Amazon received hairdryer instead of £1300 laptop

Al_Ross

Is it at all possible that the courier got your package information details accidently mixed up with somebody else’s?

JamoLew

I predict a thread in the next few days:

"I ordered a hair drier from Amazon, but received a laptop instead - can I keep it"

Money_Grabber13579

Al_Ross said:

Is it at all possible that the courier got your package information details accidently mixed up with somebody else’s?

You mean, the courier was moving things around in the van and the contents of one parcel just happened to fall out of one parcel and into another parcel whilst the contents of that other parcel moved in the opposite direction?

I think that’s about 0% likely - there has been a theft somewhere, it’s just impossible to pinpoint where it took place. 

Money_Grabber13579

Ganga said:

arthurfowler said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Posters are often criticised here for using Hermes to post expensive stuff, it's a shame Amazon doesn't follow that thought process either, they once gave me a 1st Class Royal Mail label for something going back worth over £1000. 


Best thing to do with something expensive being returned is contact Amazon and ask for it to be collected by DPD or UPS.


OP worth a Google for "CEO email" and searching that site for Amazon, you might get a better response from a higher level of support. 

Thank you. I have used Hermes a few times before and never really had an issue. I did have the chance to use DPD or UPS, but as the Hermes option was collection next day and the rep was organising it, I thought it would be ok. 

Not sure if it's relevant, but the courier called me 10 minutes before pick up asking if the package was large as he didn't have room in the truck. I said it's the size of a laptop, so not very large. 

Also, the item Amazon say was returned was listed in full with it's full product name. The courier could have opened and transferred items between parcels or staff at the Amazon warehouse could have. Just no way of knowing. 

What's most alarming is the complete lack of any benefit of the doubt. The blame and onus for everything was put solely on me from Amazon. They didn't even empathise or anything. It was just 'send us the correct item back'. I understand there are some scumbags who would do this kind of thing, but wouldn't that also extend to scumbags at Hermes or Amazon?

No offence but which " Scumbags " do Amazon think carried out the theft and as you were first in the queue of the shipment you will be the first suspect with no way to prove who committed the theft.
As you stated you have read many threads on this site of similar things happening surely you should have sent this back by a different courier and paid for insurance ,yes it would cost you a couple of bob but for piece of mind and a £1300 dispute?

Unless the theft was by the Hermes courier, how would that have made any difference? I can’t see any courier being willing to pay out any compensation when they have evidence that the parcel was delivered and contained an in damaged item. They aren’t going to believe that the contents have been switched and so the OP would have exactly the same uphill battle to prove that they didn’t send the hairdryer in the first place.

That might not be the position afforded by the law, but that is the reality.

JamoLew

This seems to be happening more frequently - I guess as the volume of parcels goes up the chances of anything going wrong are increased.

Is there a definitive "guide" on the best ways to protect oneself against such scenarios.

Granted, nothing will be 100%

pbartlett

What you are asking is the best way to protect yourself against theft.

In one way, this thread is not about Amazon returns and couriers and the best way to return items - it is about a crime being committed against you, nothing more. 

peter_the_piper

Maybe buy less online and purchase from a local shop. I know its not always possible but you can reduce the chances of the OP's problem.

Al_Ross

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Al_Ross said:

Is it at all possible that the courier got your package information details accidently mixed up with somebody else’s?

You mean, the courier was moving things around in the van and the contents of one parcel just happened to fall out of one parcel and into another parcel whilst the contents of that other parcel moved in the opposite direction?

I think that’s about 0% likely - there has been a theft somewhere, it’s just impossible to pinpoint where it took place. 

No,I mean did the courier stick the wrong label on his box,is that possible at all ?

arthurfowler

Al_Ross said:

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Al_Ross said:

Is it at all possible that the courier got your package information details accidently mixed up with somebody else’s?

You mean, the courier was moving things around in the van and the contents of one parcel just happened to fall out of one parcel and into another parcel whilst the contents of that other parcel moved in the opposite direction?

I think that’s about 0% likely - there has been a theft somewhere, it’s just impossible to pinpoint where it took place. 

No,I mean did the courier stick the wrong label on his box,is that possible at all ?

The label was already on the box but the more I think of it, the more I think there could be some kind of mix up at the returns centre.

The item they say they received was an item with a full, long description which is sold on amazon.

I emailed managingdirector@amazon.co.uk and received a named response that they are launching an investigation. I gave them the crime reference number and the serial number of the laptop. I asked if they could check all their open box items of the same name and see if my serial number matches. Hopefully there was a mix up but don't know if they would check that. 

theonlywayisup

arthurfowler said:

Al_Ross said:

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Al_Ross said:

Is it at all possible that the courier got your package information details accidently mixed up with somebody else’s?

You mean, the courier was moving things around in the van and the contents of one parcel just happened to fall out of one parcel and into another parcel whilst the contents of that other parcel moved in the opposite direction?

I think that’s about 0% likely - there has been a theft somewhere, it’s just impossible to pinpoint where it took place. 

No,I mean did the courier stick the wrong label on his box,is that possible at all ?

The label was already on the box 

The returns label was already on the box?  Did you put it on?  Normally if Amazon arrange a collection from us they don't even have a label (or not one I've seen) but they stick a barcode on the parcel and I get a little chit with the barcode number on.  That said, I don't think I've had Hermes collect on behalf of Amazon so perhaps it is different for them?