Why did my USPS package get returned to me saying it was unclaimed?

Question

I sold something online about a month ago and it was shipped out Jun 23 via priority mail and it is now July 23 and I got the package back in the mail with a sticker on it checked off unclaimed. So what happened? I didn't have signature confirmation on it or anything, so I thought they just dropped it off. Buyer never emailed me or anything either.

Answer 1

There was likely no secure place for the carrier to leave the package for the recipient so the carrier left a notice for them to arrange for delivery at a time when they would be available to receive it, or to pick up at their local PO.

In short, the addressee failed to respond to 2 notices that there was a package for them. USPS will not hold mail indefinitely, so it was returned to you for disposition.

It appears that your buyer was given more time that is the usual to retrieve this package. They were left a notice at the delivery attempt, then a final notice 5 days after that. The package should have been returned to you 15 days after the first delivery attempt.