There’s No Package
Luckily, you have some recourse if your package is delivered to a safe place and can’t be found. The Amazon website lists a series of steps you can take to find your missing package.
First of all, you should be aware that Amazon tracking can show a package status as “Delivered” even if it hasn’t actually been delivered.
A package could be marked as “Delivered” as much as 48 hours before the actual delivery. Further, it may be delivered later in the day. Some carriers deliver as late as 10 p.m.
However, if you haven’t found your package after 48 hours of its official delivery, here’s what you can do:
- Check your online receipt to make sure your shipping address is listed correctly
- Search around the front door and mailbox for a notice of attempted delivery from the carrier
- Check with other people who live at your address, such as a family member or roommate
- Search around the likely delivery locations such as the front porch, steps, garage, shed, and deck
- Check your security cameras to see if the package was delivered and if anyone picked it up
- Ask your neighbors if the package was delivered to them accidentally or for safekeeping
- Check your mailbox. Even if your package was shipped by UPS or FedEx, it may have been handed over to the postal service for final delivery. Postal carriers will try to fit all packages into the mailbox.
- If your order was shipped by a third-party seller instead of Amazon, contact them directly for help.
How Do I Choose a Safe Place for Delivery?
You can choose your preferred safe place for delivery when placing your order. On the checkout screen, the first step is to choose a payment method and enter your information.
Next, you go to the page where you confirm your shipping and billing addresses.
Under the “Add Delivery Options” link, you’ll see the question: “Where should we leave your packages at this address?”
There will be a number of options listed, like:
- Front door
- Back door
- Side porch
- Garage
- Building reception
- Mailroom or property staff
Your package will be delivered to the safe location you choose from this list.
Why Does Amazon Take a Photo of My Package?
Sometimes Amazon will take a photo of the package left for you. Amazon Photo on Delivery makes it easier for you to locate your package.
Amazon does not take pictures if the address is marked as confidential, such as a Wish List or registry address.
Customers can also opt-out of Amazon Photo on Delivery by checking “Don’t take photos of deliveries” in Your Orders or by contacting Amazon Customer Service.
What Happens If a Package Is Delivered to the Wrong Address?
If you’re on the opposite side of a missing package situation, and Amazon mistakenly delivers a package to your house, you can call Amazon Customer Service at 1-877-586-3230
Amazon will try to pick up the package. If that doesn’t work, the company will issue a refund or provide a replacement to the customer.
If you decide to keep a package that was delivered to your house by mistake, the law is on your side.
According to federal law, retailers can’t force you to pay for a package that was delivered to you if you didn’t order it.
That’s because it technically counts as a free gift and not as merchandise since retailers can’t force customers to pay for products they didn’t order.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on Amazon package delayed in transit, can you pick up Amazon packages, and does Amazon deliver in the rain.
Conclusion
When Amazon gives you a message that your package has been left in a safe place, that could include your porch, a shed, or a garage. It could also have been left with a neighbor for safekeeping.
When placing your order, you do have the option to specify delivery instructions the let the courier know where you want the parcel left if you are not home to receive it. You can also specify a pickup location such as an Amazon hub locker which is a great option for people who live in apartment buildings.
I have just seen Amazon posting they delivered to a safe place; however, where they delivered it is pretty much useless in preventing theft. We have a big problem with people following around the Amazon vehicles and pilfering the parcels once deposited. Our Amazon people are so severely taxed with deliveries that they need more time to place parcels and do a little better than tossing them on the step. If I can get my printing sources somewhere else, I will probably stop buying from Amazon; it is not safe to buy from them anymore.