# When is it OK to Steech an Amazon Package? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250 "2021-06-14T15:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/102 "2021-11-20T22:34:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, since the mystery box somehow has no indication of who shipped it, it is NOT from Amazon. This is incorrect. I get a lot of packages from Amazon and many of them are shipped via a third party and don’t have the Amazon markings. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/103 "2021-11-20T22:37:36Z")
There’s also an important difference between a package delivered by USPS, which will be easy to identify as such, and a package with no indication of who delivered it. If USPS accidentally delivers someone else’s package to your door, it is very easy to get them to pick it up, and then it becomes their problem to figure out where it was supposed to go. If some common carrier dumps something in your doorway without doing you the courtesy of marking their box, then it’s their problem. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/104 "2021-11-20T22:38:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Call customer service for the company in charge of delivering the item and tell them what happened This is where the advise falls down! Who would have predicted companies that don’t want to be called or contacted. Like I said, I’ll give the rightful recipient a week or so to respond, and then try the Amazon live chat. I wonder how far I’ll get without an Amazon account. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, since the mystery box somehow has no indication of who shipped it, it is NOT from Amazon. It does have an Amazon tracking number, but nowhere on the box are the words “Amazon” or a return address of any kind. This is what it looks like (suitably anonymized). The top black box is my address (wrong city), with somebody else’s name. The other boxes are barcodes and QR codes which just correspond to the tracking number and other number nearby. [![](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dwiila2vhipetxf/PXL_20211118_004755166.jpg?dl=0) ](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dwiila2vhipetxf/PXL_20211118_004755166.jpg?dl=0) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/105 "2021-11-20T22:41:56Z")
Unless Amazon says “keep it” hand it over to the USPS, otherwise you are breaking the law. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/106 "2021-11-20T22:42:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > hand it over to the USPS Why, the USPS had nothing to do with it? That is not a USPS label. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/107 "2021-11-20T22:48:15Z")
USPS isn’t responsible for stuff delivered by other carriers. USPS won’t help you. USPS doesn’t care. The federal laws you are thinking of apply to stuff delivered by USPS. I had something misdelivered by UPS, once, and dealing with them was a royal pain in the ass, starting with convincing them it had been misdelivered. It turned out it was supposed to go to a friend of the neighbors, and when i was bitching to the neighbor about it, he made the connection, and the rightful owner came over and picked it up. If I’d waited for UPS to fix the problem, I’d still have that box. All the reputable carriers (UPS, FedEx, DHL, probably others I’m not thinking of) expect to pay for a certain number of lost, misdelivered, and damaged items. They are reasonably responsive when the sender (their customer) contacts them about a problem. But they often aren’t set up to deal with the recipient complaining. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/108 "2021-11-20T22:48:57Z")
Doesn’t make any difference. Once you do so, it is out of your hands, and handed over to a legal authority. So the question “how long does it have to sit there” is nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/109 "2021-11-20T22:49:55Z")
USPS won’t take it. It’s not their problem. They aren’t funded to a level where they can fix the mistakes of their competition. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/110 "2021-11-20T22:58:51Z")
The package was NOT addressed to the OP, thus it is illegal: [Is It Illegal to Shred Previous Tenants' Mail?](https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-charges/is-it-illegal-to-shred-previous-tenants-mail.html#:~:text=Yes.,correspondence%2C%20which%20is%20a%20felony). _## Is It Illegal to Open or Shred a Previous Tenant’s Mail?_ _Yes. It is a [federal crime](https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-18-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/18-usc-sect-1702.html) to open or destroy mail that is not intended for you. The law provides that you can not “destroy, hide, open, or embezzle” mail that is not addressed to you._ _If you intentionally open or destroy someone else’s mail, you are committing obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony. If you are found guilty of obstruction of correspondence, you could potentially face five years in prison and/or fine_ > **[18 U.S.C. § 1702 - U.S. Code Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 1702 |...](https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-18-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/18-usc-sect-1702.html)** > > U.S. Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure 18 USCA Section 1702. Read the code on FindLaw ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/111 "2021-11-20T23:19:28Z")
It’s only “mail” if it was sent by it USPS. Did you read your cite? It begins > Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post office or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was directed… That package was never in the custody of the post office, of a letter carrier, or an authorized (mail) depository. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/112 "2021-11-20T23:27:14Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > Came home to find a crockpot on my doorstep. It’s addressed to > Not Me Let me make this clear- the package is not addressed to **echoreply.** Thus it belongs to that person it is addressed to. Taking something that does not belong to you is stealing, it is theft. Period. Every single cite I have given makes it very clear this is illegal. Now if it isn’t USPS- but he doesn’t know who the carrier is- then it likely doesn’t come under Federal mail laws, just opening it might not be a crime. But it is still theft. > **[Is it illegal to open, intentionally, a Federal Express or messenger package...](https://www.quora.com/Is-it-illegal-to-open-intentionally-a-Federal-Express-or-messenger-package-addressed-to-someone-else-that-is-delivered-to-you)** > > Answer (1 of 10): Not really. Lots of people do it by accident. Only then realize that the package isn't theirs. And then call us retrieve it. Doesn't happen very much though. Whether the package is addressed to your office or house, FedEx delivers... [Answered 7 years ago](https://www.quora.com/Is-it-illegal-to-open-intentionally-a-Federal-Express-or-messenger-package-addressed-to-someone-else-that-is-delivered-to-you/answer/Andy-Enright) · Upvoted by [ El Smith ](https://www.quora.com/profile/El-Smith) , _former Industrial Engineer at United Parcel Service (2005-2010) and_ _[\* Leo Kevin Freeman \*](https://www.quora.com/profile/Leo-Kevin-Freeman)_ _, former Former Delivery Driver at United Parcel Service (1979-2017) · Author has 241 answers and 819.2K answer views_ _No, it is not illegal. No, it is not covered by any laws similar to those that cover the US mail. John’s answer correctly states that delivery to the address is sufficient for courier services to consider the package delivered, even in the case of a signature being required. It is, however, considered theft to knowingly take a package belonging to someone else. or to remove the contents before returning it. Opening by accident is not a crime. A shipper would consider it theft to keep items that are misdelivered, and may initiate legal action, but the courier service is only contracted to deliver to the address, not the person. Hope this clarifies the issue._ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/113 "2021-11-20T23:29:14Z")
But he doesn’t know who the carrier is. Sure if not USPS, then it doesn’t come under Federal laws. It is then simply **theft, stealing**. That is illegal in every state. Advising someone it is OK to steal is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/114 "2021-11-20T23:29:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Let me make this clear- the package is not addressed to **echoreply.** Thus it belongs to that person it is addressed to. Taking something that does not belong to you is stealing, it is theft. Period. Every single cite I have given makes it very clear this is illegal. But it’s not a Federal crime as you had been claiming earlier. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/115 "2021-11-20T23:31:52Z")
If indeed it is not USPS, however, that is unknown. So\*- maybe\* it isn’t a federal crime just a state crime. The absurdity here is that some here are indicating it would be perfectly Okay to follow a FedEX truck around and steal the packages as they are delivered, as that isn’t a federal crime. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/116 "2021-11-20T23:33:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The absurdity here is that some here are indicating it would be perfectly Okay to follow a FedEX truck around and steal the packages as they are delivered, as that isn’t a federal crime. No one has made anything close to that claim. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/117 "2021-11-21T00:16:20Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > No one has made anything close to that claim Indeed. My assertion is that the error of the carrier does not obligate the poster to expend inordinate effort returning the parcel to its owner. And my experience dealing with UPS suggests that contacting the carrier is unlikely to work without expending inordinate effort. The poster should, of course, cooperate in returning the thing, should the owner or the carrier offer to come and pick it up from his doorstep. But if they aren’t willing to expend that effort, then he is under no further obligation, and can throw the parcel away, keep it, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/118 "2021-11-21T00:25:11Z")
To me that is obvious and entirely reasonable. I would probably go to more effort than most to make things right but no one should be expected to go to great lengths for an error that was not their own. There is no way that I would dick around with UPS for more than about ten to fifteen minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/119 "2021-11-21T00:26:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But he doesn’t know who the carrier is. @echoreply said that the package has an Amazon tracking number. The most likely explanation is that it was delivered by an Amazon employee or contractor, rather than USPS, UPS, DHL, Fedex or anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/120 "2021-11-21T01:38:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If indeed it is not USPS, however, that is unknown. So\*- maybe\* it isn’t a federal crime just a state crime. > > The absurdity here is that some here are indicating it would be perfectly Okay to follow a FedEX truck around and steal the packages as they are delivered, as that isn’t a federal crime. No one said that. This is about a delivery error, and at what point it is reasonable to give up on trying to get the package to the intended recipient. From my own experience with Amazon and others I’ve talked to, the company most often just considers misdeliveries to be a loss, and will refund the money or send out the item again. This shrinkage is built into their finances, and so they don’t care too much about getting the item back. At most, they would just want to know about it to try and prevent it from happening again. I would say that all of the positions given in this thread are reasonable. Sure, if you just keep any item delivered to you, that would be crappy. But if you try to contact the recipient and wait a bit, then try to contact the company? That seems more than reasonable. (As would be just handing it over to the neighbor). In the past, even doing that would have been too much work. It’s only due to the Internet that it’s reasonable to try and contact the original recipient. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250/121 "2021-11-21T02:31:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Taking something that does not belong to you is stealing, Totally agree with that. The problem is in avoiding the reductio ad absurdum. “What is that rotting Crockpot box doing on your front porch?” “It’s not mine, but I don’t know who to give it to, so I just leave it there to avoid stealing it.” In this case the package has my address, and a name that matches public records for a house with a similar address to mine in a nearby city. The intended recipient could very easily have been completely unidentifiable. If the address had been messed up in some other way, the intended recipient had never registered to vote, or had recently moved, then I would have had no way to find them. The name is common enough that I located 29 in the nearby city, but only one on a street with the same name as mine. So, some guy in a dark blue truck stops in front of my house, tosses a box onto the front porch, zooms off, and now I’m committing a crime? As a person living in what is supposedly a civilized society, I will make some effort to locate the intended recipient, and some effort to contact the company. At some point though, I’ve done what I can. I guess could take it to Whole Foods, and say “you’re problem now!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-ok-to-steech-an-amazon-package/944250.md?page=7)