Amazon has created an empire of convenient package delivery. As one of the most rapidly growing companies in the US, it’s important that they are able to deliver packages intact and on time. Accordingly, Amazon provides a number of reassurances in the case that a package is lost or stolen.
Keep reading to get the 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 what it calls the A-to-Z Guarantee. This guarantee is a set of guidelines for customers to obtain refunds in the case their package is stolen. Although there are some restrictions and a specific process you must go through to be refunded, it is almost certain that Amazon will refund stolen items.
There are a few things you should do before reporting your package stolen, however. It’s important to make sure that the package was actually stolen before trying to obtain a refund:
- Check the tracking for the package to make sure the item is not still in transit. Sometimes items can be marked ‘delivered’ a day or two before they actually arrive.
- Wait at least three days after the last estimated time of delivery. The delivery estimates can be inaccurate, especially in situations of emergent weather or busy services.
- Check with your neighbors. In some cases, delivery drivers might drop the package off at your neighbor’s address, either by mistake or if you cannot be reached at the delivery address.
- If you’re sure the package was actually stolen, then you can report the loss to Amazon for a potential refund. You will be entitled to a refund of the original shipping costs, as well as the cost of the item.
Does Amazon Cover Stolen Packages From Third Party Sellers?
The Amazon A-To-Z Guarantee is specifically meant to cover stolen or lost items from third-party sellers on Amazon. Amazon takes pride in being able to deliver packages promptly and responsibly, so this guarantee adds a layer of accountability in case the customer is buying form a third-party seller.
Although third-party sellers can sometimes send out improperly packaged or damaged goods, the A-To-Z Guarantee will cover these types of damages or losses as long as you can prove that it was their fault. For this reason, you should make sure to document any communications with the seller, as well as hang on to any tracking numbers and reports for the packages you order.
The process for requesting a refund from third-party sellers is the same as the general refund process. Amazon simply asks that you contact the third party seller about the issue before requesting a refund from Amazon. The details of Amazon’s refund policy for lost or stolen items can be found here.
What Do I Do If My Amazon Package Was Stolen?
If you’re sure that your package has been lost or stolen, then 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 respond. This gives them a chance to resolve the issue with you directly without having to go through Amazon.
- Make sure not to request a refund from your payment provider. If you request a refund from PayPal or your credit card provider, then you will be ineligible for a refund from Amazon.
- Make sure to request the refund within 90 days of the expected delivery date. If you wait more than 90 days, you will be ineligible for a refund through Amazon A-to-Z.
- For orders directly from Amazon, contact customer support directly. If you purchased your item from Amazon Global Store, Amazon Marketplace, or Amazon Prime, then you should contact Amazon customer support rather than request a payment through the A-to-Z Guarantee.
If you wish to request a refund through Amazon’s A-To-Z Guarantee, then you can follow these simple steps to do so:
- Log in to your Amazon.com account
- Go to Your Orders
- Click on ‘Problem with order’
- Select your issue from the list that appears
- Select ‘Request refund’
- Enter any necessary comments in the comment box
- Click on ‘Submit’
It may take up to a week for Amazon to review your request and get back to you. Amazon will contact you by email at the address associated with your account. You can check the status of your request from the ‘Problem with order’ page for the order in question.
What To Do If Package Is Stolen From Front Door
Having a package marked as delivered, and then finding no package at your delivery address can be a stressful experience. In most cases, the item may have been marked as delivered by mistake, or simply too early. Amazon recommends waiting 48 hours after the estimated delivery date before attempting to report a stolen item.
In some cases, delivery drivers may drop off your item at your neighbor’s address. This can either happen by mistake, or on purpose if you were not present at the delivery address to receive the item.
If you’re concerned about this happening with your package, it’s best to make sure you are available to receive the item on or around the expected delivery date.
Check with your neighbors to see if any of them accepted a package meant for you, or if they received it by mistake. If none of them have seen it, and 48 hours has passed since the expected delivery date, then you should report the item stolen using the steps listed above.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these posts to learn what Is Amazon Flex, what does Amazon delivered to safe place mean, and does Amazon ship to Hawaii.
Conclusion…
Amazon is fairly lenient when it comes to refunding lost or stolen items. Even in cases where your item was ordered from a third-party seller, Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee ensures that your order is protected, and you are entitled to a refund in most situations where the package ends up lost or stolen.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask away in the comments section.