Onbestelde

Onbestelde is a Dutch term that translates roughly to “not ordered.” In logistics and e-commerce, it refers to goods or services delivered to a recipient who did not place the order. This situation can arise from address errors, data-entry mistakes, inventory mislabeling, or potentially fraudulent activity.

Etymology and scope: The word combines the prefix on- (not) with bestelde, the past participle of bestellen (to order). The concept covers physical shipments, digital deliveries, or services that reach a person or organization without a corresponding purchase authorization.

Usage and examples: Onbestelde deliveries often appear as unsolicited parcels, promotional shipments, or mistaken deliveries. Recipients may receive items with no invoice or with an incorrect recipient name or address. The concept is commonly discussed alongside related issues such as foutieve levering (incorrect delivery) and ongewenste zendingen (unwanted shipments).

Handling and best practices: If you receive onbestelde items, you should avoid paying for or acknowledging the order. Keep the packaging intact if possible, and contact the sender or carrier to report the delivery. Most vendors will arrange collection or provide a return label at their expense. For low-value items, policies vary, but many providers allow return or disposal at the sender’s cost or according to their stated terms.

Legal and consumer context: Consumer protection regimes generally place the burden on the seller or shipper to resolve unrequested deliveries and to respect the recipient’s rights regarding returns. The exact rights and procedures depend on jurisdiction and the terms of sale; consult local consumer protection guidelines for specifics.

See also: foutieve levering, ongewenste zendingen, unsolicited goods.