Amazon Undeliverable Meaning (Why Was The Package Not Delivered, Refund + More)

If Amazon says that a package is undeliverable, what exactly does that mean? There are many reasons a package may be undeliverable, whether it be because an address provided was incorrect, the item is too big to deliver, or it has been shipped in error.

However, if you’d like more information on Amazon’s meaning of ‘undeliverable,’ keep reading this article to see what I discovered on the topic!

What Does Amazon Undeliverable Mean In [currentyear]?

If a carrier is unable to fulfill an Amazon delivery, this will result in a customer receiving an ‘undeliverable order’ notification in [currentyear]. Errors may result from an issue with the destination’s address, the incorrect item being sent, multiple attempts at delivery, etc. Undeliverable orders are canceled by Amazon and refunded to the customer.

If you’d like to learn more about what ‘Amazon Undeliverable’ means, what causes a package from Amazon to be undeliverable and more, keep reading!

What Does Amazon Mean When They Call an Order Undeliverable?

Sometimes errors cause packages to be returned to Amazon as undeliverable. For Amazon, an undeliverable order is one that the company cannot fulfill delivery.

Why Was My Amazon Order Undeliverable?

There are a few different reasons why your Amazon order might be undeliverable. Let’s look at the most common reasons, which are listed here below:

  • The address provided is incorrect, illegible, outdated, or incomplete- for convenience, customers can store updated addresses online in their Amazon address book.
  • The incorrect item was shipped
  • An item requiring a signature was delivered but not accepted by its recipient (meaning not signed for or the incorrect person signed)
  • The Amazon system did not recognize the address and assigned delivery to the wrong carrier
  • The customer attempted to have an order sent to a restricted address like a prison, correctional facility, or similar institution that may be subject to specific restrictions
  • The carrier made multiple delivery attempts and failed
  • If a package is unexpected as a gift, the recipient may refuse delivery
  • The order was damaged in transit

What If My Amazon Undeliverable Package Was Damaged During Delivery?

Occasionally, packages are damaged during transit, leading to Amazon not delivering the order.

Rather than providing a product that is already broken, Amazon will cancel the order before it reaches its destination and issue a goodwill refund to the customer.

Can Amazon Re-Ship My Undeliverable Order?

Due to the associated errors, Amazon does not re-ship orders that carriers return to them as undeliverable.

In the event that a customer still wants to purchase the undeliverable items, they must begin a new order on the Amazon website.

Additionally, if customers find that their order has not been delivered or hasn’t been contacted by Amazon within four weeks of order, they should contact customer service to help resolve this issue.

How Can I Get a Refund If My Amazon Order Is Undeliverable?

Once your package has been returned to Amazon as undeliverable, no additional steps need to be taken by the customer to receive a refund.

Without a customer request, Amazon will refund the customer if their order is returned in an undeliverable condition.

However, Amazon may charge a “handling fee” for sending out another shipment in some situations rather than receiving a full refund.

How Long Will It Take to Receive a Refund If My Amazon Package Is Undeliverable?

How Long Will It Take to Receive a Refund If My Amazon Package Is Undeliverable?

After Amazon receives the order from the carrier, the company will begin the refund process.

Once Amazon issues a refund to the customer’s account, the timeframe for deposit depends on your financial institution.

For additional information on refund timeframes for deposit destinations, refer to the following table:

Refund Destination Refund Timeframe (Once Refund Is Processed By Amazon) 
Credit card Ready in three-five business days 
Amazon Gift Card  Available in two to three hours
Debit card Ready in 10+ business days 
Checking account Ready in 10+ business days
SNAP EBT card Ready in 10+ business days
Gift Card balance  Available within two to three hours
Promotional Certificate No refund will be issued 
Shop with Reward Points Available in no more than five business days
Pay in Cash (at a participating location) Available in no more than ten business days
Prepaid credit card Availability depends on the banking institution but should be no more than 30 days

How Can I Check My Refund Status for My Amazon Undeliverable Order?

Once Amazon receives an undeliverable order and processes a refund, customers can track the status of their refund from the Amazon website or app.

Upon receipt of the undeliverable order by Amazon, the system will generate an email sent to the customer containing a unique code that allows customers to trace refunds from the company to their destination.

Either click on the link contained in the email or log into your account on the Amazon website to view status updates.

From the Amazon website, customers must go to Your Orders and scroll to find the order that could not be delivered once logged in.

First, notice that the order has been canceled, and in most cases, Amazon will provide customers with a reason that the order was unable to be fulfilled.

However, if the carrier was FedEx or USPS, you will need to copy the tracking number and go to the company website to find why the delivery was not made.

Next, select View Return/Refund Status to see how your refund progresses through the Amazon system.

Can Packages That Were Considered Undeliverable By Amazon Be Re-Purchased By Someone Else?

Many of you may not know that there are ways to legally purchase someone’s unclaimed purchases from carriers like Amazon and USPS!

According to CNET, Amazon, any undeliverable items that are unclaimed are resold following an inspection.

Some items might be donated, while others may get sold on the secondhand market or liquidated with suppliers.

Typically, after several months, thrifty shoppers can find discounted Amazon products at auctions or unclaimed in the swap meets for significantly reduced prices.

Besides rebuying items directly from Amazon, shoppers can also find undeliverable bulk products online by visiting websites like eBay, Liquidation, and Swap Madness.

If you have questions about filing a claim for an undeliverable item that was returned in good condition, and Amazon won’t approve your request, call Amazon customer service at 1-888-280-4331.

To know more about Amazon services, you can also see our posts on what time does Amazon delivers, Amazon’s late delivery refund, and what is Amazon’s frustration-free packaging.

Conclusion

While Amazon strives to deliver all packages to its customers, sometimes packages are undeliverable. Common reasons include the package being delivered to the wrong address, the recipient refusing to accept the package, or an incorrect item being provided. When this happens, Amazon gives the customer a refund and, if eligible, a replacement package.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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