What do I do if I received a package I didn't order?

So, we got this book in the mail that nobody actually ordered. Naturally, we opened the package since we had no clue what was inside. Now, of course, there's an invoice for the book tucked right in there. I called them to figure out how to handle it, and the woman on the phone basically told me that since people often forget they placed orders, they just send stuff to everyone "just in case." Then she suggested I pack everything back up and ship it back to them... I don't get why I'm supposed to waste my time and pay for shipping on something they sent by mistake. Is this just some shady tactic to see if people will pay up, or am I seriously expected to mail it back if I don't want the book? It sounds ridiculous...

Does the package include free return shipping? You know, like how it works at Kohl's when you want to send an item back, or do I actually have to pay out of pocket? And if so, how much...

It’s nothing, just a bill for a book. No clue what the shipping costs, probably some standard weight-based fee from USPS, definitely more than a few cents... If we actually knew what was in the package, we wouldn't have even picked it up, but I guess they think keeping people guessing is part of the charm. Honestly, if we didn't order anything—which their own employee confirmed—that's on them. It's not even about getting the wrong book; it's that there wasn't an order to begin with.

Why bother worrying about their drama? Just tuck that book away somewhere and forget about it.

Andrew Taylor24 said:So, we got this book in the mail that nobody actually ordered. Naturally, we opened the package since we had no clue what was inside. Now, of course, there's an invoice for the book tucked right in there. I called them to figure out how to handle it, and the woman on the phone basically told me that since people often forget they placed orders, they just send stuff to everyone "just in case." Then she suggested I pack everything back up and ship it back to them... I don't get why I'm supposed to waste my time and pay for shipping on something they sent by mistake. Is this just some shady tactic to see if people will pay up, or am I seriously expected to mail it back if I don't want the book? It sounds ridiculous...

Since when does anyone ship things out "just in case" like that?

(Barnes & Noble? Yeah, right)

I wouldn't send them back if they were paying me...🙂

Did the mail carrier drop the book off at your place, or did they just leave a slip so you could head down to the post office to pick up the package? Either way, I don't get how there wasn't a sender listed on the box... I've received packages from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and they always, *always* have their branding on the packaging... even if the carrier just leaves a notice, the sender is clearly printed on the slip... How did you guys not realize who sent it?

Andrew Taylor24 said:So, we got this book in the mail that nobody actually ordered. Naturally, we opened the package since we had no clue what was inside. Now, of course, there's an invoice for the book tucked right in there. I called them to figure out how to handle it, and the woman on the phone basically told me that since people often forget they placed orders, they just send stuff to everyone "just in case." Then she suggested I pack everything back up and ship it back to them... I don't get why I'm supposed to waste my time and pay for shipping on something they sent by mistake. Is this just some shady tactic to see if people will pay up, or am I seriously expected to mail it back if I don't want the book? It sounds ridiculous...

It's because some people feel guilty keeping a book without paying for it, and that's exactly what these companies are banking on. Personally, I can't wrap my head around why anyone would feel like they have to pay for something they never ordered or even wanted in the first place... if it were me, I'd just toss the book on a shelf [or throw it in the trash 😬], and if they actually want it back, they can come pick it up themselves. 🙄 😁

For about two years now, we've been getting care packages from an association of artists who paint with their mouths and feet right around the holidays. 😳 It’s the same deal: they send stuff, and if you want to keep it, you pay. We made a conscious choice to go along with that, but when random people start sending out books, kitchenware, cosmetics, or whatever else, that's a completely different story. I really don't care for this style of marketing. 👎

Just ship the package to them with the shipping costs set to receiver pay.👍

I heard about a similar scam once—someone sending books out of the blue, only to come knocking later demanding payment. They’d claim the shipment was an "offer" and that by keeping the books, you'd effectively entered into a binding contract. 😁 😁

Fortunately, the judge didn't buy into their little game.

Gary Hernandez6 said:I heard about a similar scam once—someone sending books out of the blue, only to come knocking later demanding payment. They’d claim the shipment was an "offer" and that by keeping the books, you'd effectively entered into a binding contract. 😁 😁

Fortunately, the judge didn't buy into their little game.

It's an old trick. I remember people used to do this with phone directories back in the day.

If the OP actually wants to take action, she could just mail the senders a notice stating she'll be storing the book for them and they can pick it up, say, on April 26th between 5 and 6 PM. Throw a storage fee invoice in there too. 🙂