Sometimes a parcel can’t be delivered, so it needs to be returned to sender. What does this mean for your business?
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Video: The Australia Post logo sits at the top of a red screen. A grey-haired man sits under the text, "eCommerce Jargon Busters: Return to Sender."
Audio: Man: Return to sender. Ah, that's what happens to my love letters.
Video: The man laughs then reads from a card that has an Australia Post logo on the back. Later, the text he's reading is typed onto a red background.
Audio: Man: If a parcel can't be delivered to the correct person, it can be labeled "return to sender" and sent back to the sender at no cost.
Video: The man fidgets with the card.
Audio: Man: No cost to return it, that's great.
Video: Before a red background a microphone hovers over a stool. An Australia Post card lies on the stool. Text reads, “eCommerce Jargon Busters. [Jah-gawn bust-uhz] noun + plural noun.” The Australia Post logo appears just above the stool.
If a parcel can’t be delivered, it can be returned to you labelled with ‘return to sender’.
Return to sender is different to a customer returning an item in line with your returns policy.
Why is return to sender important?
Returning an undelivered parcel gives you a chance to work out the best next step for getting your customer’s order to them.
Why might a parcel not be delivered?
There are a few reasons a parcel might not be able to be delivered, including:
- The address on the shipping label was incorrect or incomplete
- The customer hasn’t picked up the parcel from the Post Office within 10 business days
- It was delivered to an incorrect address
What happens if your package isn’t able to be delivered?
In cases like those listed above, the parcel is labelled ‘return to sender’ and will be sent back to you.
How can you make sure a return to sender gets back to you?
When you send a parcel to a customer, always make sure your return address is clearly labelled.
MyPost Business is here to help with your deliveries
From automating label creation to booking parcel pickups, MyPost Business is designed to help eCommerce businesses save time and money.
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Blog | 30 August 2026What does ‘return to sender’ mean?
Sometimes a parcel can’t be delivered, so it needs to be returned to sender. What does this mean for your business?