How and where to buy unclaimed parcels in the USA and what you can find in them

There may be several reasons why certain packages never reach your doorstep. Sometimes they get lost while being transported from one truck to another or in a warehouse. When this happens and the parcels are not claimed for months, they can be auctioned off. Amazon typically refunds customers or replaces items that don't arrive, says CNET.

In 2021, TikTok became obsessed with buying unclaimed packages. Several bloggers in TikTok posted videos of warehouses full of mysterious items for sale and waiting to be unboxed. Some of the packages contained cheap items such as socks. But some tiktokers showed the unboxing of purchased unclaimed packages with gift cards, Nike sneakers and bags of famous brands.

Basically, buying unclaimed packages is like buying a pig in a poke: you never know what you bought until you unpack the box. Although the Postal Service auctions put some items on public display so you can have an idea of ​​what you are buying.

In this article, we'll walk you through how to buy unclaimed packages from Amazon, the US Postal Service, and other shipping companies.

Websites that hold auctions for the sale of unclaimed parcels

If a postal service package has not been claimed within 90 days, it will most likely be auctioned off at GovDeals. It is with this company that the US Postal Services enter into contracts for the sale of unclaimed goods. Items are sold in batches, not individually. So you end up with a bunch of stuff that you can keep, resell, or donate. On the site, you can browse the categories you are interested in, such as sports equipment, cosmetics, and clothing.

On the website Clearance you can choose a company from which you are interested in buying bulk unclaimed parcels. The list includes Amazon, Target, Walmart, Lowe's and Home Depot. In some cases, you can see the item. But in others, you will only be shown photos of boxes or packages, the category to which they belong, as well as their estimated retail price.

You can also buy items that never arrived from vendors in your area. For example, on the site Swap Madness you can find local sellers selling unclaimed parcels.

On the subject: Surprise Amazon Package for One Dollar: how to buy unclaimed parcels and what can be found in them

Watch out for scammers and avoid theft

If you can't see what you're buying, you run the risk of purchasing items that are of no value to you. But you also run the risk of running into scammers and simply losing money.

We recommend taking a look at Better Business Bureau website and read customer reviews of the company to make sure the seller is legit. One company on the BBB website had reviews from customers reporting that they had not received their packages after many months. And that they were given fake tracking numbers.