What should I do when tracking says delivered but I cannot find the package?

Start with a short, orderly search before reporting it missing. Check the tracking details for the delivery time, any location description, and a delivery photo if one is available. FedEx advises checking picture proof when available. [S2]

Then check other plausible drop-off spots: a side or back door, porch, garage, weather-protected area, or parcel locker. If you live in a building, ask household members or building management where relevant. USPS specifically suggests checking those kinds of locations and people; UPS also suggests checking exterior doors and less-visible drop spots, and asking someone who may have picked it up. [S1] [S3]

Keep the search factual. A delivered scan alone does not tell you why the package is not where you expected it.

Use the carrier shown in your tracking information rather than assuming every carrier follows the same process. The supplied USPS guidance says that if an item remains missing more than one postal business day after a delivered scan, customers with eligible items can submit a service request to the local Post Office. That timing and eligibility are USPS-specific, not a general rule for other carriers. [S1]

For UPS, the stated next step when the package still cannot be found is to contact the seller to start a claim. [S3] FedEx describes reporting a missing package through its tracking page; its process may depend on the shipment. [S2]

If you are unsure which route applies, contact the seller with the tracking details and ask whether they want you to use the carrier’s reporting process or have them start a claim. The supplied guidance does not establish what outcome, timing, or reimbursement any particular report will produce.

Describe what you can verify: the order or tracking reference, the date and time shown on the scan, the places you checked, and whether you asked anyone who might have brought it inside. Avoid guesses about what happened. Ask for the appropriate next step and keep a copy of your message and any case or request number you receive.

Copy and adapt this template:

“Hello, my order [order reference] has tracking number [tracking number]. Tracking shows delivered on [date] at [time or displayed location], but I have not found the package. I checked [locations] and asked [household member/building staff, if relevant]. I also reviewed [delivery photo or location details, if available]. Could you tell me the appropriate next step for this shipment, including whether I should report it through the carrier or whether you will start a claim? Thank you.”

FedEx says its tracking-page missing-package report assigns a case number after submission. UPS directs customers to contact the seller to start a claim. Keep those carrier-specific differences in mind when choosing where to send the request. [S2] [S3]