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Original poster

Is DP BU to keep a tv Amazon sent him in error?

90 replies

Tadpolle · 30/11/2023 20:37

It looks from the weight label on the big box the tv came in, and the email notification, Amazon think they've delivered some cheap small batteries he ordered.

But the batteries came yesterday and today it's a big tv worth about £450. He didn't order or pay for it.

His current plan is to keep it intact in packaging for a few weeks and if nothing happens, use it as our tv.

Had anything like this happened to you? Is this technically a crime? Would Amazon even care given then scale of the operation and the time of year? I've been told by them not to bother returning erroneous deliveries before. Is DP being U to keep it?

OP posts:
Surelytheresaneasierway · 02/12/2023 08:06

I can believe the number of people who are saying keep quiet and then just keep it. It’s not yours, you didn’t pay for it.
Also - the people saying Amazon is a big company so it doesn’t matter.. do you tell your kids it’s okay to steal a mars bar from Tesco?

DoktorPeppa · 02/12/2023 08:09

Tell them, and there's a good chance they'll just say keep it.

I've always found Amazon customer service to be excellent, no quibble, great at issuing refunds if things haven't arrived etc.

Wheelz46 · 02/12/2023 08:13

Could be a fraudster who has set up a fake account in your husband's name and address with the intention of changing the address once the address has been established.

Then any future goods could be sent to another address but in your husbands name and he will never know.

Best to act now as someone maybe trying to steal his identity. With that in mind, I would get him to check his credit report over the next couple of months.

Working in fraud, I have seen this happen.

SgtBilko · 02/12/2023 08:16

Tadpolle · 30/11/2023 21:03

Thanks for your perspectives. Interesting about the hack/ scam possibility but he's not had the money go out of his account nor is it showing on his Amazon account.

I've heard similar before about it being too much trouble to get returns back on their system and they tell you just to keep mistakenly sent things.

It’s not an inexpensive item they will necessarily write off. It’s morally wrong but also impacts everyone in the long run with increased pricing. It’s basically stealing.

IAmAnIdiot123 · 02/12/2023 08:21

Optimist1 · 02/12/2023 07:30

I find this hard to believe. I bought a TV from Amazon a couple of weeks ago (only a bit more expensive than the one you had delivered, OP) and they sent a security password I had to give the delivery driver when it came. I'd had similar last year when I bought a new laptop from them.

But the amazon sales system that generates these codes thinks it is batteries. What's most likely happened is someone printed the battery order delivery label twice in error then the picker has just slapped the second one on the next expected order item without scanning.

SgtBilko · 02/12/2023 08:21

ActDottie · 02/12/2023 06:58

Tbh I’d keep it, but as your husband says keep it in its packaging for a month or so and if you hear nothing keep it.

Morally wrong but I think there’s far more morally wrong things people do. Amazon is a massive company it’s not like he’s keeping it and not returning it to a small independent.

And you don’t think we all pay for it in the long run?

Yes, Amazon should pay more taxes but those saying that’s a reason for keeping the tv are wrong. We will all pay with increased pricing, poor service and shoddier goods. Same with any shoplifted goods. Frankly, if Amazon turned up with a massive tv in a box that I wasn’t expecting I would refuse the delivery. Who knows what you might end up paying for and in what way.

TheMildManneredMilitant · 02/12/2023 08:22

I've had this with a couple of items from Amazon. The first was a mascara that I hadn't ordered but didn't bother flagging. The next was a much more expensive item at which point I worried that my account has been hacked.

I contacted Amazon who told me that my details were fine and just to keep it. I didn't get any more. I think it might have been a 'brushing' scam - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/brushing-scam-ebay-amazon-parcels-package-b1092168.html

What is a brushing scam? Why people are receiving unexpected Amazon parcels

Scammers are using names and addresses to commit fraud. Here’s how to protect yourself

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/brushing-scam-ebay-amazon-parcels-package-b1092168.html

LuluMorris · 02/12/2023 08:24

@Optimist1 This happened to me just yesterday. Not as expensive as a TV but not a cheap item nevertheless and her system would not let her leave it with me without the security code.

Personally I would be more concerned about the recipient who now has to try and prove that it wasn't delivered to them. I think your DH should do the right thing and contact someone about the error. If he gets to keep it then that's a bonus but at least he tried.

TheMildManneredMilitant · 02/12/2023 08:24

And Amazon have info on this and how to report https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G33XVXQPUV79Z2ZC

Tryingtokeepgoing · 02/12/2023 08:26

whogivesacarrot · 30/11/2023 20:43

I suggest he contacts Amazon it’s highly likely they’ll tell him to keep it anyway

I think that’s the most likely outcome come too. Amazon’s system for dealing with things delivered but not ordered does seem generally to be just to leave it. A few years ago now, I’d ordered some garden furniture from Amazon. Not cheap, not expensive - £500 or so I think. A delivery turned up shortly after, but the order was still showing as outstanding on my account. I called to let them know I had it, but they could see no record of it having been delivered. The only way they could stop me getting a second delivery was to cancel it on their system, but that generated a refund to my credit card. At that point I had the furniture and my money. They couldn’t have been less interested and said as far as they could see I hadn’t had a delivery and didn’t need to pay anything. So I didn’t. I suspect mine was drop shipped directly by a supplier - perhaps that’s the case here too.

KnickerlessParsons · 02/12/2023 08:37

It's stealing. DH has something he didn't pay for and doesn't belong to him.

Original poster
Tadpolle · 02/12/2023 09:39

Optimist1 · 02/12/2023 07:30

I find this hard to believe. I bought a TV from Amazon a couple of weeks ago (only a bit more expensive than the one you had delivered, OP) and they sent a security password I had to give the delivery driver when it came. I'd had similar last year when I bought a new laptop from them.

He ordered some small cheap batteries, the email came saying your batteries have been delivered and the label on the Xbox packaging (a plain brown Amazon box) said 0.2kg package weight.

That's why we think it's an error and they think he's just had the batteries he bought.

OP posts:
Drhow · 02/12/2023 09:41

I’m surprised they didn’t ask him for a PIN number when they delivered it? We had a switch delivered from Amazon yesterday and had to give the driver a pin before he’d let us have it.

Original poster
Tadpolle · 02/12/2023 09:44

I honestly think they thought it was the low value batteries order which is why there wasn't any security around the delivery.

Also- it wasn't a tv it was an Xbox, as I accidentally said in my post just now. It was an Xbox worth about £450. I said tv to avoid outing myself to MN using chums who know about the Xbox in real life!

All other details true, but readers, it's an Xbox.

OP posts:
GuinnessBird · 02/12/2023 09:44

I'd keep it, Amazon are a shit stain.

keye · 02/12/2023 09:46

Is he that desperate for an Xbox?

That a really unattractive trait. If he actually wanted an Xbox why did he not buy one?

RitaFires · 02/12/2023 09:55

We had this happen during covid with a laptop, it was mislabeled as a different product which we then received the next day.
We told them and they asked for it to be returned and we asked for them to send someone to collect it because we were shielding. They refused so we had to go to the post office to return it, despite never ordering it and being honest enough to report it, the customer service staff made it into quite an ordeal.

Schoolrunmumbun · 02/12/2023 10:13

keye · 02/12/2023 09:46

Is he that desperate for an Xbox?

That a really unattractive trait. If he actually wanted an Xbox why did he not buy one?

Maybe he/they don't have £450 going spare for a luxury item? Seems plausible...

ttcat37 · 02/12/2023 10:19

Keeping it would be theft in my opinion.

Minfilia · 02/12/2023 10:20

Morally it would be really wrong. Legally it’s still theft because he knows he isn’t entitled to the goods and he’s permanently depriving the real owner.

So yes, he should contact Amazon and get it collected! You’d be a pretty scummy person not to.

cottonstar · 02/12/2023 10:29

I can’t see how this could happen, especially as the batteries were received the day before. If it was addressed to your husband has he definitely not ordered it for himself (you can archive orders on your account so they don’t show and it sounds like he has his own bank account too). If not, I’d be wary of some sort of scam and I’d contact Amazon about it.

blackfluffycat · 02/12/2023 10:33

I had something sent in error. My address but another name.

I opened it without looking at the label. I googled it and it was £60 for a bikini. Small business who make neon clubbing clothes. I sent it back. The person who ordered on my door with a man. I'm not sure she believed I had returned it. I was sort of hoping for an acknowledgment from the company / woman. £60 is a lot if money to me and I wonder now if I should have sold it.

keye · 02/12/2023 10:34

@Schoolrunmumbun

Maybe he/they don't have £450 going spare for a luxury item? Seems plausible...

Then he doesn't get an Xbox. Simple.

BrokenBonesStixStones · 02/12/2023 10:34

I would let them know.

Although bought via Amazon it may not be Amazon selling it, even if it was fulfilled by Amazon. Amazon are notoriously bad to their sellers, most of which are small businesses. And even if Amazon have sent it out in error it will most likely come out of the business’s pocket. They are holding £3k of mine since 2020.

Ihatethenewlook · 02/12/2023 10:39

Pmsl at these replies 😂 keep the telly op