Getting misdelivered packages during the holiday season? Here’s how I handled it | Opinion
When you live in a rental house, sometimes it seems the ghosts of previous residents linger.
Very real are their packages, however, and they just keep coming this time of year.
Instead of porch pirates, I’m getting unwanted packages sent to my address but not to me. And it’s taking up a lot of my time dealing with them.
It started back in June, when someone thought they had rented the house I was moving into. I got their packages for several weeks after that.
And it continued in October, when I received a large box from Target. I knew I hadn’t ordered anything and when I looked at the shipping label, a name different from my own was on the box with my address.
Just this week, I have received two boxes, one from Pottery Barn and one from Amazon. Again, right address, but wrong owner.
There are several questions that I had, and you may have, as a person who receives packages that you did not order but were mistakenly left on your doorstep.
First off, can you keep a package that does not belong to you, even though it was delivered to your legal address? Well, the answer is … maybe not.
Many sources cite 39 U.S. Code § 3009 - Mailing of unordered merchandise, which states the recipient may keep any unordered merchandise “as a gift.” The Federal Trade Commission also says yes. (What would you do? Take our survey below.)
In Missouri, there is a similar law, Title XXVI: “Where unsolicited merchandise is delivered to a person for whom it is intended, such person has a right to refuse to accept delivery of this merchandise or he may deem it to be a gift and use it or dispose of it in any manner without any obligation to the sender.”
But the problem here is the phrase “for whom it is intended.” The packages I received were not intended for me. They were misdelivered.
This is different than a package intended for a different person and address but ends up at your place.
Play it safe: Try to get the package to the right owner. But how can you find them if the only address on the box is yours?
Reaching out to Target, Pottery Barn, Amazon
I’ve found using social media can be helpful when trying to contact companies. When I received the Target box, I reached out to the company on X (formerly known as Twitter) and they told me to keep the items (a doormat, makeup and dog treats); they would get the order to the right people.
How surprised was I when the actual people came to my door asking for their box. There they were, standing on the “Happy Fall” doormat they had ordered. I hoped they didn’t notice. We told them that they should be hearing from Target, and they did. Problem solved.
Next, the package from Pottery Barn: Again, I reached out to the company on X. They took too long to respond, so I contacted UPS, the deliverer. They took the tracking number and picked it up the next day. Hopefully, the owner gets their package or a refund.
Next was from Amazon, the easiest to work with, once you find the link on the website.
When I submitted the unwanted package form, and put in the tracking number, a representative thanked me and told me to keep the package. Anyone want a vegan cookbook in gift wrapping?
These interactions can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, if you don’t know how to do the reporting, and that’s precious time you could spend decking your halls or making merry.
Still, I know I’d want to receive orders I paid for or gifts someone sent to me. And because I think that whole unwanted merchandise code is a little murky unless the package has your name on it, I’d take the time if I were you.
