PostNL says delivered, but nothing received: what now?

Does PostNL Track & Trace say your parcel has been delivered, but you have not received anything? That does not always mean the parcel should already be in your hands. According to PostNL, a delivery driver may scan several parcels at the same time, which means the status can sometimes already show ‘delivered’ while the driver is still on the route.

If you ordered from GUNDERWEAR, you do not need to assume immediately that your parcel is lost. First go through the steps below.

1. Check Track & Trace and your email

First take another careful look at the latest information in Track & Trace or the PostNL app. PostNL may indicate where the parcel was delivered, for example to your own address, a neighbour or another agreed location.

Also check your email and, if necessary, your spam folder. Sometimes additional delivery information can be found there.

2. Ask neighbours and other household members

Does the parcel show as delivered, but you cannot find it? Ask neighbours or other people in your household as well. According to PostNL, this is one of the first checks you can do yourself.

Were you expecting the parcel that same day and do you still see the delivery driver? PostNL also advises asking the driver where the parcel was left. For some shipments, this information may also appear in Track & Trace.

3. Wait two delivery days

For a parcel that already shows as delivered, PostNL advises waiting another two delivery days. A parcel may have been scanned together with other parcels and still be delivered later that day or within that period.

Waiting can feel strange when Track & Trace states ‘delivered’ very clearly, but in practice the scan can sometimes be ahead of the actual delivery.

4. Still nothing after two delivery days?

If you still have not received anything after two delivery days and have also checked with neighbours and household members, contact the sender. PostNL states that the sender is the party that can request a parcel trace or start an investigation.

If it concerns an order from GUNDERWEAR, contact me and include your order number. I can then check the shipment and determine which next step with PostNL is needed.

Why can a parcel show as delivered too early?

Track & Trace is updated based on scans during the delivery process. PostNL explains that delivery drivers sometimes scan several parcels at once. This means your shipment may already receive the ‘delivered’ status while the driver is still completing the delivery route.

The status is therefore important information, but a delivery scan does not in every situation happen at the exact moment you physically receive the parcel.

What should you not do?

Reporting a missing parcel immediately after the first delivery scan is usually too early. As long as the two delivery days have not passed, PostNL itself advises waiting a little longer for delivery. During that period, do check whether new information appears in Track & Trace.

Official information from PostNL

You can find PostNL's current steps on the page parcel or mail with Track & Trace not delivered. You can also check there what PostNL currently advises.

Frequently asked questions

My PostNL parcel says delivered. Is it lost?

Not necessarily. PostNL itself states that a parcel can sometimes already be scanned as delivered while the driver is still on the way. The actual delivery often follows later.

How long should I wait if PostNL says my parcel has been delivered?

For a parcel with Track & Trace, PostNL advises waiting another two delivery days.

Do I need to contact PostNL myself?

If the parcel has still not been received after two delivery days, PostNL asks the recipient to contact the sender. The sender can then make enquiries with PostNL or start an investigation.

What should I do if it is a GUNDERWEAR order?

First check Track & Trace, your email, neighbours and household members and wait the two delivery days. If the order is still missing after that, contact me with your order number.

Does the same timeframe apply to regular mail without Track & Trace?

No. PostNL uses different guidelines for mail without Track & Trace. This blog specifically concerns a parcel with Track & Trace that has already received the status ‘delivered’.