Yahoo Finance Missing packages costing Aussies $129
One in five Aussies have had their parcels lost or stolen in the past year.
Lost and stolen packages are costing Aussies big time, with about 4.2 million parcels going missing over the past year.
A new Finder survey of 1,077 people revealed one in five Aussies had a parcel lost or stolen in the past 12 months.
The average cost of the lost or stolen items was $129 - which equates to a whopping $541 million worth of packages.
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About one in eight (12 per cent) said they had a parcel lost in transit, while 5 per cent had it stolen from their home after it had been delivered. Another 4 per cent said their package was delivered to the wrong address.
“Millions of Aussies have ordered something online, only for it to never arrive,” Finder money expert Rebecca Pike said.
“On top of costing Aussies millions every year, it’s also a pain in the neck to try to track it down."
How to keep your packages safe
Pike said there were steps Aussies could take to keep their goods safe.
“Make a note of the estimated delivery date so you know roughly when to expect your package. If you’re not going to be home, it’s worth making alternative arrangements for your deliveries,” Pike said.
“Requesting a signature on delivery, installing a doorbell camera or leaving instructions for your courier to drop your delivery in a secure location can all help to minimise the risk of theft.
If you are missing an Australia Post package, you can complete its missing item form for them to investigate. Most of Australia Post’s services come with up to $100 compensation for loss or damage.
It could also be worth contacting the seller and checking its terms and conditions around lost or stolen packages. Some sellers may help you recover your lost item, or give you compensation for it.
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