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Where to find these mysterious packages—and what they’re worth
Co-authored byScott Nelson, JDand Janice Tieperman
Last Updated: May 27, 2024Fact Checked
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- Can you buy unclaimed Amazon packages? |
- Best Sites and Stores |
- Are Unclaimed Packages Worth It? |
- Unclaimed Packages Condition |
- Avoiding Scams |
- Video |
- Tips
Interested in buying unclaimed Amazon packages? With all of the “mystery box” TikToks going around, the world of at-home treasure hunting seems more appealing than ever. You can get in on this exciting pastime, too—and we’re here to help you get started. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide that walks you through exactly where and how to buy these packages (without getting scammed in the process). Soon, you’ll be the proud owner of some potentially valuable Amazon treasures!
Where to Buy Unclaimed Amazon Packages
- Look for unclaimed packages on liquidation sites like liquidation.com and govdeal.com.
- Search Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, eBay, and Craigslist for unclaimed packages.
- Research sellers on the Better Business Bureau before buying to avoid getting scammed.
Section 1 of 5:
Can you buy unclaimed Amazon packages?
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Yes, you can legally buy unclaimed Amazon packages. Plenty of Amazon packages get unclaimed each year, leaving a pretty big collection of parcels just sitting around. While Amazon usually does their due diligence in refunding customers or sending them a new version of the lost item, the original package remains unclaimed and up for grabs.[1]
- USPS also sells off or gives away some of their unclaimed packages that aren’t picked up within 60 days by the intended recipient.[2]
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Section 2 of 5:
Best Sites and Stores for Unclaimed Amazon Packages
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1
Bid for unclaimed Amazon packages on liquidation websites. A lot of Amazon packages are sold to auction sites like Liquidation.com, which sells Amazon products in bulk. An advantage of liquidation sites is being able to see the type of product you’re buying, rather than being totally in the dark.[3]
- Check out https://www.liquidation.com/c/amazon to see what types of products are available. This website also sells bulk products from other major retailers like Target.
- Since you’re buying bulk items from liquidation websites, the shipping costs tend to be more expensive.
- USPS often sends some of their unclaimed packages to https://www.govdeals.com/, a website that also sells unclaimed items in large quantities.
2
Order unclaimed Amazon packages on e-commerce websites. Sites like eBay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and Craiglist often sell a lot of unclaimed “mystery” packages. Just type “unclaimed Amazon packages” in the search boxes on these sites to see what comes up.[4]
- eBay: https://www.ebay.com/
- Poshmark: https://poshmark.com/
- Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=%2Fmarketplace%2F
- Craiglist: https://craigslist.org
- eBay sellers list unclaimed or returned packages at different price points, ranging from $20 to over $100.
3
Buy unclaimed Amazon packages at a physical store or swap meet. Some physical stores sell mystery Amazon boxes that customers can buy in person. You can also find unclaimed packages being sold at swap meets in your area.[5]
- Check out https://www.swapmadness.com/ to find a swap meet near you.
- Some of these stores are pretty popular, so it might be worth calling beforehand to see what their stock is looking like.[6]
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Section 3 of 5:
How do you know what unclaimed Amazon packages are worth?
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1
Check the price listing on a liquidation site to find the exact value of your Amazon package. Liquidation sites post what they’re selling, so you know exactly what you’re getting when you place an order. Just keep in mind that liquidation sites often sell in bulk, so the items may be a bit pricier than you’d originally expect.[7]
- Since liquidation items sell in bulk, the shipping prices can be pretty high, too.
2
There’s no way to know if you’re buying the package from an e-commerce site, physical store, or swap meet. When you’re buying a mystery package from these places, you’re getting a physical, unopened package—so, it’s impossible to know if your item is really valuable or low-quality. Some mystery shoppers have reported getting designer-label purses in their packages, while other people have gotten clothing items that didn’t fit them.[8]
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Section 4 of 5:
Are unclaimed Amazon packages in good condition?
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Section 5 of 5:
Avoiding Scams
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1
Research the seller on Better Business Bureau (BBB) before buying any packages. Head to https://www.bbb.org/ and type in the name of the unclaimed package’s seller to see what comes up. BBB contains trustworthy ratings and customer reviews, so you can make an informed decision before buying anything.[10]
- Sites like https://www.liquidation.com/c/amazon and https://www.govdeals.com/ are definitely reliable, so you don’t have to worry about researching them beforehand.
2
Check seller reviews on an e-commerce site. Click or tap on the seller’s profile and see what past customers have said. Are they happy with their purchases, or did the seller scam them or send them low-quality products? Make sure that the seller has consistent, high-quality reviews before purchasing any packages from them.[11]
- On eBay, click or tap on the seller’s username to access all of their reviews and feedback.
3
Inspect the seller’s website to see if it looks fake. Auction sites like https://www.govdeals.com/ and https://www.liquidation.com/index are totally legit and vetted, but you’ll need to do some extra digging if you’re buying packages from an independent auction or seller website. Here are some red flags to be on the lookout for:
- Misspelled domain names or email addresses (like Amason instead of Amazon)
- Poor-quality pictures and unprofessional website layout
- A lack of contact info
- Websites attached to subdomains (ebay.com.shopping.com)[12]
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Tips
When bidding for items on a liquidation site, try “jump bidding” instead. With “jump bidding,” you over-bid slightly on the item that you want. Researchers agree that people who jump bid don’t have to submit as many total bids in the auction.[13]
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When shopping for mystery packages in person, try arriving as early as possible. That way, the shop is more likely to have unclaimed Amazon packages still in stock.
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If you do see or fall for a scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency.
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About This Article
Co-authored by:
Scott Nelson, JD
Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department
This article was co-authored by Scott Nelson, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. Scott has received extensive training through the National Computer Forensics Institute and holds forensic certifications from Cellbrite, Blackbag, Axiom Forensics, and others. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law. This article has been viewed 343,437 times.
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Updated: May 27, 2024
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