An Amazon customer is out $2,000 after ordering a high-end Garmin smartwatch twice, only to receive empty, tampered-with boxes both times. The victim, an Air Force veteran named Eric, originally purchased a $1,000 Garmin watch to replace an old unit he had worn for three years, including during his deployment to the Middle East.
According to the TikTok video posted by wbztv, the first package arrived with the cardboard torn open and the device missing. After contacting customer service, Eric says he was told to place a second order and refuse delivery of the delayed replacement, with Amazon promising a full refund.
Instead of a smooth transaction, the second attempt ended the same way. Eric caught the delivery on his porch camera, opening the newly arrived box directly in front of the delivery driver, only to discover yet another missing device.
After two empty boxes, customer service wasn’t much help
With two empty boxes and $2,000 charged to his account, Eric spent upwards of 15 hours over several days dealing with customer service. Rather than offering an immediate refund or proper resolution, representatives initially offered him a $10 promotional credit before eventually raising it to $100.
“I have now spent $2,000 on watches… Oh my god… and they are empty!” Eric said while inspecting the delivery on his doorstep. “I did spend $2,000, and I don’t have the watch or my money back.”
The delivery driver even tried calling customer support on Eric’s behalf, but the efforts went nowhere. The ordeal highlights a growing number of complaints from shoppers whose expensive online purchases never arrive as expected.
After sharing his ordeal on social media, Eric learned he was far from alone. Dozens of users across the country reached out claiming they experienced similar issues with high-value electronics deliveries.
The incident raises questions about where the devices are disappearing during the fulfillment process. Eric speculated that the watches may have been stolen before shipment or that some buyers may be returning empty boxes that end up back in inventory.
“Someone’s either swiping them while packing them, or somebody’s buying them, returning them empty,” Eric noted.
According to the video, they have spoken to an Amazon spokesperson who confirmed that ”The company is now launching an investigation into the matter,” adding that “They hope to have an answer for us in the coming days.”
While Amazon investigates the incident, Eric purchased a third watch directly from the manufacturer to avoid the risk of stolen order delivery problems happening again. “Yep, I was told the watch is in the box, and it’s brand new with the sticker on it,” Eric said after finally receiving the watch.
Published: Jul 22, 2026 04:50 pm