Stolen Amazon Packages: Steps to Take as a Buyer or Seller

September 9, 2024

Online shopping has become a staple of modern life, with Amazon leading the charge. However, along with the perks of easy online shopping comes an occasional downside, one of the most frustrating being the theft of packages. Stolen Amazon packages can cause distress and financial loss for both buyers and sellers.

For buyers, the theft of a package results in immediate inconvenience and potential financial loss. It requires quick action to secure a replacement or refund and knowledge of how to file claim with Amazon for stolen package. Sellers, meanwhile, must address the concerns of their customers and manage the implications of these incidents on their reputation.

This blog post outlines the steps to take if you encounter a stolen Amazon package, whether you are the buyer or the seller, and answers how to claim stolen Amazon packages. Understanding these procedures will help you handle such incidents efficiently and maintain trust in the e-commerce process.

Determining if Your Amazon Package is Stolen or Missing

If you haven't received your Amazon package, the first step is to determine whether it is truly stolen or just delayed. Follow these steps to ascertain the situation:

Check Your Order Status

Before you claim stolen package, Amazon might have answers to what happened. Log in to your Amazon account and check the order status. If the package is marked as delivered but you haven't received it, note the delivery time. Additionally, double-check if the delivery address is correct. Also, check if the driver has uploaded a photo of proof – it might tell you if the package was delivered to your house or some other.

Wait 48 Hours

Sometimes, packages are marked as delivered while they are still in transit. It's advisable to wait 48 hours before you file an Amazon stolen package claim, as the package may still arrive within this window.

Contact Neighbors

Ask your neighbors if they received the package on your behalf or if they saw it being delivered. Misdeliveries to nearby addresses or instances where neighbors collect the package so that it isn't left at your doorstep for thieves to see are common.

If the package was never delivered, it might be a lost order case, and you’ll have to file a different claim. See how to do it in this article.

Review Security Footage

If you have security cameras, review the footage around the expected delivery time. This can provide evidence of whether the package was delivered or if it was taken by someone. This evidence might be useful when filing the Amazon package stolen claim.

File a Stolen Amazon Package Claim After 48 Hours

If 48 hours have passed and the package still hasn't arrived, it's time to file a stolen package Amazon claim. This initiates the process for investigating the issue and potentially issuing a replacement or refund.

How to File a Stolen Package Claim with Amazon

If you have determined that your Amazon package was indeed stolen, you can file a claim with Amazon to resolve the issue. There are two primary methods for how to file Amazon stolen package claim: through the Amazon chat service or directly through your order history.

How to Claim a Stolen Amazon Package: Amazon Chat

  1. Open the Amazon Chat: Navigate to the Amazon Help page and initiate a chat session.
  2. Select the Topic: Choose the “An item I ordered” topic.
  3. Provide Your Order Number: Have your order number ready and explain the situation to the Amazon representative. They will instruct you how to claim stolen package from Amazon and help you along the way.

How to Claim a Stolen Package: Amazon Orders

  1. Go to Your Orders: Log in to your Amazon account and go to the “Your Orders” section.
  2. Select the Order in Question: Find and select the order that corresponds to the missing package.
  3. Click “Problem with Order”: This will start your stolen package claim Amazon owes you.
  4. Select the Tracking Number: Have your order’s tracking number ready beforehand.
  5. Choose “My package was stolen from my porch”: Select the option indicating that your package was stolen.
  6. Request a Refund: Follow the prompts to request a refund and complete the Amazon stolen package claim (Canada or any other country's citizens should follow these procedures, too; Amazon should refund you no matter where you live).

Even if you've never known how to file a claim with Amazon for stolen package, these steps will guide you through the process of obtaining a refund or replacement.

What to Do as a Seller When a Buyer Reports a Stolen Package

When a buyer contacts you about an Amazon claim, stolen package, or anything regarding it, it is crucial to address the situation promptly and professionally. As a seller, you have a responsibility to investigate the issue and determine the appropriate course of action. Here are the steps you should take:

What Was The Shipping Method?

Identify whether the shipping was handled by Amazon (Fulfilled by Amazon, FBA) or by a third-party logistics company. This distinction is important because it determines who is responsible for handling the claim.

If Shipping Was Handled by FBA

In this case, Amazon is responsible for investigating the claim and providing a refund or replacement to the buyer. Direct the buyer to Amazon’s customer service for how to file an Amazon stolen package claim.

If Shipping Was Handled by a Third-Party Logistics Company

If you used your shipping partners, not FBA, Amazon will not handle the refund or replacement. In this case, you need to take the following steps:

  1. Contact Your Shipping Partner: Reach out to your shipping partner and provide them with the details of the shipment and the buyer’s claim.
  2. File a Claim with the Shipping Partner: Ask your shipping partner how to claim Amazon package stolen and file a claim with them to investigate the issue and seek compensation or resolution.
  3. Communicate with the Buyer: Keep the buyer informed throughout the process. Explain the steps you are taking to resolve the issue and provide updates as necessary.

By handling the situation efficiently and maintaining clear communication with the buyer, you can maintain trust and mitigate any negative impact on your business reputation.

Is there an Opportunity for FBA Reimbursements?

If you are a seller using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you may be entitled to reimbursement from Amazon for lost or stolen items.

Understanding where in the supply chain the item went missing is crucial to filing a successful reimbursement claim. Here’s how you can navigate this process:

You will have to determine where in the supply chain the item went missing. This could be during shipment to the customer, within the fulfillment center, or in transit to the fulfillment center. Then, you'll have to file a reimbursement claim with Amazon. This involves providing detailed information about the missing item and any supporting documentation.

Filing reimbursement claims can be time-consuming and complex. To streamline the process, consider hiring a professional service. Regainables is one such service that specializes in identifying and recovering reimbursements for FBA sellers.

Regainables will review up to 18 months of your FBA sales data to identify any reimbursements you may be entitled to. Regainables can recover up to 3% of your total sales revenue. When using their service, you only pay for successful recoveries, and any inventory found is free of charge.

Signing up is super simple and won't cost you anything. You can sign up for Regainables services here.