Amazon Apologizes and Offers Refund After $2,000 Delivery Issue

Sacramento man faced frustration after Amazon failed to deliver a $2,000 outdoor bathroom

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Sacramento man named Danny Portman ordered a $2,000 outdoor bathroom from Amazon, but the company failed to properly deliver the large item and instead sent a photo of a much smaller item on someone else's porch. Portman did extensive preparation work for the bathroom, including installing water, sewer, and gas lines, but after multiple calls to Amazon he got nowhere. He then reached out to a local news station, which contacted Amazon, and the company subsequently apologized, issued a $100 gift card, and processed a full refund of the $2,000 Portman had spent.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges consumers can face when dealing with third-party sellers on major e-commerce platforms like Amazon. It raises questions about Amazon's responsibility to vet and monitor its third-party sellers to ensure customers receive the items they order, especially for large or expensive purchases.

The details

Portman ordered the $2,000 outdoor bathroom from Amazon in November. The company claimed they delivered the product with a tracking number and photo, but the photo was of a much smaller item on someone else's porch, not the large bathroom Portman had purchased. Portman had already done extensive preparation work, including installing water, sewer, and gas lines, in anticipation of receiving the bathroom. After multiple calls to Amazon where he got nowhere, Portman reached out to a local news station, which contacted Amazon. Within days, Portman received an apology from Amazon's executive customer relations and the company processed a full refund of the $2,000 he had spent.

  • Portman ordered the $2,000 outdoor bathroom from Amazon in November.
  • Portman reached out to the local news station in early February 2026.

The players

Danny Portman

A Sacramento man who ordered a $2,000 outdoor bathroom from Amazon.

Amazon

The major e-commerce company that failed to properly deliver the $2,000 outdoor bathroom Portman ordered.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“And it said put on your front porch, and I'm like wait a minute. This thing weighs almost 500 pounds. It's 10 feet tall. Seven feet by 5 feet. That's not going to fit on it. So I called up Amazon.”

— Danny Portman (abc10.com)

“You're right. The experience you had was not ideal, nor was it what we hope for our customers. Again, I'm truly sorry you haven't received your order and the price on the item has now changed. However sellers set their own prices, and we are unable to price match. While I realize it can't fully make up for what happened please accept the $100 gift card I've issued to your account as a small gesture of goodwill".”

— Amazon Executive Customer Relations (abc10.com)

What’s next

Amazon says it is no longer working with the third-party seller that Portman purchased the outdoor bathroom from, and the company encourages customers to thoroughly research third-party sellers before making purchases on its platform.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of e-commerce platforms like Amazon closely vetting and monitoring their third-party sellers to ensure customers receive the items they order, especially for large or expensive purchases. It also underscores the need for consumers to thoroughly research third-party sellers before making purchases to avoid potential issues.