Did You Know You Can Legally Purchase Unclaimed Mail Packages? Here is How

There may very well be a number of the explanation why a few of your Amazon and US Postal Service packages by no means make it to the doorstep. Typically they have been misplaced in transit from one supply truck to a different or misplaced in a warehouse. When that occurs and the packages go months with out being claimed, they are often auctioned off or find yourself on the market at native swap meets. (Amazon usually refunds prospects or replaces lacking objects.)

You would possibly bear in mind in 2021 when TikTok turned obsessive about shopping for unclaimed packages that by no means arrived. A number of TikTok creators posted movies of warehouses stuffed with thriller objects on the market and ready to be unboxed. Whereas some comprise cheaper fare like socks, TikTokers have additionally unwrapped present playing cards, Nike sneakers and name-brand purses — like real-life variations of online game loot packing containers. Postal Service auctions put a few of the objects on show earlier than buy so you possibly can have an thought of what you are getting.

We’ll let you know the way to purchase unclaimed packages from Amazon, the US Postal Service and different supply companies. We’ll additionally let you know the way to look out for firms that declare to promote thriller packing containers however may probably rip-off you as an alternative.

Test these web sites to search out auctions for unclaimed packages

If a Postal Service package deal hasn’t been claimed inside 90 days, it’s going to doubtless be auctioned on GovDeals, an organization the US Postal Companies contracts with to promote unclaimed objects. Objects may very well be bought in heaps, relatively than individually — so you could wind up with a bunch extra stuff to sift by, resell or donate. On the location, you possibly can browse classes you have an interest in, reminiscent of sporting tools, magnificence provides and clothes.

The web site Liquidation helps you to select the corporate you are eager about shopping for bulk packages from, together with Amazon, Goal, Walmart, Lowe’s and House Depot. For some objects, you possibly can see what you are bidding on, however different listings will solely present you photos of the packing containers or pallets and the class it falls underneath, in addition to an estimated retail value. Relying on the dimensions and weight of the objects you get, you possibly can anticipate delivery to be upward of $100. 

An Amazon spokesperson advised CNET that if an undelivered package deal arrives again at Amazon, an worker removes the merchandise from the packaging and inspects it to find out whether or not the merchandise could be resold. If not, it is bought to different prospects or liquidators, returned to suppliers or donated to charitable organizations.

The place to buy undelivered Amazon and Postal Service packages

If you happen to’re seeking to purchase objects that had been by no means delivered, you possibly can seek for distributors in your space to see if there is a native swap meet or different locations that promote undelivered objects. Web sites like Swap Insanity may also help you determine a vendor that would have packages on the market — for example, a flea market stall.

Word that some days could also be higher than others for locating packages. As an illustration, a TikToker visited Treasure Hunt in Evansville, Indiana, after it had simply been restocked with packages and located an enormous variety of objects for buy. A reporter from Insider visited the identical retailer on a weekday proper earlier than the shop restocked and located every part picked over. 

If you happen to’re planning to journey a number of hours to go to one in every of these shops, we suggest calling forward to search out out when shipments are scheduled to reach.

Look out for scams and keep away from theft

Except you possibly can see precisely what you are shopping for, you could run the danger of buying objects that are not useful to you. What you need to keep away from is placing cash within the fingers of somebody who provides you nothing.

We advise checking the Higher Enterprise Bureau web site and studying buyer opinions to verify the vendor is legit. One firm I discovered on the BBB web site had opinions from prospects who reported not receiving their packages after many months and getting pretend monitoring numbers.

For legit sellers and sources, we suggest going by sanctioned unclaimed package deal auctions, like GovDeals.

What to learn about unclaimed UPS and FedEx packages

FedEx and UPS don’t specify on their websites what they do with packages that go unclaimed, though some Reddit customers say UPS  sends the objects to be auctioned.

For extra, take a look at our favourite Amazon procuring tip to get main reductions.