Knowing who is responsible speeds everything up. The order of steps by situation.
When a parcel does not arrive, check tracking before anything else. Whether it reads in transit or delivered completely changes the response. In transit means the courier still holds it; marked delivered with nothing there points to misdelivery, loss, or theft after drop-off. Complaining before making that distinction usually slows resolution.
Gathering evidence before contacting anyone makes the process far faster. If a delivery photo exists, check and save where the parcel was placed. Nothing at the door but visible in the photo suggests theft after delivery; a location that is not your address means misdelivery. For damage, photograph the parcel before opening it โ afterwards its original condition is hard to prove.
For an online purchase, contact the seller first. The seller is the party you contracted with, and also the party who contracted the carrier. A seller's enquiry to the carrier moves fastest, whereas a buyer contacting the carrier directly is often delayed for not being the shipper. For a parcel you sent yourself, you are the shipper and should file with the carrier directly.
Sometimes the seller and the carrier each point at the other. At that stage, remedies through your payment method are worth considering: credit cards have dispute procedures, and marketplace platforms usually provide dispute mediation. Consumer protection bodies can also mediate. Every route depends on the records you gathered earlier.
You can also lower the chance of loss. If you are often out, use a parcel locker or convenience-store pickup, and for valuable items choose in-person delivery or an insured shipping option. Simply writing the unit number and entrance code accurately reduces misdelivery.
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