You've ordered something on Amazon and are excitedly waiting for your package to arrive. Weeks have passed and your Amazon order still hasn't arrived. What are you doing?
Amazon has an excellent track record of getting orders to customers in record time. But problems always happen. When they do arise, you need to know how to fix them quickly.
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Fortunately, Amazon offers a number of resources to help with this situation.
Check the status of your order on Amazon
It can be frustrating if you ordered something on Amazon and haven't received it. Have you spent your hard-earned money online and the last thing you want is not to be able to buy something?
If you are concerned about the status of your order, you can always do so by logging into your Amazon account and selectingReturns and Ordersin the menu.

In this section, subOrderlink and you'll see all orders sorted by when they were most recently placed.

Each order shows the status. If shipped, the product's ship date will be displayed. Below the delivery date, you'll also see a note on exactly where the product was delivered.
It will be in this condition if it is delivered to your door or mailbox.

If your Amazon order status is Delivery Not Received, you can choosetrack shipmentGet more details.
On the details page you will see the shipping address and most importantlytrack the numberWith any delivery used to track the package.

You can use this tracking ID on the USPS or UPS website (whichever you use) to get more details about your delivery.
Tracking details on the UPS or USPS website will detail any shipping issues.
if you chooseview all updatesIn the Delivery section, you will see a more detailed timeline of the delivery process for this package.

Typically, if the first delivery attempt is unsuccessful, this detailed list of delivery updates will include the date the issue occurred and a brief reason for the failure.
Again, you can use the Tracking ID on the postal service website for more details.
Amazon order not shipped
If your Amazon order has been processing for a long time and has not been shipped, there could be several reasons.
Delivery times for third-party sellers
One of the most common reasons why delivery times may be longer than usual is that your purchase was not shipped from Amazon.
If a third-party seller (Amazon Marketplace seller) fulfills the order, you may experience extended delivery times.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, as when you order, the estimated delivery date is shown below the price.

If the delivery date is beyond the estimated date, you can choosecontact sellerAsk about the status of your shipment on the order details page.
If the order matchesAmazon affiliate(again this will be stated on the order page) You can then contactAmazon customer serviceAsk why your Amazon order has not been received.
Amazon prioritizes certain items
During times of national crisis where Amazon delivery services are limited, you may notice that your order is in a "pending" status for longer than expected.
This happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when Amazon saw a sharp increase in online shopping orders. During this time, Amazon prioritizes household items, medical supplies, or other important items.
This resulted in increased lead times for other items.
Natural events that prevent childbirth
Another issue that could affect Amazon deliveries is during a regional crisis. For example, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, and ice storms can affect a delivery service's ability to deliver packages to your door.
If you live in an area where such service delays are expected, Amazon recommends that you estimate an additional 2 to 3 business days. If this is the case, you should see this new delivery date on the order status page. If not, please contact Amazon customer service to confirm.
Amazon order shipped but not received

If your order status on Amazon is "Delivered" but you haven't received your package, there may be several valid reasons. Items may be returned to Amazon as undeliverable under the following circumstances.
- Small D.E. Box: Your shipping address is a PO Box. Boxes that are too small to pack.
- incorrect address: If important information is missing from the shipping address, such as an apartment number.
- previous address: You have mistakenly selected your old address as the shipping address.
- unsafe site: Your house or apartment is not a safe place to leave packages because of dangerous weather or a hidden spot where packages are prone to being stolen.
- Inaccessible: If the delivery requires you to go through a buzzer or security gate and the delivery person cannot enter your apartment or home to make the delivery.
- Reformatory: Prison restrictions do not allow delivery to be completed.
- failed delivery attempt: Packages valued over $1,300 require a signature, after 3 failed attempts the delivery driver was unable to obtain a signature.
- transportation problem: Sorting issues or damaged labels may result in failed shipments.
- Recipient rejects: If the person at the address didn't expect the package and refused the delivery.
Any of these situations can cause the delivery to fail. In these cases, the package will be delivered to Amazon and you will receive your refund.
You will usually see one of the above statuses on the order status page and need to wait for the package to be returned to Amazon to receive a refund.
Actions to take with Amazon or the seller
What to do if your Amazon order didn't arrive? You are out of luck. There are a number of things you can do to find out where your package is.
Click on the seller's link and ask a question
On your order status page, you'll see a link to the seller's page next to "Sold" under the product title.

On the seller page, you will see many options. you can chooseask a questionAnd ask questions about your product directly to the seller.

You can also chooseReturns and Refunds,distribute,politician, thisplease helpLinks to more information on Shipping, Refund and Return Policies. You can also find some additional customer service links to contact the seller.
Cancel or change your shipping speed
If you don't want to deal with this hassle at all, simply return to your order status page and select Cancel Item to cancel your order.
This is only possible if the order status does not already show "delivered".

you can alsoChanges in delivery speedGet items faster. However, this will only work if the status does not show shipped and the seller has not shipped the item. This usually happens if the status is still showing as pending.
Why is it safer to buy "Fulfilled by Amazon"?
One of the best ways to protect yourself is to try purchasing items on Amazon using the Fulfillment by Amazon shipping method.
On third-party seller pages, you'll see it under the "Shipping" tab. The message here should be "This item is fulfilled by Amazon.com".

What does it mean?
If an item is fulfilled by Amazon, it means that third-party sellers store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers. Amazon workers will package and ship the item to you.
It also means that Amazon guarantees that the item will arrive on the date specified on the order page. It also means Amazon Prime subscribers get free shipping.
How do I know if a product is Amazon Fulfillment when I buy it? You will see this belowAdd to CartUnite. This indicates who the seller is and whether the item is fulfilled by Amazon.

If you see this status, all of Amazon's delivery and protection guarantees apply to the order.
Amazon Warranty and Insurance
When Amazon fulfills an order, you have two types of protection. A to Z Warranty and Delivery Guaranteed.
Guaranteed from start to finish
This guarantee means that you will receive the product within the date range specified on the order page. It also guarantees that the product will be in perfect condition when you receive it.
If any of these don't apply, you can report the problem to Amazon and get a refund. Amazon provides refunds under this guarantee under the following circumstances:
- You have not received your package more than three days after the longest estimated delivery date.
- Your order status shows shipped, but your Amazon order has not been received.
- You received a product that was not what you ordered and requested a return through the order status page.
- You returned the product, but the seller did not refund your money.
Under this guarantee, you can request a refund within 90 days of the maximum estimated delivery date.
When you have finished purchasing a product or item in your cart, you will see an estimated delivery date.

This means that as long as your products are fulfilled by Amazon, you can always trust that you will be protected.
notes: Digital products are not covered under warranty, so be extra careful and buy direct from Amazonwhen you buy online.
guaranteed delivery
Amazon Guaranteed Delivery means that if Amazon ships the item after the longest estimated delivery date, your shipping costs may be refunded.
There are a few conditions for return shipping.
- The shipping method you choose corresponds to the shipping options listed on the product page.
- You have entered a correct address that meets the requirements.
- You placed your order before the "Order" countdown on the checkout page expired.
- Confirmed delivery dates can be found from Amazon's confirmation email after you place your order.
Note that if Amazon misses a delivery due to a natural disaster or other event beyond Amazon's control, the Guaranteed Delivery Fee will not be refunded.
For refunds, please visitAmazon contact uspage and clickstart a conversation now.Please note that you want to apply for a Guaranteed Delivery Fee or a Guaranteed Return, whichever applies.
FAQs
How do I notify Amazon that I did not receive an item? ›
- Sign in to your Amazon account and go to your orders.
- Select the item yet to arrive and select the Problem with order button next to it. ...
- Follow the prompts to select the reason for the claim (starting with the I didn't get this option).
- Submit your claim, and Amazon will take it up.
If we provide a guaranteed delivery date and a delivery attempt isn't made by this date, we'll refund any shipping fees associated with that order.
What do I do if my package says delivered but I never got it? ›- Carrier may have placed it in a safer location, please check: ...
- Check your mailbox again as some packages come separately from your regular mail.
- Check with others in your house that may have accepted it.
Amazon automatically refunds delivery charges if you don't get your Morning, Same-Day, One-Day, or Two-Day Delivery by the promised date. Refunds go to your Amazon Pay balance. If you choose Pay on Delivery (POD), you first pay the full order cost, then, you get a delivery refund.
Do I get a refund if my package isn't delivered? ›If you've ordered a package to be delivered to your house and it arrives late, you have a right to contact the retail company for a refund. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations—laws established in 2014 to regulate purchases made online or over the phone—you're entitled to request a refund for late packages.
How do I report a stolen Amazon package? ›- Sign in to your Amazon account and click "Your Orders."
- Find the order in question and select "Problem with Order."
- You will then be prompted to select the problem with your order. Enter that your package has not arrived.
- Finally, hit "Request Refund" and submit.
In most cases, the seller will investigate the missing package or send a new item.
Who pays for an Amazon package not delivered? ›Amazon will investigate your claim. If the seller cannot show proof of delivery, Amazon will return the money to the payment method you used to buy the product.
Does Amazon compensate for late delivery? ›If we provide a guaranteed delivery date on the checkout page, your shipping fees may be refunded if we miss our promised delivery date. The following requirements must be met to qualify for a delivery guarantee refund: Shipping method selected is shipping option advertised on a product detail page.
How many Amazon packages are stolen? ›As of 2021, 23 million Americans have had their packages stolen from their homes. For Amazon lost packages, an average of 51 packages a year got reported missing or stolen. Porch pirates have taken advantage of the rise of e-commerce due to the pandemic to steal from others.
How long does it take for a Amazon refund? ›
Refund Method | Refund Time (After Refund Is Processed) |
---|---|
Credit card | Three to five business days |
Amazon.com Gift Card | Two to three hours |
Debit card | Up to 10 business days |
Checking account | Up to 10 business days |
How does Informed Delivery work? As mailpieces travel through the USPS® network, they go through high-speed sorting machines, which take a picture of the front (the side with the address). Informed Delivery shows you grayscale images of those mailpieces arriving soon to your address.
Does UPS take pictures of delivered packages? ›The carrier will take a photo of your package being delivered so you know exactly where the package was placed. Our researchers then contacted major mail carriers: UPS, FedEx, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service. RELATED: VERIFY: Amazon Prime doesn't guarantee two-day deliveries.
What to do if USPS delivers to wrong address? ›For other misdelivered mail items (such as letters): If the mailpiece is delivered to the wrong location: Don't erase or mark over the information, or write any type of endorsement on the mailpiece. Place the item back in the mailbox or hand the item back to your mailperson.
Who is responsible for package delivered to wrong address? ›The short answer is: The seller, which means you, the business owner. Obviously, if you printed the wrong address on the shipping label, didn't include a return address, or poorly packaged the item, it's 100% on you to compensate the customer with a new shipment or a refund.
Do Amazon take photos of delivery? ›We may take a photo on delivery when a package is unattended. Photo on delivery shows you that your package is safe on arrival. The photo shows the location of your package. Delivery photos may appear in Track your package in Your Orders.
Does USPS take proof of delivery? ›Proof of Delivery is only available for items where a Signature Confirmation™ service has been purchased or is included in the mail class: Signature Confirmation™ Service. Restricted Delivery. Adult Signature Required.
Is a picture proof of delivery? ›Runners have to take a photo as Proof of Delivery (POD) if the recipient isn't present and the parcel hasn't been claimed by anyone else.
Why does Amazon not take pictures of delivery? ›Delivery photos are only taken when Amazon Logistics (AMZL) delivers a package to an unattended location. Amazon Logistics is Amazon's delivery service. The idea is to show customers that their order was delivered on time and to the correct location.
What happens if a delivery is stolen? ›Who is responsible if a package is stolen? The retailer is responsible for delivering a parcel safely to you. If it's stolen, you should contact them to arrange a refund or replacement. But if you told the courier to leave your parcel in a safe place, then you're responsible for it going missing or being stolen.
How do I get proof of delivery? ›
- Go to USPS Tracking at tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input.
- Enter a valid tracking number.
- Select “Proof of Delivery.”
- Provide your contact information.
While it may be tempting to shred or throw away this mail, doing so may constitute a felony. Obstruction of correspondence is a federal criminal offense. Upon conviction, you may face up to five years in prison for destroying someone else's mail.
Can you open a package that has your address but not your name? ›The short answer is “yes.” Opening or destroying mail that is addressed to someone else is a crime called “Obstruction of Correspondence.” It is a serious felony that could lead to prison time.
Can I keep a package I didn't order? ›Is this legal? Under state and federal law, recipients of unordered merchandise may keep the goods and are under no obligation to pay for or return them. The recipient may treat the merchandise as an unconditional gift—and may use or dispose of the merchandise as he or she sees fit.
Is it illegal to keep misdelivered packages? ›Stealing or receiving stolen mail is a federal crime punishable by a fine and up to five years in prison pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1708. However, circuit courts are split as to whether § 1708 applies to both misdelivered and misaddressed mail.
Can I keep packages delivered to my house by mistake? ›Legally, you're allowed to keep a mistaken delivery. Surprising, right? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rules that allow you to keep merchandise that's wrongly delivered — even if you didn't pay for it. The logic is that sellers can't just send you goods and demand money for them.
Is it legal to keep a misdelivered package? ›The FTC says: If you receive merchandise that you didn't order, you have a legal right to keep it as a free gift.