£400 item delivered to my Dad by mistake

First of all, I'd ask where his £15 order is then I would explain that you'd received the £400 item
I would ask them to collect at their own expense. Their mistake not your DF

Consumer Law of some sort

If someone sends you something you didn't ask for, randomly, its unsolicited goods, and you are allowed to keep them. But for a high value item they may request its return if they clock on.

If you've ordered something and they've made a mistake, as with the OP, and sent the wrong thing, then its not unsolicited, they still belong to the seller. So its on you to let them know to come and get it. But you don't have to inconvenience yourself in any way, its on them to sort it.

I looked into it re the lawnmower we got unexpectedly when we'd ordered some crocus bulbs.

If it is something that requires a contract absolutely contact the vendor. There is a scam doing the rounds where a phone or similar is delivered and a few days later a person turns up asking for their item. It is handed over. The contract to pay is left with the person where it was delivered ... In this case your dad.

I get that. I ordered a box of shoes to try. It wasn’t clear that the seller was actually based in Italy (this was before Brexit). I wanted to return 4/5 pairs. The seller was going to charge me £50 to return which seemed outrageous. So I contacted customer services and they agreed that the location and return charge should have been flagged, refunded me advised I didn’t need to return them.

But… I felt bad because there were a small shoe shop in a town in Tuscany - it was nearly £500 of shoes. That would have been a lot of money smalescale seller. So I figured out it would only cost £12 to return Royal Mail international tracked - & I contacted fhen to return. They sounded so relieved it was definitely worth the hassle.

I'd tell the seller.

We had this, what we ordered didn't arrive but a considerably more expensive item did. The company had terrible reviews around issues with delivery generally, and specifically with contact made in English as they were French. So we emailed, were brushed off, then kept the item for six months before opening and using it in case they suddenly realised the error.

It's really easy to contact them through live chat online.

Where was it from?

This happened to us-well dh-about £600 worth of makita products. We contacted the supplier & they collected it. Didn't want the bad karma!

If it's an unsolicited parcel ie not connected to you placing any sort of order, you can keep it. If it's an error ie you ordered something but were sent the wrong thing, you can't.

I contacted the company when I was sent someone else’s parcel items along with mine.
i didn’t get a thank you, but they sent a sticker for the parcel, and the delivery company to collect from my house

I would contact the seller. Save everyone a lot of hassle and not have a niggly conscience.

It's hit and miss. I've had both experiences

Many would be the same people who would be all holier than thou about other morally iffy things for sure.

Very strange way of justifying things going on here

Email the sender and say the item will be available for them to collect at [times/dates when your dad will be at home] and see what happens. If no response within two weeks follow up to say they have a further 14 days to collect the item and if they don't reply you will take it that it's unwanted. Keep copies of the emails.

But you're all missing part of the story..

the dad originally ordered (and presumbly paid £15 for) an item. this item hasn't arrived. whatever did arrive is not the same thing. why hasn't he contacted the company to ask where his item is? (and see what they say about it).

If their tracking shows it's been dumped on a doorstep, rather than being properly delivered, and he reports that he hasn't received it, they will have to send it again. Personally i wouldn't be returning anything until the item i originally ordered actually showed up.

@WatchOutForBabyHaggis 100% get what you're saying but when the person with £400 equipment calls up to say they've received the wrong goods (assuming) the courier will be the one to blame because they don't know they were labelled incorrectly

It's interesting to see how many people say they would steal it. Says a lot about our society.

Wait a week and see whether the company gets in touch. If it’s from Amazon and the like, I would keep it.

This is entirety different though. The package has the correct name and address on and was delivered correctly - no possible fault on behalf of the courier.

When Amazon sent me the wrong colour £4 tinted lipbalm, they wanted me to return it!

Are you sure it isn't a gift? It's something he wants and has his name and address on, which is all too much of a coincidence to be a random delivery mistake.

If it is Amazon it can be really hard to get through to them. Their tracking details will show eg a book being delivered so it is hard to return a kettle and have actual evidence that you have returned that.

Obviously not expecting OP to return but my friend is a courier and any lost goods have to be paid by her. She would be absolutely heartbroken if she had to cover £400 at any time, let alone just before Christmas.

Me too.

How old is your dad? Could he get away with “being confused” if it came to it?

I think this sort of thing happens a lot this time of year.