# Just got a big box of stuff from amazon...that I didn't order **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725 "2016-12-14T21:50:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/1 "2016-12-14T21:50:51Z")
Got home. BIG box from amazon on my front porch. How big? Both my dogs (60 lbs & 35 lbs) could fit into it comfortably. Amazon label addressed to me. Although I order from amazon a lot, I wasn’t expecting anything at the moment and certainly nothing this big. I opened the box and found a humidifier, a Roomba-type vacuum cleaner, and a small electronic doo-dad for an iPhone (I don’t have an iPhone). Sometimes there’s a receipt in an amazon delivery box; this time there was not. I called amazon, and read the USPS tracking number to the CSR and she found the same thing that I did when I looked up the tracking number, namely, that it had been delivered and nothing else. I read her another number from the box and she said she couldn’t find a record of the order. I wasn’t charged for anything. She said just to keep the stuff. She said since there was no record of an order, there was no place to send it back to. I know they handle so many millions of orders (and I certainly do my part) that something has to go wrong from time to time, but nothing like this has ever happened to me. I did just change my amazon password for good mojo. By what mechanism could something get sent to me by mistake? With no record of any order? Anyone ever have something like this happen? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/2 "2016-12-14T21:54:32Z")
Could it be a present? I had my daughter’s present shipped directly to her from Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/3 "2016-12-14T22:00:49Z")
I very nearly accidentally ordered something rather embarrassing on my boss’s Amazon account because he lets me order supplies under his account, and I forgot to switch accounts. Caught it before I checked out, but I can’t figure out how to delete that particular thing from his Recently Viewed history. Ah well. He’s got plenty of embarrassing items in there himself. :o ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/4 "2016-12-14T22:04:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I read her another number from the box and she said she couldn’t find a record of the order. it’s really hard to believe Amazon can’t figure out where the order came from :dubious: congratulations on your new free stuff! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/5 "2016-12-14T22:06:53Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Could it be a present? I had my daughter’s present shipped directly to her from Amazon. I was wondering that, as I usually send presents directly to people from amazon. I always include the gift receipt or card or something. But, frankly, I don’t know anyone who likes me enough to spend this much money on me! 😃 And everyone who knows me knows that I have a BlackBerry, so an iPhone accessory would not be appropriate. I thought about getting myself a Roomba-type vac until I read a story about one that was operating on its own and came across some dog poop (I have a 14-year old dog, so it would not be out of the question to find some in my house), vacuumed it up, and proceeded to spread it all over the house. :eek: I prolly don’t need one of those… Humidifier? Where I live the humidity is always high. No one else uses my account, unless someone hacked into it, and this was some kind of test run. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/6 "2016-12-14T22:10:52Z")
Could it be a scammer neighbor that had stuff sent to your address with the intent to later steal the box off your porch, but you came home too soon? Although that doesn’t explain why Amazon has absolutely no record of the order. USPS tracking can’t figure out where it was sent from? Not even the city where the package entered the shipping chain? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/7 "2016-12-14T22:18:10Z")
I got an Amazon package that I wasn’t expecting yesterday. Small, addressed to me. I opened it and found a gift message from and to people I have never heard of. As I dug out the contents (two books on canning), I found more gift message slips and finally found one from my eldest son and his wife. So mystery solved, but I have to wonder who’s been spiking the eggnog at the Fulfillment Center. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/8 "2016-12-14T22:22:15Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > … > USPS tracking can’t figure out where it was sent from? Not even the city where the package entered the shipping chain? Maybe they could, but I’m not inclined to pursue it. Here’s a tiny piece of the puzzle. I order big sacks of dog food from amazon. Cheaper than the pet/grocery store, and they show up on the front porch. I also get notifications of delivery by text message from UPS and from USPostal Service. I get a notification when a thing is shipped, when delivery is anticipated, and after it has been delivered (the last being triggered by the delivery person inputting the info into their magic tracking thingybob). Yesterday, I got a bag of dog food followed by a notification that it had been delivered. Fine. Earlier today I got a notification that the bag of dog food would be delivered today by 8 pm. I thought to myself, “I got that yesterday. Hmmm.” Then I get home and the big box with goodies-not-dog-food is here. Just now I got a text notification that the bag of dog food was delivered, obviously referring to this big box. Somehow my original order for dog food collided in space with an order for a humidifier, roomba-type vac, and iPhone toy and their molecular essences merged or split or something… like that movie _Sliding Doors_. Sort of. There’s probably a better movie example, but that’s the one that came to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/9 "2016-12-14T22:25:12Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I very nearly accidentally ordered something rather embarrassing on my boss’s Amazon account because he lets me order supplies under his account, and I forgot to switch accounts. Caught it before I checked out, but I can’t figure out how to delete that particular thing from his Recently Viewed history. Ah well. He’s got plenty of embarrassing items in there himself. :o At least for me (on all the computers I use), I go to the main screen, scroll down a bit until I find a carousel of the last few things I looked at. Under that there’s a link that says “see all of your recently viewed items”. On that page you can just go and delete all the items you don’t want other people to see (or for Amazon to use as suggestions going forward). At least that’s how it works on my computer. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/10 "2016-12-14T22:30:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > At least for me (on all the computers I use), I go to the main screen, scroll down a bit until I find a carousel of the last few things I looked at. Under that there’s a link that says “see all of your recently viewed items”. On that page you can just go and delete all the items you don’t want other people to see (or for Amazon to use as suggestions going forward). > At least that’s how it works on my computer. Unless you think that later your boss might \*want \*to order that case of hot pink condoms. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/11 "2016-12-14T22:35:20Z")
The info on an intact shipping label is gold, and should lead the shipper exactly to the data needed to trace the package. Unless it is a fake label, and then the shipper will want to see it more than ever. Try contacting their fraud department. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/12 "2016-12-14T22:57:34Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > The info on an intact shipping label is gold, and should lead the shipper exactly to the data needed to trace the package. Unless it is a fake label, and then the shipper will want to see it more than ever. Try contacting their fraud department. I’m sure you’re correct. And it’s not that I want the stuff-- I don’t-- and I \*\*am \*\*curious, but amazon is not interested in pursuing it, so I’m not going to. Just got this email from them: > [@](#): > > Hello, > > Thank you so much for informing us that you received a package that you didn’t order. > > In this case, there’s no need to return the item. You’re welcome to keep, donate or dispose of it–whichever option is most appropriate and convenient for you. > > I hope this solution works for you. We look forward to seeing you again soon. > > We’d appreciate your feedback. Please use the links below to tell us about your experience today. > > Best regards, > [CSR name] ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/13 "2016-12-14T23:01:11Z")
I think you may have received my vacuum an humidifier and my iphone doo hickey. Can you send it to me? Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/14 "2016-12-14T23:32:15Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > I think you may have received my vacuum an humidifier and my iphone doo hickey. > > Can you send it to me? > > Thank you! Oh gosh… I’m so sorry… the vacuum already picked up some dog poo. Can I send that along, too? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/15 "2016-12-14T23:46:37Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > At least for me (on all the computers I use), I go to the main screen, scroll down a bit until I find a carousel of the last few things I looked at. Under that there’s a link that says “see all of your recently viewed items”. On that page you can just go and delete all the items you don’t want other people to see (or for Amazon to use as suggestions going forward). > At least that’s how it works on my computer. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/16 "2016-12-15T00:57:02Z")
This doesn’t surprise me. Last month, I ordered a Kindle for my nephew and received an “ultrasonic oil diffuser” instead. I didn’t even know what it was until I looked it up on the site. It took over a week to straighten it out. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/17 "2016-12-15T01:02:15Z")
A few weeks back Fed ex dumped a 90 pound computer desk on my enclosed porch. It wasn’t even addressed to me and they were nice enough to position it that I had to flip it over to see that. I ended up having to lug it with help to the end of my street. ---
**Author:** ![CatandMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@CatandMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatandMouse)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/18 "2016-12-15T01:12:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Got home. BIG box from amazon on my front porch. How big? Both my dogs (60 lbs & 35 lbs) could fit into it comfortably. Amazon label addressed to me. Although I order from amazon a lot, I wasn’t expecting anything at the moment and certainly nothing this big. > > I opened the box and found a humidifier, a Roomba-type vacuum cleaner, and a small electronic doo-dad for an iPhone (I don’t have an iPhone). Sometimes there’s a receipt in an amazon delivery box; this time there was not. > > I called amazon, and read the USPS tracking number to the CSR and she found the same thing that I did when I looked up the tracking number, namely, that it had been delivered and nothing else. I read her another number from the box and she said she couldn’t find a record of the order. I wasn’t charged for anything. She said just to keep the stuff. She said since there was no record of an order, there was no place to send it back to. > > I know they handle so many millions of orders (and I certainly do my part) that something has to go wrong from time to time, but nothing like this has ever happened to me. I did just change my amazon password for good mojo. By what mechanism could something get sent to me by mistake? With no record of any order? Anyone ever have something like this happen? I guess you checked your bank account? Congrats on your free stuff. Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays…which ever you prefer. lol ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/19 "2016-12-15T01:13:05Z")
Possibility that someone stole a credit card and used your house as a drop place for the order. I had something similar happen to me once. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725/20 "2016-12-15T01:15:48Z")
My mom when nuts two or three Decembers ago when a box arrived addressed to her with some weird stuff, like a fire pit and cover, and ice cube trays shaped like ammo. Eventually, just before Christmas my aunt called and admitted to doing some Christmas shopping while drinking. Mystery solved 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-a-big-box-of-stuff-from-amazon-that-i-didnt-order/774725.md?page=2)