Most Memorable eBay Package

[copper.boom]

Story time. Tell us some of your most memorable experiences opening packages of items you purchased on eBay. Doesn't matter if it's funny, horrifying, exhilarating, or tear-jerking... as long as it was a memorable moment.

Several years ago my cousin ordered a set of vintage salt and pepper shakers. The seller failed to take note that the salt shaker was full before they shipped it. Salt was spilling out from every crevice of that box when we opened it. The carpet was not pleased with the shower it got. We were vaccuming that thing up for weeks and ultimately had to have it professionally cleaned.

Another time I purchased something for my mom. She had a favorite item that broke and thought that was it since it's not made anymore. I found a replacement on eBay and I let her open the box. She was so surprised and excited. She couldn't believe that I found it. I won't soon forget the look on her face.

[thenobletuckylife]

I purchased a chain saw that came with the bar (without the chain on it thank goodness) sticking out through the box!

Also a few years back I purchased a valuable set of Rogers antiques silver ware. When I received the box it sounded like everything was loose. Sure enough...the seller simply left all the silverware in the case loose (you know knives in the top slots and stacks of spoons/forks etc in their placement slots).

I could barely open the box without pieces falling out at me. Most of the silverware was damaged...banged up and useless...and it was such a beautiful set that I had planned on breaking up into smaller sets to sell here....arrrrgh...so sad.

Mr C

[relaxintowealth]

I recieved a very broken piece of china, shoved into a ritz cracker box with no wrapping.I am now ONE of the best packers on ebay!

[michael_atw]

10 years of watching bad packaging become consistently awful.  Awful.

Found a condom in a package (used); found a dead mouse in a package.  Seen a package with a forklift fork through it (luckily that one was less than $100).  

In more interesting news, a Japanese customer that returned an item sent me Japanese candy some years ago.
 

[evry1nositswindy]

A couple of years ago, our Christmas tree fell over during the night.  Several ornaments were broken, but none more heartbreaking than our dated first Christmas together ornament.  It was dated 1991 and was from Avon.  My hubby found another one on eBay and gave it to me on our anniversary the following year.  I was so surprised and touched that he took the time to find a replacement.  That is what eBay is all about, not new stuff from China.

[Anonymous]

Fun topic, Copper!

A memorable one for me was when I ordered a specialty tool.  It was shipped in one of those Priority Mail Regional Rate A side-loader boxes.   When I opened it, guess what was inside?   Nothing!  It was empty.  

But, I wasn't that surprised.  Before opening the box, I already knew there'd be nothing but air inside:  it was light as a feather, AND there was a small hole in a corner of the box.  It looked like a mouse had chewed right through.   I figured the tool was originally packed inside, but it punctured the box and fell out somewhere in transit.

As soon as I felt how light the box was, and noticed the hole, I ran back out to tell my carrier.  I was lucky, she was still outside organizing mail tubs.  I told her about the hole-in-the-box situation and the missing item, and right about the same time, she pulled out a shiny tool from another one of her mail tubs.  There it was!  My mail carrier said she couldn't figure out what the heck that thing was and why it was sitting in the bottom of a mail tub.  

Come to think of it,  I wonder if USPS insurance would cover a situation like this ... where a Priority box got damaged in transit and the item fell out somewhere ... never to be found?  Any thoughts?

[copper.boom]

I really can't wait to read more stories. I think I'm going to hand out awards at the end of this...

Best Surprise

Funniest

Weirdest

Craziest

Most Likely to Make You Cry

Most Likely to Make You Shower

Most Horrifying (looked like it would be Mr C with his chainsaw, but Michael ATW has pulled fast into the lead with the used condom!? )

I'll think of some more...

[thenobletuckylife]

Hopefully the chainsaw wasn't used in conjunction with the condom!

Bad Mr C....

[nicgola-0]

I buy a lot of soccer stuff, my husband coaches professionally and volunteers for the local rec team, he grew up poor, like really poor. His family was pretty well off, his father owned 2 large companies in Egypt but when he died his brothers took EVERYTHING leaving his mom selling wires and electrical equipment in the street just to feed her children. Eventually things got better but my husband still remembers wearing shoes that didn't fit, being made fun of for his cloths etc.
He went to collage, played pro soccer for Egypt's national team and made a name for himself, but it kills him to see kids going without so we do what we can for the kids in our community via soccer.

When I find cheap soccer stuff on ebay, I snap it up since there is ALWAYS a kid that needs shin guards, shorts, cleats... you name it.
One seller had all kinds of stuff listed, all starting at .99, in various sizes, it was like hitting the lotto, so i bid and bought all of it.  She sent me a message, joking that I must have a ton of kids and I told her that it was all going to kids in the rec program.  She didn't say anything other then "That's so sweet"
The packaged shipped and when it arrived I was shocked.
The 20 items I had purchased were in as I expected but she had also added in a bunch ( cant remember how many exactly) of brand new shin guards, a few pairs of shorts and a shirt.
She included a note that said she had been in financially strapped when her son was in high school, he wanted to play football but she couldn't afford the fees and that she'd wished someone had been there to give her son a helping hand and that she hoped the items would be helpful.

I literally cried.  I wrote her an email, thanked her and told her how touching her note and act of kindness was, I offered to pay her, at least for the extra shipping.
We have since became friends, for 3 years now. ❤️

[nicgola-0]

Now the worst. I bought a really cute shirt, I was so excited to get it.  I get it, open up the package and it was filthy... like nasty, nasty filthy and the smell! OMG AND the hem was compleatly undone at the bottom.
I have 3 cats and 5 birds, I understand pet hair. I keep my pets out of my "ebay room" for that reason and when I sell something I use a lint roller on it, just to be sure.
This shirt looked like it had been used as a dog bed and reaked of cat pee. 
The seller had 100% feedback, I don;t know how but they did. I sent a PM with pictures. First she told me she didnt have pets. Then she accused me of trying to scam her, then she admited that her husband had packed the shirt and he must have not paid attention and that thier cat likes to lay of freshly laundered clothing.
I asked to return it and her resopnse was " I guess, since it will put you out so much to just wash it"

[castlemagicmemories]

Once I received a porcelain doll in an ENVELOPE!  By the grace of God, it somehow manage to arrive intact in spite of NO protective wrap or packing material.

Several ceramic pieces that made that horrible sound that lets you know there are broken pieces before you even open it.

Best one was the set of glass Christmas ornaments that I bought once.  New seller, no measurements, but decided not to ask measurements and just bid.  Won the bid, only to have two rather large boxes arrive.  Several other orders were coming, so I just thought the one box was the ornaments and the other something else.  Opened the one box to find 4 of an 8 piece set, and they were FAR larger than I thought they were.  So I thought they didn't send the whole order.  BUT the OTHER box had the other 4 ornaments, and much larger just like the first ones!  Absolutely, stunningly GORGEOUS and FAR better than expected!  Turned out they were a display, sample set from a VERY well known NY landmark, much in the news, and valued at over $300.00.  All for $25.00 and shipping.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

A couple of years ago, our Christmas tree fell over during the night.  Several ornaments were broken, but none more heartbreaking than our dated first Christmas together ornament.  It was dated 1991 and was from Avon.  My hubby found another one on eBay and gave it to me on our anniversary the following year.  I was so surprised and touched that he took the time to find a replacement.  That is what eBay is all about, not new stuff from China.

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@evry1nositswindy

You are so right.  Your story stirred my memory.  Before we were married, my husband gave me a beautiful marble paperweight that said, God loves you and so do I.  While browsing through ornaments several years back, I found an ornament that said the same thing, and gave it to him as part of his Christmas presents.  He loved it.

[lex-talon]

Two years ago, I bought a Nintendo GBA Sp lot. It had 2 GBA Sp consoles, one Game Boy color console,

twenty games, various acessories, and a case. The seller crammed everything in a Priority mail FLE, no padding or any protection whatsoever. When it arrived at my house, the envelope had huge  tears,  it was a miracle everything arrived in one piece. Most of the items were dirty, had to clean them up a bit.

Fortunately, everything worked fine. 

[castlemagicmemories]

A large beautiful porcelain doll with a hand painted dress for $100.00.  Had a price tag of $895.00 with the name of a very exclusive boutique on the bottom of the doll stand.

A rare, hard to find, high demand head vase that someone had attached to a doll body for  $20.00.  Head vase sells in the realm of $600.00 to $1,200.00.

These things now happily reside in my collections!

[fart20cool]

The basketball shorts that i buy on ebay came in nice shape and they had been washed like they said. i was very happy.