£400 item delivered to my Dad by mistake

[ForMellowPanda]

Last week my Dad received a parcel with his correct name and address on the packaging, however inside was a brand new item which costs around £300 to £400 to buy. The wrong parcel had been delivered, the item my Dad ordered costs around £15. No signature was required but a photo was taken with parcel on doorstep as nobody was in the house at the time of delivery. The tracking number is the same number as what it would have been if the correct parcel has been delivered.

The item delivered if something my Dad would love to have and use but I know morally it is the wrong thing to do. Can I ask what you would do in this situation? My Dad has not used the item at all since it was delivered last week.

I'd contact the company he ordered from to tell them about the error and see if they will collect it or not. I've only ever had it happen twice but with much cheaper items. I got an ocado delivery years ago and only after I'd taken the bags in the house I realised it was my shopping and a few bags of someone else's. I rang them and they said they could either collect it and destroy it or I could keep the extra items. The other was some suncream from qvc that I hadn't ordered, it was addressed to me but had someone else's order information in the package. I contacted them, hoping they'd say to keep it, but they arranged a courier to collect it

Oh, I see, it’s ok to steal if it’s a large company. Great - I’m off to Tesco to nab this week’s food shop for nothing, and on the way home I’ll be sure to fill up my tank at Shell and simply drive away.

What utter bollocks.

Legally you are meant to contact the sender and tell them you have whatever it is and they are welcome to come and get it. You do not have to agree to any effort or expense to return it to them. They can arrange a courier or whatever.

We were once delivered a lawnmower, unexpectedly, which we were told to keep.

Go for it 😊

Out of interest, what law is that?

I would keep it for a few weeks and see if they chase it up. Very doubtful they will have any idea where the item has gone.

You need to let the seller know. Then there are three possibilities: they arrange to collect it, they say you can keep it, or they don't seem to understand what you're telling them because their system doesn't work like that. If it's the third, I'd just keep it.

Don’t just keep it. The company literally have your dad’s name and address. Call them ask what they want to do about it. It’s on them if they want to collect it. Their mistake not your dad’s.
They may write it off or may not, but play it by the book anyway. He’d be mortified to be accused of stealing by the company which would be true if he just keeps it without discussing it. Don’t let that happen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

@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

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.

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.

Very strange way of justifying things going on here

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

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

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

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

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.