Parcel said what was inside of it

[GabrielleLee]

I ordered a pair of jeans from eBay and I received the parcel earlier today.

The parcel had a description of the jeans on the label.

Has anyone else ever experienced this before? Is it common for eBay buyers to state what is inside of a parcel to save the hassle of telling the Royal Mail?

I normally just buy from Amazon and it was my first time buying something from eBay.

I’m not bothered in all fairness, I’m just curious as to whether or not it’s common practice when buying via eBay.

Thanks, Gabrielle.

Could be many reasons. Was the P&P free or did you pay? Perhaps seller packed them to get an accurate postal cost and wrote what was in the parcel.

Suspect the sender did it just to help with the addresses so they got it right,

I’m not sure I’ve ever noticed. I think some things I order will say ‘clothing’ or ‘food’ etc on them as Royal Mail do ask what’s inside. Not sure it’s ever been specified as ‘jeans’ though.

Basically OP wants to know if she/he orders something naughty/sexy toy/kinky/a bit grim, will the postman find out! 🤣

Some sellers prepackage their items after photographing and listing so they are ready to send out as soon as they are sold, so maybe they wrote a description on the parcel to identify it in a pile? I wouldn't think it had anything to do with the post office, they do ask what you're sending but it's not written anywhere on the package by them.

Was it from abroad? It's a requirement for customs.

If I order something from abroad it says what it is because it goes through customs

One of the courier's I use print out what is inside the packet when I print postage through eBay, the other doesn't. There's certain things you can't send, or need special warning labels on so probably just covering that.

I’ve never had this from eBay.

However I’d imagine it’s because they have a few items for sale, packaged & ready to post before the auction/sale completed & so it would identify the item inside to the seller so they can just locate & post the correct item out once sold.

Pretty common in my experience. Amazon doesn't though.

Isn't this what 'brown packaging' was for?

I think @RushianDisney has it.

Gosh - I have never had that!

My thought was the same as Russian. Ie. Sellers put details on the parcel so they know what’s inside them.

Two - I’ve sold things on Ebay before and have never been asked what’s inside the parcel. How do they know it’s an Ebay parcel, and not a birthday present? The only time I give a description is when you have to fill in one of those little forms when sending things abroad.

I’ve bought and sold lots on eBay and it depends on how the postage is done, some couriers will include the descriptions. Royal Mail certainly ask at the post office now. And on occasion when I’ve bought from amazon there’s been a message at checkout that the item will be in its original box only and to tick the box if you want it to be in hidden packaging. I seem to recall that companies specialising in ‘exotic goods’ keep it hidden. Just in case that worries you 😁

The post office always asks me what's in parcels at Xmas and then writes it on a label on the back.

'Tis a valid concern for Christmas when buying presents. I remember buying my ds a drum set and it arrived with DRUM SET written all over it.

I've had a few things arrive from Amazon which were just the thing, in its original box, with an address label on a small sticker in the top corner

You bought your DS a drum kit????

I've had a few things arrive from Amazon which were just the thing, in its original box, with an address label on a small sticker in the top corner

same here! Either amazon doesn't package AT ALL, or use a fridge-sized box to send a toothbrush. I wish they could come up with a happy medium, I have to get all the kids gifts delivered to my office but it's a pain to bring them home after.

or use a fridge-sized box to send a toothbrush.

So true!

I send things to a friend in America (I’m in the U.K.) and have to state what is inside the package on a sticky label that they put on the parcel while in the post office. When she sends things back to me, there’s a label on the parcel saying what’s inside. I sell things through eBay to people also living here in the UK and there’ no label although they do ask what is inside.

I do this sometimes when selling stuff on ebay but I write what the item is on the back of the postage label so it isn't visible, however sometimes I have received parcels with the contents written on the outside, its not unusual.

If sent from abroad it helps with customs (sometimes).

Had a Christmas present sent the other year through M&S from relatives abroad - said on the label "Prosecco & Truffles".

Didn't hurry to open that one up on Christmas Day