Latest news with #lostpackage
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I spent £2.60 on a lost parcel, I was expecting a bag of screws but was so happy with what I got, I went back for more
WE'VE all experienced patiently waiting for a delivery, only for it not to turn up. You might wonder what has happened to them, and it turns out that some companies buy unclaimed parcels in bulk to sell on. 2 2 And one woman decided to try her luck by buying a lost package for just £2.60, not knowing what was inside. Melika Zaidi, from the UK, found a shop dedicated to selling lost packages. The shop was filled with unmarked packages for people to buy in the hopes of getting more than what they paid. Melika said: "This is so exciting. Watch it be like a bag of screws or something." In the shop, you weigh the package out and pay for that, and Melika's cost her just £2.60. She paid at the till before opening it up. "I've just bought this parcel in the mystery parcel shop where it's unclaimed and lost parcels and I've got no idea what it is," she said. "So I'm gonna burst immediately in. It was like three euros. I'm bursting in." As she ripped into the bag, she was pleasantly surprised with her mystery package which fortunately, wasn't filled with screws. Melika added: "Oh my God, it's like a little handheld game console. I spent £136 to see if the lost luggage trend was worth it - I thought I'd nab designer goodies but it was a total flop "Sorry, that's like the cutest thing. "I actually think that's a bargain." Melika was so impressed with her buy that she decided she wasn't going to stop there and purchased two more packages to unwrap. While the shop Melika went to was in Barcelona, you can enjoy the fun too as many charity shops offer mystery packs to buy. The clip posted to her TikTok account @ melika_zaidi went viral with over 25k likes and people were quick to share their thoughts in the comments. One person wrote: "Some poor kids somewhere is sat wondering where their game is." "Omg where is this, I need to go," penned a third. Where to find mystery boxes MYSTERY boxes are becoming more and more popular, with people keen to take a gamble in buying one. But where can you get one from? Charity shops Lots of charity shops have started putting together mystery boxes as a way to get rid of stock that they've been otherwise unable to sell. While you can never guarantee what you're going to get, these boxes are usually cheaper than ones bought elsewhere. eBay Many retailers use eBay to sell their stock, with options on the auction site including unclaimed luggage or parcel returns, all put together in a mystery box. It's not like a normal 'auction' though - there will usually be a buy it now price so it's just like any other internet transaction. Online retailers As the popularity of mystery boxes increases, other retailers have started selling them in the hope that they will be a hit among customers. Have a look on sites such as Amazon, Etsy and Wowcher, and you'll often find the mystery boxes are listed by genre too. Google If there's a particular niche mystery box you're looking for, it's always worth searching for it. There are so many websites out there selling mystery boxes, you'll undoubtedly find what you're after. As with buying anything online, make sure you are purchasing from a trusted retailer and a secure website. Meanwhile, a fourth said: "The little gaming thing is so cute! ....and all a bargain!!" "We need moreeee, hehe,' claimed a fifth
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
UPS told California man his son's guitar was destroyed in a wildfire — and then he found it for sale online
Tony Diaz purchased a rare guitar for his son, but when the package never arrived and UPS claimed it was lost, Diaz wasn't buying it. UPS actually offered several explanations for why the guitar didn't arrive, including a claim that it was destroyed in the recent Southern California wildfires, but Diaz was unconvinced. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) "I just had an intuition that the guitar was stolen and that it wasn't damaged and destroyed," Diaz, who lives in Hayward, California, shared with ABC7 News. His hunch paid off. After searching online, Diaz spotted the exact guitar for sale on Guitar Center's website, identified by its unique serial number. Adam Hulsey, who sold the guitar to Diaz, immediately 'snatched it up' before Diaz made the roughly seven-hour round trip to Bakersfield to retrieve it. "It was 3.5 hours to get up there and it was 4 hours to get back," said Diaz. 'Was it worth it? Yeah, it was absolutely worth it.' When this dedicated dad couldn't get UPS to own up to its mistake, Hulsey and Diaz contacted ABC7's investigative unit, 7 On Your Side. Reporter Melanie Woodrow reached out to a UPS security supervisor, who claimed the guitar had been stolen but said the company couldn't reimburse Hulsey for more than the insured value. After additional conversations, UPS eventually agreed to revisit the case. Diaz ordered the Dean Dime Slime guitar — a signature model from 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott, former guitar player for the metal band Pantera — from Hulsey, who manages a small shop called Adam's Guitar Addict in Denison, Texas. Hulsey reportedly shipped three guitars that Diaz had purchased at the same time, but only two arrived. When Hulsey contacted UPS to track down the missing guitar, he got a series of conflicting stories. "Burned up in a California wildfire, fell off a truck, fell off a train. So many different stories," said Hulsey. UPS eventually told Hulsey the package was severely damaged during shipping and was discarded. The shipping company did send Hulsey some compensation, but only based on the declared value at the time of shipping, which wasn't enough. After recovering the guitar, which now has a dent and a visible scratch on the back, Diaz and Hulsey filed a police report and contacted UPS again, but the call reportedly didn't go well. "UPS was kind of — 'hey why are you calling with this tracking number, this is already a closed case. The guitar was damaged and destroyed,' and I told them on the phone — well, that's so funny that the guitar was damaged and destroyed because I just bought it from Guitar Center and I have it in my car with me,' said Diaz. Now, with the help of 7 On Your Side, the lime green electric guitar is where it belongs — in the hands of Damian Diaz, Tony's 16-year-old son. "It's a nice guitar. I like its tone a lot," said the boy as he played his new guitar in front of the ABC7 camera crew. In a statement to ABC7, a UPS representative said, "We strive to provide excellent service. We've been in contact with the customer and have resolved the situation." Hulsey and Diaz confirmed that they received a larger refund and were finally satisfied with UPS' response. But the question remains: why were Hulsey and Diaz given so many different explanations? According to UPS, a 'casualty code' was assigned to the shipment and it's possible that customer service representatives didn't understand what the code meant. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it When a package goes missing during shipping, who's on the hook depends on the situation and whether the item was insured. In general: The shipper (in this case, Hulsey) is responsible for getting the item to the buyer. If a package is lost or damaged in transit, the seller typically must refund or replace it, regardless of whether the loss was their fault. The carrier (like UPS) is liable up to the amount declared or insured at shipping time. If the item wasn't properly insured, reimbursement may be limited. This means the buyer may be out of luck when packages are lost or stolen, unless the item is insured or purchased through a platform with strong buyer protections. So, what can you do to protect yourself when making expensive purchases online? Here are a few tips to safeguard your valuable items, as well as your wallet: Insure high-value items for their full replacement cost. Don't underreport the value just to save on shipping. Pay attention to your package's tracking. If the tracking stops or the status seems stuck, contact the seller immediately. The seller can then contact the shipper to get to the bottom of the delayed or missing shipment. Save receipts and documentation. If you need to report a missing package, you'll need proof of value and proof of shipping. Make sure you buy through reputable platforms that offer protection if something goes wrong during shipment. When shipping, request a signature confirmation on expensive items to prevent theft after delivery. For Diaz and Hulsey, it took persistence, a long road trip and an investigative news team to resolve what should have been a routine delivery. And while they're happy the guitar has been given to its rightful owner — blemishes and all — this story is a cautionary tale for anyone shipping or receiving valuable items. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
