Mystery boxes: the companies selling lost parcels and suitcases

With more than three billion parcels delivered in the UK each year, some inevitably go missing – but have you ever wondered what happens to them?

Enterprising firms are snapping up the lost packages and selling them on to customers but the purchases are usually a gamble.

During the pandemic the postal system descended into “chaos” and this “lucrative lockdown trade” took off, said the Daily Mail. Each transaction is by definition generally a “lucky dip”, so businesses do not accept refunds if you are unhappy with your order and will only reimburse you if your parcel has been lost (again) in the post. The “gamble” is “part of the attraction” for some customers.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week’s Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

You can also buy unclaimed suitcases from airports, which could “bag you big bucks”, said MoneySavingExpert. Many companies offer only empty suitcases, but others sell them with their contents still inside, sometimes even giving you a hint of what’s included before you buy. But often it’s still “pot luck”, said a customer, so your purchased luggage “could be full of designer gear or someone’s soiled smalls”.

To continue reading this article…

Create a free account

Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.

Already have an account? Sign in

Subscribe to The Week

Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.

Cancel or pause at any time.

Already a subscriber to The Week?

Unlimited website access is included with Digital and Print + Digital subscriptions.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.

READ SOURCE