What to Do If Your Package Is Lost or Never Arrived

A package that doesn't show up is stressful, especially when it holds cards you were excited to receive. The good news is that most missing packages fall into one of two clear situations, and each has a proven path to resolution. This guide walks you through both so you know exactly what to do and when to reach out. Before you start, grab your order and tracking number from your order status page.

Which situation are you in?

The two scenarios are handled very differently, so identify yours first, then jump to the matching section below.

Scenario 1: Delivered but not received

When tracking shows a package as delivered, the carrier has a scan (and often a GPS location or photo) confirming it reached your address. That confirmation is why this scenario needs a slightly different approach: the first job is to physically locate the package or establish that the carrier delivered it to the wrong place.

Step 1: Do a thorough search

Carriers frequently leave packages in spots that are easy to miss. Check every likely location:

• Your mailbox, porch, side door, garage, and any parcel lockers
• With other members of your household who may have brought it inside
• With immediate neighbors, who are sometimes handed a misdelivered parcel
• Your building's mailroom, front desk, or leasing office if you live in an apartment or condo

Step 2: Wait 24 to 48 hours for a premature scan

Packages are sometimes scanned as "delivered" a day before they actually arrive, especially during busy periods. If your search comes up empty, give it 24 to 48 hours. A surprising number of "missing" packages simply turn up the next day.

Step 3: Contact the carrier or local post office

If it still hasn't appeared, contact the carrier directly with your tracking number. Your local post office or delivery depot can often see the exact GPS coordinates of the delivery scan, which tells you whether the package went to your address or somewhere else. This step is important because the carrier is the only party that can confirm a delivery error, and that confirmation is central to how your case is resolved.

Step 4: Contact Misprint support

If the carrier can't locate the package or confirms it was misdelivered, get in touch with our support team. Reach out as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of the delivery date, so we can open a case while the carrier's records are still fresh.

To help us investigate, please have ready:

• Your order number and tracking number
• The delivery address on the order
• Any case or reference number the carrier gave you, plus a note on what they told you
• Confirmation that you completed the search steps above

Scenario 2: Lost in transit

Sometimes a package stops moving. The tracking page freezes on a status like "in transit" or "departed facility" and no new scans appear for days. This usually means the parcel is delayed rather than gone, but if the silence continues, it needs to be investigated.

Step 1: Keep an eye on tracking

Short pauses are normal. A package can sit at a sorting facility over a weekend or during peak season without any updates. Give it a few days before treating a stall as a real problem, and keep checking your order status for movement.

Step 2: Open an investigation at 14 days

Step 3: The 30-day lost threshold

A package is generally considered lost after 30 consecutive days with no delivery. Once a package reaches that point, we can work with you on the appropriate resolution, which may include a refund or a carrier insurance claim depending on the circumstances. The specific timelines and insurance details are set out in our Return Policy, which is the authority on how these cases are handled.

What Misprint can and can't do

We act as the bridge between you, the seller, and the carrier. We can open and track carrier investigations, review delivery records, coordinate insurance claims, and process a refund or replacement when a case qualifies under our policies.

We can't override a carrier's confirmed delivery scan without evidence of an error, and we can't guarantee a refund the moment a package is late. Working through the steps above, especially contacting the carrier first, gives your case the strongest possible footing. For how any approved refund is issued, see our refunds guide.

How to avoid delivery problems

• Double-check your shipping address before checkout. Review our buyer's guide if you're new to ordering.
• Use a secure delivery location, such as a locker or a workplace address, if porch theft is common in your area.
• Understand delivery timeframes up front by reading our shipping policy, so a normal delay doesn't feel like a lost package.
• Track proactively so you notice a stalled shipment early rather than after the 14-day mark.