Return to Sender
Does anyone else have a lot of orders returned because of not being able to to Forward or Insufficient Address? I send out about 1,000 packages a week and every week I get about 10-20 packages that are RTS. Is that about a normal amount. I just don't get why so many customers have insufficient Addresses. Their address is already on the order form I just scan the code to create the label so it's not like I'm putting it in wrong. Just wonder if this happens to other people and if I can do anything about it.
19 replies
Seller_DdmPiA1p1S2Wu
Yes, that's pretty typical. Unfortunately some people just don't know their address and Amazon doesn't do any kind of address verification. One reason I charge shipping instead of doing free shipping so at least I can withhold that when it comes back. Some addresses are also not deliverable by the USPS, so it's possible some you get back would get there by other services.
Seller_WAZNnMBpd99sI
Actually that seems quite a bit higher than you might hope for.
For whatever mailing system you are using- you might look at incorporatomg an address verifier (through EasyShip, BigCommerce and others-- or a stand-alone or add-on program).
You would probably drop that down to 2-3 a week---
Of course results vary, and depending upon your item's cost and shipping cost, it may or may not be worth the while....
Seller_ImP1urpxemf0A
I get about the same. But honestly only about 5% of them ever contact me asking where their order is. So if they don't reach out I don't refund. So you make a sale and get your product back. Win, win.
Seller_4gowSIOqYgkJL
sounds about right, Im amazed how many people do not know where they live
Seller_iXw50L9Mz89Oj
Yes, this has also happened to us on several occasions that some clients do not enter the correct address or # their house or apartment number. We contacted them via email telling them that USPS or UPS or FedEx cannot find the address but all this happens after the order has gone to its recipient, crazy, right?
Seller_WBnGS7Ix3XiDX
I get several packages returned due to a bad address. I have come to the conclusion that some people don't know their own address, and then blame you for their mistakes.
I had someone so angry that the package went to their PO Box, which somehow I knew, instead of the street address that they gave me. That the traffic in Key West is insane in the summer and demanded I ship another package to their street address.
Its just the tip of what people do. Its really brutal the amount of people that know even less then their address.
Seller_R7oQKhyziqhcQ
We have a similar situation. Quite a few packages were returned by USPS due to various reasons, such as insufficient addresses, unclaimed, unable to forward, etc. We tried to contact the customers to get new addresses and most times they didn't respond or opted out of Amazon emails. Looks like we are not alone! This thread solved this mystery!
Seller_qWqFyEZmuEp42
We had a lot of this happening during and shortly after COVID. If it was going to an apartment we expected this for awhile.
At first it was just sad. But later on there were some who realized they could scam doing it. And so they did.
Had one buyer tell me he wasn't able to update his address because Amazon's site wouldn't let it happen. Never knew if it was true or not. He also asked me to change the address after ordering. So, probably not.
We don't see it very often anymore. Count yourself lucky that at least you get your stuff back.
Not a fan of how we eat all the charges though on a RTS package. If we used the address provided and mailed on time it should be covered or charged to the customer. Come on, they know where they live.
Seller_w6aLwkKdfu3L0
There are various reason and you would think the most common is that a Buyer doesn't know how to properly format a US ship to address.
But what's actually more common is that the mail person delivering to that address is unfamiliar with the area and needed to finish by a certain time so would just tag something that undeliverable so they wouldn't have to go back. Mail persons don't work a route 7 days a week, so on their days off a temp is sent that may not be familiar with the route or back houses and apartment drop off locations or how to enter secure areas.
The other one that we see is probably a drop shipper not formatting the address correctly or the wrong address entirely.
Seller_uCtIKmakU0Hav
We get orders where the customer merely has the city and state listed as their address. Not just one either. Laughable...
