Does Amazon cover stolen packages? (Must know!)
Amazon has created an empire of convenient package delivery. As one of the fastest growing companies in the United States, it is important that they deliver packages on time and in full. Therefore, Amazon offers many guarantees in the event of a lost or stolen package.
Read on for details on how and when Amazon covers stolen items, and what to do if you think one of your packages has been stolen
Does Amazon cover stolen packages?
The short answer is yes. Amazon protects customers with its so-called A-to-Z Guarantee. This guarantee is a set of guidelines for customers to get a refund in the event of a stolen package. Amazon will almost certainly return stolen items, although there are some limitations and a specific process you have to go through to get a refund.
However, there are a few things you should do before reporting a stolen package. Before trying to get a refund, it’s important to make sure the package was actually stolen:
- Check the tracking of the package to make sure the item is not in transit. Sometimes an item can be marked as “delivered” a day or two before it actually arrives.
- Wait at least three days after the last estimated delivery time. Delivery estimates may be inaccurate, especially in emergency weather or busy service conditions.
- Check with your neighbors. In some cases, the delivery driver may deliver the package to your neighbor’s address, which may be wrong, or if the delivery address cannot reach you.
- If you determine that the package was actually stolen, then you can report the damage to Amazon for a potential refund. You will be entitled to a refund of the original shipping and cost of the item.
Does Amazon cover stolen packages from third-party sellers?
The Amazon A-To-Z Guarantee is specifically designed to cover stolen or lost items from third-party sellers on Amazon. Amazon prides itself on delivering packages in a timely and responsible manner, so this guarantee adds a layer of accountability in case customers buy from third-party sellers.
Although third-party sellers sometimes send poorly packaged or damaged items, the A-To-Z guarantee will cover these types of damage or loss as long as you can prove it was their fault. For this reason, you should make sure to record any communication with the seller and keep any tracking numbers and reports for the packages you ordered.
The process of requesting a refund from a third-party seller is the same as the general refund process. Amazon simply asks you to contact the third-party seller about the issue before requesting a refund from Amazon. Details of Amazon’s lost or stolen item refund policy can be found here.
What if my Amazon package is stolen?
If you’re sure your package has been lost or stolen, there are a few things you should do before requesting a refund through Amazon A-To-Z:
- First, contact the seller. Wait 48 hours for them to reply. This gives them the opportunity to resolve issues directly with you without going through Amazon.
- Make sure not to ask your payment provider for a refund. If you request a refund from PayPal or your credit card provider, you will not be eligible for a refund from Amazon.
- Be sure to request a refund within 90 days of the estimated delivery date. If you wait more than 90 days, you will not be eligible for a refund through Amazon A-to-Z.
- For orders placed directly from Amazon, please contact customer support directly. If you purchased from the Amazon Global Store, Amazon Marketplace, or Amazon Prime, you should contact Amazon Customer Support instead of requesting payment through the A-to-Z guarantee.
If you want to request a refund through Amazon’s A-To-Z Guarantee, then you can follow these simple steps:
- Sign in to your Amazon.com account
- go to your order
- Click on “Order Questions”
- Select your question from the list that appears
- Select “Request a Refund”
- Enter any necessary comments in the comment box
- Click “Submit”
Amazon may take up to a week to review your request and respond to you. Amazon will contact you via email at the address associated with your account. You can check the status of your request from the Order Issues page for the relevant order.
What to do if a package is stolen from the front door
Marking a package as delivered and then not finding it at your delivery address can be stressful. In most cases, the item may have been incorrectly marked for delivery, or just too early. Amazon recommends waiting 48 hours after the estimated delivery date before attempting to report a stolen item.
In some cases, a delivery driver may deliver your item to your neighbor’s address. This can happen by mistake or on purpose if you do not receive the item at the delivery address.
If you’re concerned about this happening with your package, it’s best to make sure you can receive the item on or around the estimated delivery date.
Check with your neighbors to see if any of them have accepted a package for you, or if they have received it by mistake. If none of them see it and 48 hours have passed since the estimated delivery date, then you should report the stolen item using the steps listed above.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these posts to learn what Amazon Flex is, what it means to deliver to a safe location by Amazon, and whether Amazon ships to Hawaii.
in conclusion…
Amazon is fairly lax when it comes to returning lost or stolen items. Even if your item was ordered from a third-party seller, Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee ensures your order is protected and you are entitled to a refund in most cases where the package ends up being lost or stolen.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask them in the comments section.
