What Happens to Unclaimed Packages
Sometimes packages can’t be delivered as addressed for one (very legitimate) reason or another. In such cases, packages are supposed to be delivered back to the sender, but sometimes it is impossible. What happens to unclaimed packages that cannot be returned to sender?
There are many possible reasons leading to unclaimed packages. The most common ones include:
- An incomplete, wrong, or unreadable address / unscannable barcode on the shipping label
- Three failed delivery attempts
- The delivery required a signature, but the recipient was unavailable at the delivery address
- The recipient refused to accept the package
- The package was too large to fit in the mailbox and/or could not be left in a secure place
- The recipient moved out without requesting mail forwarding to their new address
Unclaimed packages are supposed to get returned to sender, but sometimes it doesn’t happen due to errors in the return address, damaged or missing shipping label, or other reasons. Such packages are taken to a special storage facility (for example, the USPS has the Mail Recovery Center) that acts as the carrier’s “lost and found” department.
There, packages are scanned to determine whether they contain items of value (i.e. whether the contents are worth more than a certain amount). Those that do are opened in an attempt to identify where they can be returned or forwarded. If employees are unable to identify the return/forwarding address, unclaimed packages are held at the facility for a set amount of time in case they are claimed by the rightful owner (sender or recipient). The USPS holds barcoded mailpieces for 60 days and non-barcoded mailpieces for 30 days.
Unedliverable and non-returnable packages that have not been claimed within the set time limit are disposed of. The USPS disposes of unclaimed packages in three main ways:
- Paper, cardboard, metals, food items, etc. are trashed, recycled, or shredded.
- Certain items are donated to charitable or welfare organizations.
- Merchandise is sold in lots at official auctions held by contracted companies.
Other shipping carriers typically follow similar procedures; there are liquidation companies that sell unclaimed merchandise from Amazon, Walmart and other retailers individually, by pallets, or as mystery packages.
It is important to understand that carriers are no longer legally responsible for unclaimed packages once the determined waiting period is other, so they are within their rights to sell, donate, or destroy such packages. They follow strict protocols to ensure that packages are indeed undeliverable before disposing of them, and all personal and sensitive information on unclaimed packages is disposed of before they are donated or sold.
So, how to make sure that your package returns to the sender if unclaimed instead of being sold or destroyed? First and foremost, you need to make sure that the return address on the package is correct. The best way to do it is to print your shipping labels yourself: this way, you can double- and even triple-check everything before paying for postage and printing the label (and get a shipping discount, which is a nice bonus).
Your next step is making sure that the label is attached properly and protected from the elements. The best way to protect it is to get a self-adhesive address pouch from the carrier. It is made from clear plastic that will protect the shipping label from damage and humidity but won’t interfere with scanning the barcode. You can use clear packing tape to affix the address pouch more securely, but please don’t tape over the barcode; the tape’s reflective surface might make it harder to scan.
It’s also advisable to put a copy of the shipping label inside the package in case something happens to the label on the box so that the return address can be identified once the package is opened at the “lost and found” facility.