Here’s something most people don’t know until they need it: if you ordered something online and it never showed up, the seller has a legal obligation to make it right — not the shipping carrier, and not you.
Under a federal rule enforced by the FTC, sellers who take orders by phone, mail, or online have real obligations when something goes wrong with delivery. They have to ship within whatever timeframe they promised. If they didn’t promise a specific date, the default is 30 days from when they received your completed order. And if they can’t meet that, they must give you the option to cancel for a full refund.
So if your package shows “delivered” but never actually arrived, go back to the seller first. Tell them what happened and ask them to either reship your order or refund you. Most legitimate sellers will deal with it — and the FTC rule gives you backup if they don’t.
If the seller blows you off or goes quiet, your next move depends on how you paid. Credit card? You can dispute the charge with your card company — that’s a strong, well-established protection. Debit card is trickier. The FTC notes that debit card protections are different and sometimes weaker than credit cards, so contact your bank directly and ask what options are available to you. It varies by bank and situation, so don’t assume you have no recourse — ask.
One more thing worth knowing: don’t wait too long. The sooner you report it to the seller and your card issuer, the better your chances of getting your money back.