It’s super convenient to shop online using your phone or computer. The only thing is you have to wait for your package to arrive, which may raise concerns about stolen packages depending on where you live and how often you’re home.
If you love to shop online like me but have security concerns, you may be wondering: what is Amazon’s stolen package policy?
I wanted to know the same thing, so I looked into it, and here’s the good news I found about Amazon and its approach to stolen packages!
What Is Amazon’s Stolen Package Policy?
Unfortunately, package theft has reached new levels in the U.S., with over one million packages lost or stolen every day. Amazon reassures shoppers with its A-to-Z Guarantee Protection, which covers the majority of stolen packages. You can file a claim for a refund with Amazon if you’re having trouble getting your money back with an Amazon seller.
If you want to know more about Amazon’s stolen package policy, including how to report a stolen package and get a refund, keep reading our full guide!
What To Do When Your Amazon Package Is Stolen?
Amazon has several options for protection against stolen packages, so if you suspect your package has been stolen, you can report it on your Amazon account.
The first thing you should do is check the order status in your account. If you were expecting a package to come one day, but it didn’t show up, there’s a possibility it was just delayed due to certain circumstances, such as bad weather.
If your order is listed as delivered, but it’s nowhere to be seen on your front doorstep, or wherever you receive packages, you may want to check with your neighbors first.
It’s possible the Amazon delivery driver made an honest mistake and dropped your package at the wrong house.
If the package is still missing and you think it was stolen, let Amazon know via the option to report a problem with the order in your account.
You should still keep an eye out for the package in case it turns up, as there could be a notice of attempted delivery, or maybe it was dropped in your mailbox instead of at your door.
According to the official Amazon website, you should wait 48 hours, as in rare cases, packages may show as delivered before they actually are dropped off.
This may occur if you live in a regional area where multiple carriers are handling your delivery instead of just Amazon.
How To Report a Stolen Amazon Package?
To report a stolen Amazon package, log into your account and go to the missing order. Keep in mind the reporting method varies slightly depending on whether the item was sold by a third-party seller or Amazon itself.
If you bought the item from a third-party seller on Amazon Marketplace, you will need to contact the seller first before you can submit a stolen package claim.
Under the order transaction details in your account, you’ll see the option to contact the seller. You can send them a message directly via the Amazon website or app, and then you need to give them 24 hours to respond.
Once the 24 hours are up, you may proceed with a claim unless the seller has contacted you and offered to resend the product or give you a refund.
You can make a claim under your transactions by selecting the order and following the prompts to report a problem under the “Where’s My Stuff” option.
Amazon or the third-party seller will be in touch with you to further discuss the issue and come up with a solution.
For items sold and fulfilled by Amazon, you just go to the order and select the view/file claim option.
Make sure you fill in the required fields and explain when you were expecting the package and how you never got it.
This is your chance to provide as much information as you can, including if you have any security camera footage of someone actually stealing it.
Even if you don’t have cameras, just provide honest and clear details to make it easier to get your refund sorted.
If you haven’t received any response and it’s been a few days, you can follow up by contacting Amazon Customer Service directly.
Does Amazon Give Refunds On Stolen Packages?
To give shoppers peace of mind and keep them coming back to buy more, Amazon takes care of most stolen package reports.
Under the A-to-z Guarantee, stolen packages containing items sold by third-party Amazon sellers are protected. This means shoppers are reassured that they will be reimbursed in the event of a stolen package.
Even for items sold directly by Amazon, the retailer does its best to provide replacement items or refunds, which helps protect its reputation when it comes to stolen packages.
You can follow your claims in your Amazon account, and then payment is refunded to your card on file.
However, Amazon can deny your claim if it finds the information to be fraudulent or if the seller offers proof of successful delivery.
How Common Are Stolen Amazon Packages?
Amazon has numerous options for safe shipping, such as setting shipping speed preferences so you can make sure you’re home, signatures on expensive items, and in-home, garage, or car deliveries for Prime members using Amazon Key.
Despite all these safeguards and an excellent reputation for safe, timely delivery, Amazon cannot prevent all stolen packages, especially when package theft is at an all-time high.
There are 1.7 million packages stolen or lost each day across the U.S., and as the country’s largest e-retailer, many of these stolen packages are unfortunately ordered from Amazon.
1 in 3 Americans say they’ve had at least one package stolen, leading to $25 million in lost goods every day.
Finally, a recent Security.org study found Amazon packages are most likely to be stolen, with 52 percent of respondents reporting the theft of an Amazon delivery, compared to 43 percent for USPS.
Studies indicated Amazon packages are also more likely to be stolen than FedEx or UPS, so it’s good that Amazon offers protection against package theft.
To know more about Amazon, you can also read our posts on why people hate Amazon, whether Amazon packages require a signature, and if Amazon is safe to shop on.