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Receiving packages you didn't order

1100011CS

1100011CS

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2007
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Marshalltown
We've received two packages with items we didn't order in the last week. Both with my name and address (i.e. - the UPS guy didn't deliver to the wrong address). One from Amazon the other from another company we've ordered from before. In both cases I've verified that we did not order them nor pay for them. Are we safe to just keep them? Do we need to make an effort to return? What's the protocol (law?) here?
 
I'd just drop em off at a UPS store and call it good.. unless it's cool stuff.
 
When I moved in to my house, there was a package that was delivered to it. I notified my real estate agent to notify the sellers agent that I had received the package. I kept the package for a couple months before deciding to open it to see what was in there. Nothing cool, so I got rid of it.
I would hold on to it to see if anyone comes looking for it. If no one claims it within a reasonable amount of time, open it up to see what is in there. Although, this is the non-ethical thing to do.

The ethical thing to do would be to return it to the post office so they can return it to the sender.
 
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1100011CS said:
We've received two packages with items we didn't order in the last week. Both with my name and address (i.e. - the UPS guy didn't deliver to the wrong address). One from Amazon the other from another company we've ordered from before. In both cases I've verified that we did not order them nor pay for them. Are we safe to just keep them? Do we need to make an effort to return? What's the protocol (law?) here?
Click to expand...

Be careful just keeping them. They might not have billed you yet, but if you keep them they may bill you later.

I'd hold on to them for now. If you get a bill later you can dispute it.
 
Clonefan94 said:
As long as it is addressed to you, you can keep it and you are not liable for it. This was part of my post office training when I worked for them.

FTC site even says so.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise
Click to expand...

I was going to mention that in my Business Law class at ISU we were told that if you receive something (I believe from USPS, but may be across the board) that isn't yours, you're entitled to keep it. Thought it was an interesting law.
 
You are not liable. They had to pass a law stating that you are not liable because a while back a few companies were sending unsolicited items, then billing for them, and finally instituting collection procedures if they didn't receive payment.

I have received two unsolicited packages. The first was a bedding materials (comforter, pillow shams, and bed skirt. My wife kept it even though we couldn't use it because the colors didn't go with our décor. Ultimately we gave it to our daughter. Now we use it each time we stay at her house. The department store never did notice.

The second package was a complete desktop computer system that was actually a duplicate of the system I had already received. That one, I called the company and notified them. They had a carrier pick up the shipment within two days.
 
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1100011CS said:
We've received two packages with items we didn't order in the last week. Both with my name and address (i.e. - the UPS guy didn't deliver to the wrong address). One from Amazon the other from another company we've ordered from before. In both cases I've verified that we did not order them nor pay for them. Are we safe to just keep them? Do we need to make an effort to return? What's the protocol (law?) here?
Click to expand...

You are not under a legal obligation to return unordered merchandise. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise

Edit: Someone else already shared this link
 
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Cyclonepride said:
Too bad that doesn't work when a bank or the government applies the money to your account in error. In those instances, I'm pretty sure you have to pay it back with interest.
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You would only repay interest on the funds that you collected while you held them. In no case would you be made worse off than if the error never happened. You just wouldn't necessarily get to keep the interest accrued while you held the funds that weren't yours.
 
I received what amounted to my order (smallish) plus another person's food order about 2 years ago from a small online retailer. I emailed them and they arranged to have the extra picked up.

The other two times I received doubles of my order. One was from a vintage autoparts supplier. They had been very very slow to send my order without notifying me of the delay nor the reason for same. When I called it had been over a week past the promised delivery date. The next afternoon I received the merchandise. About a week later I received another identical package. I kept that.

The other was actualy about 10 years ago. I placed a very sizable order of ISU gear. Received a partial order - then later recieved the remainder of my order. Then later received the remainder of my order again. I kept it. It WAS ISU GEAR!!

I think the first and second were UPS. The last USPS.
 
I'd make sure no one is using your credit card number to order them, with the intent to pick the packages up at your house when no one's home. Doubtful, but just to be safe.

Last year, someone did their Christmas shopping on my credit card number, and had everything shipped to Boston. I was notified by the CC company after the second purchase was completed.
 
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SCNCY said:
When I moved in to my house, there was a package that was delivered to it. I notified my real estate agent to notify the sellers agent that I had received the package. I kept the package for a couple months before deciding to open it to see what was in there. Nothing cool, so I got rid of it.
I would hold on to it to see if anyone comes looking for it. If no one claims it within a reasonable amount of time, open it up to see what is in there. Although, this is the non-ethical thing to do.

The ethical thing to do would be to return it to the post office so they can return it to the sender.
Click to expand...

What if it' a puppy? MORE ethical to open the box NOW just in case it's a puppy.
 
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