How to Buy Unclaimed Amazon Packages

Co-authored by Scott Nelson, JD and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: December 14, 2022 References

Interested in buying unclaimed Amazon packages? With all of the “mystery box” TikToks going around, the world of at-home treasure hunting seems more appealing than ever. You can get in on this exciting pastime, too—and we’re here to help you get started. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide that walks you through exactly where and how to buy these packages (without getting scammed in the process). Soon, you’ll be the proud owner of some potentially valuable Amazon treasures!

Section 1 of 5:

Can you buy unclaimed Amazon packages?

Yes, you can legally buy unclaimed Amazon packages. Plenty of Amazon packages get unclaimed each year, leaving a pretty big collection of parcels just sitting around. While Amazon usually does their due diligence in refunding customers or sending them a new version of the lost item, the original package remains unclaimed and up for grabs.^{[1]
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- USPS also sells off or gives away some of their unclaimed packages that aren’t picked up within 60 days by the intended recipient.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 5:

Where can you buy unclaimed Amazon packages?

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Bid for unclaimed Amazon packages on liquidation websites. A lot of Amazon packages are sold to auction sites like Liquidation.com, which sells Amazon products in bulk. An advantage of liquidation sites is being able to see the type of product you’re buying, rather than being totally in the dark.^{[3]
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- Check out https://www.liquidation.com/c/amazon to see what types of products are available. This website also sells bulk products from other major retailers like Target.
- Since you’re buying bulk items from liquidation websites, the shipping costs tend to be more expensive.
- USPS often sends some of their unclaimed packages to https://www.govdeals.com/, a website that also sells unclaimed items in large quantities.
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Order unclaimed Amazon packages on e-commerce websites. Sites like eBay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and Craiglist often sell a lot of unclaimed “mystery” packages. Just type “unclaimed Amazon packages” in the search boxes on these sites to see what comes up.^{[4]
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- eBay: https://www.ebay.com/
- Poshmark: https://poshmark.com/
- Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=%2Fmarketplace%2F
- Craiglist: https://craigslist.org
- eBay sellers list unclaimed or returned packages at different price points, ranging from $20 to over $100.
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Buy unclaimed Amazon packages at a physical store or swap meet. Some physical stores sell mystery Amazon boxes that customers can buy in person.^{[5]
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Research source} You can also find unclaimed packages being sold at swap meets in your area.^{[6]
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- Check out https://www.swapmadness.com/ to find a swap meet near you.
- Some of these stores are pretty popular, so it might be worth calling beforehand to see what their stock is looking like.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 5:

How do you know what unclaimed Amazon packages are worth?

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Check the price listing on a liquidation site to find the exact value of your Amazon package. Liquidation sites post what they’re selling, so you know exactly what you’re getting when you place an order. Just keep in mind that liquidation sites often sell in bulk, so the items may be a bit pricier than you’d originally expect.
- Since liquidation items sell in bulk, the shipping prices can be pretty high, too.
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There’s no way to know if you’re buying the package from an e-commerce site, physical store, or swap meet. When you’re buying a mystery package from these places, you’re getting a physical, unopened package—so, it’s impossible to know if your item is really valuable or low-quality. Some mystery shoppers have reported getting designer-label purses in their packages, while other people have gotten clothing items that didn’t fit them.^{[8]
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Section 4 of 5:

Are unclaimed Amazon packages in good condition?

Yes, unclaimed Amazon packages are in good condition. According to Amazon, employees physically open and inspect all of the unclaimed packages to make sure that each item is intact and good to resell.^{[9]
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Avoid Scams

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Research the seller on Better Business Bureau (BBB) before buying any packages. Head to https://www.bbb.org/ and type in the name of the unclaimed package’s seller to see what comes up. BBB contains trustworthy ratings and customer reviews, so you can make an informed decision before buying anything.^{[10]
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- Sites like https://www.liquidation.com/c/amazon and https://www.govdeals.com/ are definitely reliable, so you don’t have to worry about researching them beforehand.
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Check seller reviews on an e-commerce site. Click or tap on the seller’s profile and see what past customers have said. Are they happy with their purchases, or did the seller scam them or send them low-quality products? Make sure that the seller has consistent, high-quality reviews before purchasing any packages from them.
- On eBay, click or tap on the seller’s username to access all of their reviews and feedback.
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Inspect the seller’s website to see if it looks fake. Auction sites like https://www.govdeals.com/ and https://www.liquidation.com are totally legit and vetted, but you’ll need to do some extra digging if you’re buying packages from an independent auction or seller website. Here are some red flags to be on the lookout for:
- Misspelled domain names or email addresses (like Amason instead of Amazon)
- Poor-quality pictures and unprofessional website layout
- A lack of contact info
- Websites attached to subdomains (ebay.com.shopping.com)^{[11]
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  Nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting marketplace trustworthiness by educating consumers and reviewing businesses
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