Want to buy unclaimed postal packages? It’s easy and legal with these sites
In the age of Amazon, there is a good chance that a package will be ‘lost in transit’. This can happen for a variety of reasons, with your precious package possibly getting lost during a transfer between trucks, lost in a warehouse, or perhaps even being held up due to an error in the shipping information.
While the intended recipient may shrug off this scenario as an annoyance and press the seller for a refund or replacement, it’s not the end of the story for the original package they never received. As long as the items aren’t lost at sea or stolen by bad actors, these unclaimed packages can be auctioned off by whatever entity tied up with them, be it Amazon, another online marketplace, or the US Postal Service – often for rock. -bottom prices.
If you’re intrigued by the possibility of finding treasure among these piles of lost goods, you can search various sites for deals or perhaps take a chance on the contents of a mysterious box.
Way back in 2021, users were buzzing with hype for social media videos about buying unclaimed packs, with creators marketing all kinds of finds like gift cards or name-brand clothing items. Fast forward to 2024 and videos about buying lots of unclaimed mail or lost Amazon packages are still getting millions of views on YouTube, further fueling interest in this new online shopping scavenger hunt.
To learn more, read how to protect packages from porch pirates and our picks for the cheapest home security systems.
When will USPS and Amazon resell undelivered packages?
Both USPS and Amazon store undelivered items for a period of time before dedicating them for resale, with the latter also taking steps to ensure the quality of the item first.
Per USPS policy, a lost or forgotten package may be sent to auction if not claimed within 90 days. For Amazon, the company similarly waits 90 days to claim an undelivered package before sending it for resale, but before that can be done, an employee must open the package and inspect the item, making sure it is is in good condition to be able to sell it. justify it being sold again.
How to buy or bid on unclaimed mail packages online
For many unclaimed packages, you can do much of the work right from your home. Visit Liquidation.comand you can choose which retailer you want to view products from, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Home Depot, Overstock, and Wayfair. This site operates on an auction format, allowing interested customers to place competitive bids on the lots they want. On these types of sites, retailers also send products returned by customers, often bundling multiple similar returned products into batches and selling them in bulk.
With a little digging, you might be able to find the items you want at bargain prices. For example, one of the lots from late September contained several Sony noise-cancelling headphones that had been returned to an unnamed electronics store. With a total MSRP of about $2,600, the highest bid on September 25 was $286, a discount of almost 90%. The only risk associated with the process with these types of products is the fact that none of the returned items have been tested, so if any item is defective you are out of luck.
For packages or items held by the Postal Service, please visit GovDeals.comthat handles a variety of government surplus resales. This includes consumer goods that may have arrived in the mail, such as clothing, beauty products, sporting goods, or video games. You can also find items that fall into a whole host of other categories, sourced from other government agencies, allowing those with deeper pockets to bid on farm equipment, aircraft or even garbage trucks.
The viral nature of these unclaimed mail lots has also led to the creation of FunDelivered.com. With its colorful site design and motto “A Little Fun Never Hurt Anyone,” FunDelivered capitalizes on the thrill of gambling on these lost packages by exclusively selling customers “mystery boxes” full of unclaimed items. The store is restocked with new bundles every Friday at 12pm ET (9am PT).
Try purchasing these unclaimed items in person
If you would prefer to see the items in person, check for an unclaimed package at a local swap meet. Exchange madness This allows you to browse vendors who may have these items for sale, broken down by state and city. These offers are not a guarantee that you will find an unclaimed package sale at any time, so it is advisable to call ahead to find out before you go.
To learn more, check out our guide to making shopping lists with Google Home and what you need to know about the next Amazon Prime Day.
