Millions of Australians have had a parcel stolen or go missing in the last year, according to new research by Australian comparison site Finder.
A Finder survey of 1010 respondents revealed one in five (20%) have had a parcel lost or stolen in the past 12 months. That’s 4.1 million missing parcels.
The research revealed 7% of Aussies have had a package stolen from their home after it had been delivered – the equivalent to 1.4 million parcels nationally.
One in twelve Australians (8%) had a parcel get lost in transit, while 6% had a parcel delivered to the wrong address.
Taylor Blackburn, personal finance specialist at Finder, said it was a concerning problem.
“Millions of Australians have experienced the frustration of ordering something online, only for it to never arrive.
“The financial toll is significant, with losses running into the millions each year – not to mention the inconvenience for consumers.
“Opportunistic thieves are seizing the chance to snatch unattended packages.”
The average total cost of the items reported lost or stolen was $145, which equates to a whopping $606 million worth of packages in the past year alone.
Finder’s research found gen Z is the unluckiest generation when it comes to parcels disappearing – with 30% having a parcel not arrive in the past year.
Blackburn said there are ways to protect your deliveries.
“Start by noting the estimated delivery date so you can anticipate when your package will arrive.
“If you won’t be home, consider alternative arrangements, such as redirecting to a safe collection point.”
Other preventative measures include requesting a signature on delivery, installing a security camera, or leaving specific instructions for couriers to drop packages in a secure spot.
“These small steps can significantly reduce the risk of theft.
“If your goods are stolen, all is not lost. If you paid with a credit card, you may be entitled to a refund if your card has purchase protection.
“Most retail items you buy for yourself are covered, such as clothing, jewellery, laptops or art.”
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