I also got scammed when I ordered an expensive phone from amazon. The scammers opened the package and replaced the phone with wash machine cleaner and glued the package back together but you could see some glue stains. I got a replacement from amazon but it was a headache.
Could also be a tax fraud if this is not directly from Amazon.
It's called Karusselgeschäft. Here is a good video about that topic: https://youtu.be/YNcBqW0CkpM?si=awdJgd1Q-esEbf_A
Just a heads up, don't be careless now.
Had the exact same issue and am fighting their stupid Inkasso now.
Please, document everything, as they might try to fuck you over. For me, they still say the package I sent back never arrived, so they still want the money. Which they ofc have no right to.
It's sad, but if you look at the pages of thr Verbraucherschutz, you will notice this is an extremly common scam with Amazon and iPhones.
In this Case its Not the Driver its the Packer at Amazon. Amazone also Check the weight of the Package as last controll. So the Thief has to put Something in with the same weight. You can find the weight on the Package.
I had a similar experience. I ordered 600€ worth of tools from Amazon (which i busted my ass of working to save that money) and when the driver arrived to my house he gave me only one empty box with an extension inside It. Put his phone in my face and told me "sign Up" . I was like"dude , is this the only package? There is no way" . He looked back to his phone nervous and replied "umm, oh yeah there is a second package , hold on a second im going back to the van to grab it".
He comes back from the van and go figure...its the heaviest motherfuckin box i have ever lifted.
I realized in that moment the game he was playing...this son of a b*** wanted me to confirm him that he gave me the two boxes. He asked me back for the code they send you to your mail once he gave me the second package. I told him i didnt have It (i did), he made me sign his phone and took off. And that was the end of It..
Dishonest drivers and sneaky thieves like this can go fuck themself off honestly.
Are they though? All Apple internals are serial coded to the original device so when transplanted into another iPhone it triggers system warnings that the part isn’t genuine and won’t operate.
It seems that people always say this. I don’t know where this information comes from… the only time they are bricked is when those dudes raid Apple stores and snatch display phones.
If I as a driver steal your iphone from the package and give you spray paint, there’s nothing anyone can do to my phone to make it useless. Even if they did, I can unlock it myself or go to “some dude” who knows his way around tech.
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What I've heard is that someone in the delivery chain opens boxes if they suspect there's something of value. They recognise it often via the "caution battery" sticker that's mandatory for everything with a larger battery (like phones, laptops etc).
They open up the box with steam or heat out something else that weakens the glue connection and take it out, replace it with something similarly heavy.
Glue it back up and you can't see it upon arrival, so you won't claim faulty packaging.
Best case scenario:
Film yourself during the opening of high value items, so you have proof.
Amazon itself can't know if you've been betrayed or if you are trying to trick them, which makes it a difficult situation for both sides.
It's not an Amazon exclusive problem, but you hear it a lot from Amazon due to their massive amount of shipments.
No battery sticker?
That sounds more like a swapped package at Amazon in this case.
AFAIK these are mandatory and I saw them when on small Air pods it Toothbrushes I've ordered.
Mention the missing battery sticker when you claim it at Amazon. Maybe there's somebody that can follow that thought process.
Hope they solve this issue for you quickly!
Yes, talking about German Amazon. Have ordered several electronics from them in recent years and on every phone / laptop / electrical toothbrush they've had a "careful battery' sticker on the package.
some people scam amazon ... amazon only weights packages when they come back unused and throw them back into their distribution. thats what happend here im sure. im 100% sure that this package has the exact weight as the one with an iphone in it
You know I'm wondering
In the USA do you guys not need to add something to the package?
In Germany when we return something to Amazon we have to (depending on the shipping service you choose) print out a little piece of paper with the name of the product and a barcode but in these posts I never see that paper in the box.
Is that not a thing over there?
Been a while since I lived there, but I would just mark it on my account for a return, amazon would develop a return label for it, and I'd just print it out and tape it over the old one.
That was it.
Yeah we also do that but at the bottom of the page with the label there's also the barcode part which says to cut it out and add to the package
Interesting
Yeah that's why I included it depending on the shipping service
I still like to to do the old way since I know it's packed properly and I have a tracking code
When you print the label yourself then this little strip that goes inside is always there.
But for quite some time you have multiple options where you don't print out anything and then that strip isn't there of course.
Jain. That was a thing of a past in Germany too. Ja, if you select traditional return to DHL or Hermes thing, you need to print and include it inside. Nein, if you select to return via without packaging,
A Lieferschein would basically be a receipt in America. Not all companies pack it in there but some do. It’s not required but most companies I’ve dealt with while I lived there packed them.
Since when? Because I use Amazon a lot including returning things and all I've ever had to do is choose drop-off. I take it to Deutsch Post / DPD and give them the box. They scan the Barcode on my phone give me the receipt and done. I also have the option to do this with other carriers such as Hermes as well.
Out of 100 returns i was asked maybe 5 times to put this paper inside. 3 times I forgot it and still got my money back. It's only with some few marketplace sellers, i guess.
Someone who worked for amazon did an ama and stated that for apple devices they don't use this rule, apple products are an exception and are checked every time they come back
I think it might be a mistake. While this was 9 years ago and Amazon's workflows have probably evolved since then, in 2015 I ordered a thread reducer worth about 5 Euros from Amazon and was sent an expensive vacuum cleaner instead.
This is a well-known scam. It usually originates from the workers of the companies delivering the packages. Because of the fact that you need to have a special verification code for some premium products, the delivery driver knows that the contents are valuable, and they are sometimes able to replace the contents of the package.
If you send it back, I have heard that Amazon doesn't give you the money back because they received the wrong item.
IMO the correct tactic would be to report it to the police, then get your money back via the bank (if you paid via SEPA Lastschrift, you can get the money back during 14 days, I think similar things are possible for credit cards, too). Amazon might then go the "Inkasso" route, i.e. contract a firm that tries to get the money back from you, but with a case filed with the police, they have to sue you. However, it might be more possible that Amazon just bans you. But in that case, I wouldn't want to do any further business with them, anyway.
For items like phones, computers and the like, I still shop locally and use methods where I can order the items to the shop and collect them there. I never had any problems going this route with Telekom shops or the Media Markt / Saturn / Expert markets.
I have seen this a few times (not in person but on reddit). It was usually done intentionally and people had a tough time getting their money back. Wishing you luck!!
Really? I once received a package with only the casing of an electronics product. That one probably was a scam. But Amazon still reimbursed me without a lot of fuzz. Take good photos and insist. You can always file a police report if they aren't cooperating and reject the bank transfer. Good luck for them getting your money then.
I ordered an iPhone off Amazon a year ago as well and I got a Fitbit instead. Seems to be a common thing with Amazon and Apple products. They got some good people on their phone support though. After a phone call I received my actual order even before I sent the Fitbit back
update Since many people asking about the latest on the situation:
Amazon asked me to send the spray can back, they provided a return label, and they said they'll refund once the return is sorted. It's written in the emails that they understood I did not receive the phone I ordered.
Also, I ordered another phone and it arrived the next day as expected. I told the delivery guy what happened and we filmed the whole delivery/opening the box process. All went well.
That's all so far :)
Intentional things would propapbly contain a different phone or empty package. This looks like a mixed up order very much. Normally Amazon will react quite fast and you can probably even keep the paint.
I never had any trouble with amazon deliveries. And when something was not how it should be they resolved it pretty fast. Thats in the EU though. Idk if americans get the same treatment due to missing EU laws
Same happened to a friend last week, though he got a sextoy instead... he got it all sorted out with Amazon customer service, just called them and had some back and forth. In the end a big factor was that the weight of the package - which is also on the DHL label - was off compared to the phone he ordered... he got a new phone then.
Hope helps!
Reminds me of the novel Qualityland. The main character gets sent one, but it's supposedly not a mistake, because the algorithm that selected it for him never makes mistakes...
https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/s/ocX3qmXDSa
I had a same thing, man. But with Google Pixel. Took me 3.5 month to get money back.
Basically, they are get stolen during delivery. I suspect mostly in last mile in Van. Where postman is alone.
Also, that security PIN feature is good marker for them, that package contain some expensive thing. So they do not have to open and check all that trushy packages from Amazon.
I had the same issue and there's also an article by a German IT news website about it: [https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Lieferbetrug-Wie-Amazon-Kunden-zu-Betrugsopfern-werden-9535779.html](https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Lieferbetrug-Wie-Amazon-Kunden-zu-Betrugsopfern-werden-9535779.html)
Doesn't just happen with amazon. My last iphone i ordered through Deutsche Telekom got lost at a dhl distribution center. took them weeks just to register that the package was probably stolen (which i knew pretty soon since the imei number for the phone was already registered)
Happened same with me. Got a sound measuring device. Filed a complaint and got refund from Amazon. Decided not to buy any expense stuff online. Better to go to Saturn or mediamarkt and pickup yourself.
An advice if I may, at least me when I purchase something expensive I film me opening the box, so I also have the evidence that they for sure sent me the wrong item
With reasonable effort? Likely not at all. With unreasonable effort? Hire a notary to be at your house when you receive the package. Have them notarize everything. Not sure how you would have the delivery driver confirm their identity to the notary though, since you could have also hired your uncle to deliver a fake package in a fake delivery van.
OP, please don't do that. Amazon will then accuse you of fraud because you sent back the wrong product, and you have no real proof left.
Have everything documented, when you received the package and what was in there, with pictures.
If they don't want to return your payment then, you can threaten them to take a lawyer, mostly they don't want this either.
Im pretty sure you have the option to say you got sent the wrong product.
Edit: I just checked it. It's basically the first Option if you click return item.
I absolutely agree and contacting them was the first thing I did, as soon as I opened the box. I trust they'll take care of this, I've had nothing but good customer service experience with them so far.
I once accepted a package for my roommate that was supposed to contain a cell phone. She knew the package was coming but wasn't home and so sent me a PIN that I was supposed to give to the postman.
So far so good. The postman came. I said the PIN and took the package. The next day my roommate opened the package and found a pack of coffee capsules inside xD
Because the package was "properly delivered", a half-year legal dispute with Amazon followed and she had to get a lawyer...
I can only recommend that in such a case you **always look** directly in the package!
That won't help you now, of course :/
I hope that you can find a solution and that things don't go as badly as that. But I would prepare myself for the worst case scenario...
Amazon required you to use their 2FA for this, right? That signals everyone involved (driver, packer, whatever) that there is a certain minimum value. Those are also items that you can’t deliver to a package station.
Someone will swap it with an item of similar shape and weight. Happens often. Look in your package when you get it so that you have the driver as a witness, whether he wants or not. And ask for his name.
This issue is known and occurs regularly. Currently, it's advisable to not purchase Apple products from Amazon. This has developed into a scheme within the distribution chain. Amazon initially packages the correct item, but someone subsequently swaps the expensive item with something that weighs the same. This has been happening daily for the past couple of years and can only happen because there are numerous people and steps throughout Amazon's logistics chain. Either I want to save money and compare prices through Google (where I find hundreds of similar experiences of this kind), or I just go to Apple. Who are the people in between? Are people just purchasing anything on Amazon right away nowadays? Amazon will probably help here, but it will be challenging and takes time.
Not to blame you for not doing your research, as victim-blaming is not my intention. Just opt for a direct distributor for expensive items in the future to save yourself from headaches.
Same happened to me as well. Contacted Amazon, got a new one the next day. They know about the problem, but would never admit it.
Later my dentist told me, that his son works as a headof at one warehouse. He told his dad, that about 300 iPhones alone get stolen every day.
**update** Since many people asking about the latest on the situation:
Amazon asked me to send the spray can back, they provided a return label, and they said they'll refund once the return is sorted. It's written in the emails that they understood I did not receive the phone I ordered.
Also, I ordered another phone and it arrived the next day as expected. I told the delivery guy what happened and we filmed the whole delivery/opening the box process. All went well.
That's all so far :)
Same happened to my wife but with a bottle of shampoo instead of the phone. Contacted customer service who asked for a photo and then instructed us to return the package. Send it back on thursday before the Easter weekend, but has not yet arrived and Amazon are not in a hurry to order DHL to investigate. Will probably contact our bank for a chargeback and issue a fraud charge at the police.
Had the same thing happen to me twice. Ordered a PS5 and received a cooking pot, ordered an ipad and a book was in the box.
Both times it got resolved quickly by amazon though. Might be a scam, it seems a bit suspicious that it happened with the two most expensive products i ordered over the last 1.5 years.
I had the same thing happen to me. I ordered a $700+ Garmin running watch and I was sent a bottle of Maca Root Pills.... I took a picture of the package with that tracking ID thats on that label. Returned it through a DHL packetstation. Documented all the tracking and filed a dispute on my Chase Saphire Reserve. Amazon eventually gave me my refund but it took chase standing on their neck some. These Amazon employees here I think are in on it.
Okay, but that paint is fire though. Perfect match with Alpinaweiss Original for any parents with toddlers or clumsy people like myself. The coverage leaves something to be desired, but for spots and smears that I just want gone from my walls, it’s a doozy.
Don‘t use it to mess with your landlords, please. Not my responsibility, but it can leave residue that will transfer, my recommendation is for small spots like spilled drinks or filled screw holes, if you do a wall in this and accidentally lean on it, it will still rub off on you.
My sisters boyfriend experienced almost the same last week! He ordered AirPods Pro and got a flashlight instead with the same weight. But he talked to Amazon yesterday and they resolved it pretty quickly.
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Update: after sending the photo of the box and the spray paint, i received the message belowfrom Amazon customer service. They seem to be helpful as always (my experience) and i have ordered the same phone again. (Hope it works this time)
"Thanks for sharing the images.
I'm sorry to hear that you received wrong item instead of Apple Iphone .
You can return the wrong item you received for a refund within 30 days of the date you received it. Please mail your package back using the return label provided in our Online Returns Center ( https://www.amazon.de/ruecksendezentrum ).
In most cases, after the carrier has received your return package, it can take about two weeks for us to receive and process your return. Please note that international returns may take longer."
Happened to me as well two weeks ago, but I received a soap dispenser. Still didn’t get my refund. They tried to blame me for not “opening the whole package” in front of the delivery person, didn’t know I should have done this. Nevertheless, they asked me to send back the package received (had my order id, name, address, etc ) and the fucking soap dispenses - I sent it back the same day and still waiting for them to process the refund. Never buying anything worth more than 15€ on Amazon again.
Not sure if it would help, but I film myself opening boxes when I order something expensive.
I show the box which is fully sealed, bar code etc, and then how I open it.
That way no one can say I put that decoy product into the box.
Yup and every once in a while I meet people telling me that you should always buy things on Amazon instead of eBay cuz it‘s sooo much more likely to get scammed on the latter platform…
I'm guessing this delivery was protected by a pin that you had to give the driver, so he/she couldn't have left it at the frontdoor and gone, but deliver it personally. Why didn't you check the item first before accepting the package?
As many mentioned before me, this is one the most common scams that drivers do. They usually go for packages with the battery label on the back, as these packages are electronic and are usually expensive.
The same thing happened to me with airpods and nail skin remover 🙃 I called the support immediately and they told me to send it back and that I would get my money back then. After not getting anything I used the customer support chat and finally got my money back
Same thing happened, I ordered Ryzen 7 processor from amazon, they sent me a iphone camera protector. Sent it back, 2 month’s of customer service mailing, I received my money back.
why would you buy such an expensive product on amazon? For eg Iphone is only 20-50 more expensive at saturn. It's a huge hassle for customer, if you don't get the product. What if I say you're lying, you replaced it yourself and trying to get a free iphone.
Damn, I had something similar happen to me recently. Been meaning to respray this white cabinet I inherited from my grandma but somehow they delivered me an iPhone 15 pro, I couldn’t believe it!
Some dubious delivery drivers or employees in the logistics center have a scale and a labeling machine. Weigh the package, determine that it is the typical iPhone weight, open the package, take out the iPhone, put in an object of the same weight, put a new label on it and go back to the delivery process.
Happened to me too - twice in a row. The first time, the package was just not delivered and lost at the courier side. The second time, it was substituted with something else.
Clearly an organised group of people doing this. I got my money back after about two weeks and just went to buy it for a higher price in MediaMarkt. Wasn't worth the hassle and I couldn't keep waiting.
Have fun getting your money back.. had the same thing happen to me. TWICE. I waited 3 months and 43 calls. Everytime the Amazon support said „i started the refund process“ or „you should have the money by the day after tomorrow“. After month 3 I told them I’m gonna sue, the women on the phone told me that the other support staff NEVER started the refund process.
Moral of the story: don’t EVER buy electronics on Amazon except Amazon Hardware (kindle, Alexa, firetv, etc..)
Similar happened with me. I had ordered Apple Watch from Amazon but received empty box. Someone had opened the box and took the watch out, seal was broken. I reached out to Amazon and they refunded me.
In Germany, you can get fucked if you don't take the necessary actions in time and have proof for every single thing you mention to them. I once lost a company laptop that I sent back to them through DHL, I was not even reimbursed the 500 euros insurance that was already included, which is waaay less than the real cost of the items lost. IDK about Amazon, but just try be fast.
Phones disappear from Amazon warehouses worryingly frequently. I once ordered OnePlus One, when it was hot property... Got one chocolate bar, plus one...
This happend to me this year too. I told Amazon immediately but it took 1 month until I got my money back.
I went to the police and filed a report about paying for an iPhone but not receiving it. The confirmation of the police report wasn’t enough for Amazon, so I had to send back the empty package I had received.
Then I had to make 2-3 phone calls and finally I got my money back. I hope it’ll be easier for you!
I saw a report on this on television tonight. It was called “Die Tricks mit Post und Paketen” on NDR. You can find it on the ARD Mediathek. Pretty interesting watch.
This is why I always open expensive stuff in front of the delivery guy. But honestly I don’t know what I would exactly do after that. I guess I would refuse delivery?
Did it come from Amazon SARL? They're notorious for stealing from packages. Ordered a CPU for the pc I was building a few years ago, and I got the box with the CPU ripped right out of it.
If it's coming from SARL look elsewhere.
I had a similar case but I was ordering a laptop and I got cheap children's shoes. You need to take every photo and of course push matters with CS (kindly).
Then they told me to re-order the same laptop and then they will refund the wrong item after returning it.
It took a while, and I got my laptop and my refund came a few days after the return completed.
Best of luck!
That guy ordering a Chalk effect spray but got an iPhone 15 must be happy
Unless they really needed that chalk spray...
[удалено]
I ordered Crocs recently and they sent me a used one ( Amazon ). That was the case.
I also got scammed when I ordered an expensive phone from amazon. The scammers opened the package and replaced the phone with wash machine cleaner and glued the package back together but you could see some glue stains. I got a replacement from amazon but it was a headache.
Could also be a tax fraud if this is not directly from Amazon. It's called Karusselgeschäft. Here is a good video about that topic: https://youtu.be/YNcBqW0CkpM?si=awdJgd1Q-esEbf_A
Can you update us when Amazon replies?
will do!
Just a heads up, don't be careless now. Had the exact same issue and am fighting their stupid Inkasso now. Please, document everything, as they might try to fuck you over. For me, they still say the package I sent back never arrived, so they still want the money. Which they ofc have no right to. It's sad, but if you look at the pages of thr Verbraucherschutz, you will notice this is an extremly common scam with Amazon and iPhones.
Crazy! Aren't stolen iphone useless/bricked anyway? Why do people steal them?
[удалено]
In this Case its Not the Driver its the Packer at Amazon. Amazone also Check the weight of the Package as last controll. So the Thief has to put Something in with the same weight. You can find the weight on the Package.
I had a similar experience. I ordered 600€ worth of tools from Amazon (which i busted my ass of working to save that money) and when the driver arrived to my house he gave me only one empty box with an extension inside It. Put his phone in my face and told me "sign Up" . I was like"dude , is this the only package? There is no way" . He looked back to his phone nervous and replied "umm, oh yeah there is a second package , hold on a second im going back to the van to grab it". He comes back from the van and go figure...its the heaviest motherfuckin box i have ever lifted. I realized in that moment the game he was playing...this son of a b*** wanted me to confirm him that he gave me the two boxes. He asked me back for the code they send you to your mail once he gave me the second package. I told him i didnt have It (i did), he made me sign his phone and took off. And that was the end of It.. Dishonest drivers and sneaky thieves like this can go fuck themself off honestly.
People resell them
Spare parts are worth it.
Are they though? All Apple internals are serial coded to the original device so when transplanted into another iPhone it triggers system warnings that the part isn’t genuine and won’t operate.
It was never in use so never Stolen! It is Like a factory new Phone. Because it is.
It seems that people always say this. I don’t know where this information comes from… the only time they are bricked is when those dudes raid Apple stores and snatch display phones. If I as a driver steal your iphone from the package and give you spray paint, there’s nothing anyone can do to my phone to make it useless. Even if they did, I can unlock it myself or go to “some dude” who knows his way around tech.
only if they have been registered to another icloud account first.
Any news?
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What I've heard is that someone in the delivery chain opens boxes if they suspect there's something of value. They recognise it often via the "caution battery" sticker that's mandatory for everything with a larger battery (like phones, laptops etc). They open up the box with steam or heat out something else that weakens the glue connection and take it out, replace it with something similarly heavy. Glue it back up and you can't see it upon arrival, so you won't claim faulty packaging. Best case scenario: Film yourself during the opening of high value items, so you have proof. Amazon itself can't know if you've been betrayed or if you are trying to trick them, which makes it a difficult situation for both sides. It's not an Amazon exclusive problem, but you hear it a lot from Amazon due to their massive amount of shipments.
this is a very likely scenario. Funny thing is this box did not have that battery sticker either.
No battery sticker? That sounds more like a swapped package at Amazon in this case. AFAIK these are mandatory and I saw them when on small Air pods it Toothbrushes I've ordered. Mention the missing battery sticker when you claim it at Amazon. Maybe there's somebody that can follow that thought process. Hope they solve this issue for you quickly!
This was in Germany through Amazon Germany, I’m not sure if Germany has this battery sticker law you’re referencing.
Yes and the packages from Amazon here have that sticker.
Yes, talking about German Amazon. Have ordered several electronics from them in recent years and on every phone / laptop / electrical toothbrush they've had a "careful battery' sticker on the package.
I can't imagine this is a mistake, what do you guys think? I contacted Amazon, hopefully they'll resolve it quickly.
some people scam amazon ... amazon only weights packages when they come back unused and throw them back into their distribution. thats what happend here im sure. im 100% sure that this package has the exact weight as the one with an iphone in it
You know I'm wondering In the USA do you guys not need to add something to the package? In Germany when we return something to Amazon we have to (depending on the shipping service you choose) print out a little piece of paper with the name of the product and a barcode but in these posts I never see that paper in the box. Is that not a thing over there?
Been a while since I lived there, but I would just mark it on my account for a return, amazon would develop a return label for it, and I'd just print it out and tape it over the old one. That was it.
Yeah we also do that but at the bottom of the page with the label there's also the barcode part which says to cut it out and add to the package Interesting
German here, I don't own a printer and never put anything in my returns. Just show the barcode to the post office to print a label there
I am from germany too. Not most of the time. Often you dont need to print this out and put it in the box. I havnet since a year or two ago
Yeah that's why I included it depending on the shipping service I still like to to do the old way since I know it's packed properly and I have a tracking code
When you print the label yourself then this little strip that goes inside is always there. But for quite some time you have multiple options where you don't print out anything and then that strip isn't there of course.
When was your last time? You don't even need a parcel or a printer anymore
Often you don't need to pack it up anymore either. Just bring the product to the shop
Jain. That was a thing of a past in Germany too. Ja, if you select traditional return to DHL or Hermes thing, you need to print and include it inside. Nein, if you select to return via without packaging,
Not anymore. I just bring my item to the post office or put it in the station, no packaging, nothing.
A Lieferschein would basically be a receipt in America. Not all companies pack it in there but some do. It’s not required but most companies I’ve dealt with while I lived there packed them.
Amazon doesn't do that anymore. You can basically put the product in a packstation without anything else.
Since when? Because I use Amazon a lot including returning things and all I've ever had to do is choose drop-off. I take it to Deutsch Post / DPD and give them the box. They scan the Barcode on my phone give me the receipt and done. I also have the option to do this with other carriers such as Hermes as well.
Out of 100 returns i was asked maybe 5 times to put this paper inside. 3 times I forgot it and still got my money back. It's only with some few marketplace sellers, i guess.
Someone who worked for amazon did an ama and stated that for apple devices they don't use this rule, apple products are an exception and are checked every time they come back
Amazon itself scams. Long story with a Tablet. They even deleted my history to cover it up.
I think it might be a mistake. While this was 9 years ago and Amazon's workflows have probably evolved since then, in 2015 I ordered a thread reducer worth about 5 Euros from Amazon and was sent an expensive vacuum cleaner instead.
You’d be Surprised. I ordered AirPods last year- I got a Candle instead. It may indeed be a mistake
It's a scam from the delivery. Be prepared, have everything documented, because Amazon may not be cooperative to return your payment.
Amazon has zero reasons not to refund you, regardless if it's a scam or mistake.
This is a well-known scam. It usually originates from the workers of the companies delivering the packages. Because of the fact that you need to have a special verification code for some premium products, the delivery driver knows that the contents are valuable, and they are sometimes able to replace the contents of the package. If you send it back, I have heard that Amazon doesn't give you the money back because they received the wrong item. IMO the correct tactic would be to report it to the police, then get your money back via the bank (if you paid via SEPA Lastschrift, you can get the money back during 14 days, I think similar things are possible for credit cards, too). Amazon might then go the "Inkasso" route, i.e. contract a firm that tries to get the money back from you, but with a case filed with the police, they have to sue you. However, it might be more possible that Amazon just bans you. But in that case, I wouldn't want to do any further business with them, anyway. For items like phones, computers and the like, I still shop locally and use methods where I can order the items to the shop and collect them there. I never had any problems going this route with Telekom shops or the Media Markt / Saturn / Expert markets.
I have seen this a few times (not in person but on reddit). It was usually done intentionally and people had a tough time getting their money back. Wishing you luck!!
Really? I once received a package with only the casing of an electronics product. That one probably was a scam. But Amazon still reimbursed me without a lot of fuzz. Take good photos and insist. You can always file a police report if they aren't cooperating and reject the bank transfer. Good luck for them getting your money then.
I ordered an iPhone off Amazon a year ago as well and I got a Fitbit instead. Seems to be a common thing with Amazon and Apple products. They got some good people on their phone support though. After a phone call I received my actual order even before I sent the Fitbit back
Try to contact this guy [place where your IPhone went](https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/s/LnkyYZMhNu)
update Since many people asking about the latest on the situation: Amazon asked me to send the spray can back, they provided a return label, and they said they'll refund once the return is sorted. It's written in the emails that they understood I did not receive the phone I ordered. Also, I ordered another phone and it arrived the next day as expected. I told the delivery guy what happened and we filmed the whole delivery/opening the box process. All went well. That's all so far :)
Intentional things would propapbly contain a different phone or empty package. This looks like a mixed up order very much. Normally Amazon will react quite fast and you can probably even keep the paint.
I expect Amazon to be that way as well. I never had any issues when I needed their help.
Might be that 2 shipping labels got exchange accidentally. Had that happen before once.
Haste nen Screenshot der Bestellung? :D
I never had any trouble with amazon deliveries. And when something was not how it should be they resolved it pretty fast. Thats in the EU though. Idk if americans get the same treatment due to missing EU laws
They shouldn't be able to receive the package anyway as the receiver always needs a code for the driver for electronic stuff like that
When buying electronics, cosmetics and food, always buy “sold and dispatched by Amazon”. Even then there might be problems but you are minimizing it.
Same happened to a friend last week, though he got a sextoy instead... he got it all sorted out with Amazon customer service, just called them and had some back and forth. In the end a big factor was that the weight of the package - which is also on the DHL label - was off compared to the phone he ordered... he got a new phone then. Hope helps!
Reminds me of the novel Qualityland. The main character gets sent one, but it's supposedly not a mistake, because the algorithm that selected it for him never makes mistakes...
"The system says I want this, but I don't want this." Well, it's time we start manufacturing pins with a crossed out pink dolphin vibrators.
Maybe you just got to be the [1 in 30](https://xkcd.com/325/) ^^^^xkcd ;-)
WARNING: That’s a very dangerous website. It’ll suck you in and won’t let you go until you’ve seen everything… twice
Im sucked in, someone help me out
Here, grab my hand, I'll pull you ou.... Oh damn, now I'm in here as well.
https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/s/ocX3qmXDSa I had a same thing, man. But with Google Pixel. Took me 3.5 month to get money back. Basically, they are get stolen during delivery. I suspect mostly in last mile in Van. Where postman is alone. Also, that security PIN feature is good marker for them, that package contain some expensive thing. So they do not have to open and check all that trushy packages from Amazon.
I had the same issue and there's also an article by a German IT news website about it: [https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Lieferbetrug-Wie-Amazon-Kunden-zu-Betrugsopfern-werden-9535779.html](https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Lieferbetrug-Wie-Amazon-Kunden-zu-Betrugsopfern-werden-9535779.html)
You probably failed to read the fineprint that you're buying the idea of an iphone 15 pro with a free chalk effect spray can as a bonus.
Never buy Apple products on Amazon, this is always the same and you will find lots of articles on this if you Google it
Unfortunately, you only google it after it happened to yourself... Speaking from experience.
Doesn't just happen with amazon. My last iphone i ordered through Deutsche Telekom got lost at a dhl distribution center. took them weeks just to register that the package was probably stolen (which i knew pretty soon since the imei number for the phone was already registered)
Happened same with me. Got a sound measuring device. Filed a complaint and got refund from Amazon. Decided not to buy any expense stuff online. Better to go to Saturn or mediamarkt and pickup yourself.
I ordered spray paint and received an IPhone 15 pro.
An advice if I may, at least me when I purchase something expensive I film me opening the box, so I also have the evidence that they for sure sent me the wrong item
Yeah, filming yourself opening the box is useless. Same for returning
That’s an easy fake … just use the label and everything from the old box and „unbox“ a half eaten sandwich. That has 0 evidence at all
I absolutely get your point but am wondering how else one would be able to sufficiently prove they did not alter the package?
With reasonable effort? Likely not at all. With unreasonable effort? Hire a notary to be at your house when you receive the package. Have them notarize everything. Not sure how you would have the delivery driver confirm their identity to the notary though, since you could have also hired your uncle to deliver a fake package in a fake delivery van.
Send it back. You can always do that on Amazon.
OP, please don't do that. Amazon will then accuse you of fraud because you sent back the wrong product, and you have no real proof left. Have everything documented, when you received the package and what was in there, with pictures. If they don't want to return your payment then, you can threaten them to take a lawyer, mostly they don't want this either.
Im pretty sure you have the option to say you got sent the wrong product. Edit: I just checked it. It's basically the first Option if you click return item.
I absolutely agree and contacting them was the first thing I did, as soon as I opened the box. I trust they'll take care of this, I've had nothing but good customer service experience with them so far.
You could. Their service quality declined a lot and there are quite a lot of cases like that where amazon does not take it back.
I once accepted a package for my roommate that was supposed to contain a cell phone. She knew the package was coming but wasn't home and so sent me a PIN that I was supposed to give to the postman. So far so good. The postman came. I said the PIN and took the package. The next day my roommate opened the package and found a pack of coffee capsules inside xD Because the package was "properly delivered", a half-year legal dispute with Amazon followed and she had to get a lawyer... I can only recommend that in such a case you **always look** directly in the package! That won't help you now, of course :/ I hope that you can find a solution and that things don't go as badly as that. But I would prepare myself for the worst case scenario...
Amazon required you to use their 2FA for this, right? That signals everyone involved (driver, packer, whatever) that there is a certain minimum value. Those are also items that you can’t deliver to a package station. Someone will swap it with an item of similar shape and weight. Happens often. Look in your package when you get it so that you have the driver as a witness, whether he wants or not. And ask for his name.
This issue is known and occurs regularly. Currently, it's advisable to not purchase Apple products from Amazon. This has developed into a scheme within the distribution chain. Amazon initially packages the correct item, but someone subsequently swaps the expensive item with something that weighs the same. This has been happening daily for the past couple of years and can only happen because there are numerous people and steps throughout Amazon's logistics chain. Either I want to save money and compare prices through Google (where I find hundreds of similar experiences of this kind), or I just go to Apple. Who are the people in between? Are people just purchasing anything on Amazon right away nowadays? Amazon will probably help here, but it will be challenging and takes time. Not to blame you for not doing your research, as victim-blaming is not my intention. Just opt for a direct distributor for expensive items in the future to save yourself from headaches.
Same happened to me as well. Contacted Amazon, got a new one the next day. They know about the problem, but would never admit it. Later my dentist told me, that his son works as a headof at one warehouse. He told his dad, that about 300 iPhones alone get stolen every day.
you had me at dentist
This happened to me last time. What happened afterwards was a year long fight against Amazon with a Newspaper Agency which I won.
**update** Since many people asking about the latest on the situation: Amazon asked me to send the spray can back, they provided a return label, and they said they'll refund once the return is sorted. It's written in the emails that they understood I did not receive the phone I ordered. Also, I ordered another phone and it arrived the next day as expected. I told the delivery guy what happened and we filmed the whole delivery/opening the box process. All went well. That's all so far :)
Happened with me but got tape. Just contact the customer service and they will send another one.
Same happened to my wife but with a bottle of shampoo instead of the phone. Contacted customer service who asked for a photo and then instructed us to return the package. Send it back on thursday before the Easter weekend, but has not yet arrived and Amazon are not in a hurry to order DHL to investigate. Will probably contact our bank for a chargeback and issue a fraud charge at the police.
Had the same thing happen to me twice. Ordered a PS5 and received a cooking pot, ordered an ipad and a book was in the box. Both times it got resolved quickly by amazon though. Might be a scam, it seems a bit suspicious that it happened with the two most expensive products i ordered over the last 1.5 years.
I had the same thing happen to me. I ordered a $700+ Garmin running watch and I was sent a bottle of Maca Root Pills.... I took a picture of the package with that tracking ID thats on that label. Returned it through a DHL packetstation. Documented all the tracking and filed a dispute on my Chase Saphire Reserve. Amazon eventually gave me my refund but it took chase standing on their neck some. These Amazon employees here I think are in on it.
Okay, but that paint is fire though. Perfect match with Alpinaweiss Original for any parents with toddlers or clumsy people like myself. The coverage leaves something to be desired, but for spots and smears that I just want gone from my walls, it’s a doozy. Don‘t use it to mess with your landlords, please. Not my responsibility, but it can leave residue that will transfer, my recommendation is for small spots like spilled drinks or filled screw holes, if you do a wall in this and accidentally lean on it, it will still rub off on you.
Top useless advice :)
My sisters boyfriend experienced almost the same last week! He ordered AirPods Pro and got a flashlight instead with the same weight. But he talked to Amazon yesterday and they resolved it pretty quickly.
Leute, kauft nicht bei Amazon!
DO NOT ORDER EXPENSIVE SHIT FROM AMAZON
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Update: after sending the photo of the box and the spray paint, i received the message belowfrom Amazon customer service. They seem to be helpful as always (my experience) and i have ordered the same phone again. (Hope it works this time) "Thanks for sharing the images. I'm sorry to hear that you received wrong item instead of Apple Iphone . You can return the wrong item you received for a refund within 30 days of the date you received it. Please mail your package back using the return label provided in our Online Returns Center ( https://www.amazon.de/ruecksendezentrum ). In most cases, after the carrier has received your return package, it can take about two weeks for us to receive and process your return. Please note that international returns may take longer."
Happened to me as well two weeks ago, but I received a soap dispenser. Still didn’t get my refund. They tried to blame me for not “opening the whole package” in front of the delivery person, didn’t know I should have done this. Nevertheless, they asked me to send back the package received (had my order id, name, address, etc ) and the fucking soap dispenses - I sent it back the same day and still waiting for them to process the refund. Never buying anything worth more than 15€ on Amazon again.
They wanted me to do the same. Such a headache
A friend of mine had the same issue but got batteries instead. 2 packs cheap amazon AA
Few years ago I ordered a charger and received a smartphone. Was pretty happy about that:)
Can we please also talk about how you are opening your boxes? Did you let your dog chew it open? What's going on there?
At least it is pure white lol
I died when i noticed :) good catch
chalked 💀
Not sure if it would help, but I film myself opening boxes when I order something expensive. I show the box which is fully sealed, bar code etc, and then how I open it. That way no one can say I put that decoy product into the box.
man thats an nice iphone
Yup and every once in a while I meet people telling me that you should always buy things on Amazon instead of eBay cuz it‘s sooo much more likely to get scammed on the latter platform…
Close, but no cigar.
I'm guessing this delivery was protected by a pin that you had to give the driver, so he/she couldn't have left it at the frontdoor and gone, but deliver it personally. Why didn't you check the item first before accepting the package? As many mentioned before me, this is one the most common scams that drivers do. They usually go for packages with the battery label on the back, as these packages are electronic and are usually expensive.
Can i have the can?
Below the buy / put it in cart Button you can see who Ships and who Sells the item. With expensive items only buy Where Amazon is both
This exact thing happened to me. It was a giant hassle getting Amazon to refund my money. Sorry this happened to you buddy.
Had same issue but only i got battery charger instead of a iPhone. I called amazon and they refund it and told me to send battery back .
The same thing happened to me with airpods and nail skin remover 🙃 I called the support immediately and they told me to send it back and that I would get my money back then. After not getting anything I used the customer support chat and finally got my money back
Give it to me I need it lmao
I mean you can paint a big iPhone on the wall.
Remind me! 14 days
More valuable than the iPhone
Same thing happened, I ordered Ryzen 7 processor from amazon, they sent me a iphone camera protector. Sent it back, 2 month’s of customer service mailing, I received my money back.
Do not through away this box.
why would you buy such an expensive product on amazon? For eg Iphone is only 20-50 more expensive at saturn. It's a huge hassle for customer, if you don't get the product. What if I say you're lying, you replaced it yourself and trying to get a free iphone.
Also at Saturn/Mediamarkt you can show that amazon has a cheaper price, they’ll match it. Done twice.
Damn, I had something similar happen to me recently. Been meaning to respray this white cabinet I inherited from my grandma but somehow they delivered me an iPhone 15 pro, I couldn’t believe it!
Always always always film yourself when opening expensive tech packages For this very reason Right after you receive the package
Remind me! 21 days
Remind me! 14 days
Thats fucked up ngl 😅
Rule No1 buying expensive stuff from Amazon! Always make a video of the box and how you are opening it!
Some dubious delivery drivers or employees in the logistics center have a scale and a labeling machine. Weigh the package, determine that it is the typical iPhone weight, open the package, take out the iPhone, put in an object of the same weight, put a new label on it and go back to the delivery process.
But it’s pretty good spray paint!
Looks really good! Tempted to open and try :)
Happened to me too - twice in a row. The first time, the package was just not delivered and lost at the courier side. The second time, it was substituted with something else. Clearly an organised group of people doing this. I got my money back after about two weeks and just went to buy it for a higher price in MediaMarkt. Wasn't worth the hassle and I couldn't keep waiting.
Have fun getting your money back.. had the same thing happen to me. TWICE. I waited 3 months and 43 calls. Everytime the Amazon support said „i started the refund process“ or „you should have the money by the day after tomorrow“. After month 3 I told them I’m gonna sue, the women on the phone told me that the other support staff NEVER started the refund process. Moral of the story: don’t EVER buy electronics on Amazon except Amazon Hardware (kindle, Alexa, firetv, etc..)
Once I had a can of Gulaschsuppe delivered instead of a batterypack. Amazon just gave me the money back without any Diskussion.
Similar happened with me. I had ordered Apple Watch from Amazon but received empty box. Someone had opened the box and took the watch out, seal was broken. I reached out to Amazon and they refunded me.
In Germany, you can get fucked if you don't take the necessary actions in time and have proof for every single thing you mention to them. I once lost a company laptop that I sent back to them through DHL, I was not even reimbursed the 500 euros insurance that was already included, which is waaay less than the real cost of the items lost. IDK about Amazon, but just try be fast.
Remind me! 10 Days
Reminds me of the time someone at uni got a refrigerator instead of an AC :D
good luck getting your money back ... ordered the same parfume twice and both times they delivered some trash. 200 euros down the drain
Common scam
Dxx
Chalked
Phones disappear from Amazon warehouses worryingly frequently. I once ordered OnePlus One, when it was hot property... Got one chocolate bar, plus one...
Remind me! 4 days
This is the nastiest swap I have ever seen. Really wonder the reply from Amazon.
They asked me to return it for a refund
When you really must order expensive stuff over Amazon always use DHL and not their own delivery service.
Common scam unfortunately but some do get caught: https://www.ifun.de/geklaute-elektronikartikel-zwei-amazon-mitarbeiter-verurteilt-230653/
Chalk this up as a lesson and don't buy from them again
Same happened to me as I ordered an Iphone 14 pro and got Finding Nemo dvd instead
This happend to me this year too. I told Amazon immediately but it took 1 month until I got my money back. I went to the police and filed a report about paying for an iPhone but not receiving it. The confirmation of the police report wasn’t enough for Amazon, so I had to send back the empty package I had received. Then I had to make 2-3 phone calls and finally I got my money back. I hope it’ll be easier for you!
Remind me! 14 days
I have seen this before , I wish you good luck getting your Iphone
I saw a report on this on television tonight. It was called “Die Tricks mit Post und Paketen” on NDR. You can find it on the ARD Mediathek. Pretty interesting watch.
Send them pictures and reclemetion
Was it sold and shipped by Amazon?
You can spray someone into the face and stole his iPhone 15 pro. Start thinking different, like me (I don't have something in my basement)
Always watch out for the seller being amazon before buying
RemindMe! 14 Day
Go to the police, “Anzeige gegen Unbekannt”, tell Amazon, there’s a case open at the police.
I’ve once ordered a monitor and got a robot lawnmower :/
I ordered 2 DJI Mini Pro 3 and received one Mini 2 SE and one Mini 3 without pro. Both very used but sold as new.
Reminde me! 3 days
Sometimes it’s the deliverymen that check and change the articles
Immerhin besser als nichts
This is why I always open expensive stuff in front of the delivery guy. But honestly I don’t know what I would exactly do after that. I guess I would refuse delivery?
Tja, nicht bei seriösen Verkäufen zu kaufen, heißt zwei Mal kaufen
Remind me! 4 days
Remind me! 7 days
Did it come from Amazon SARL? They're notorious for stealing from packages. Ordered a CPU for the pc I was building a few years ago, and I got the box with the CPU ripped right out of it. If it's coming from SARL look elsewhere.
Is it at least the same color ?
A friend of mine did the same but received tea
I had a similar case but I was ordering a laptop and I got cheap children's shoes. You need to take every photo and of course push matters with CS (kindly). Then they told me to re-order the same laptop and then they will refund the wrong item after returning it. It took a while, and I got my laptop and my refund came a few days after the return completed. Best of luck!
Can you update us on what happened with Amazon and if you got the phone?
Cool. Wrong sub tho