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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send this parcel back to the sender?

109 replies

Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2020 06:04

I feel really bad about what happened to this parcel and don't know what to do with it for the best.

Yesterday a small parcel got delivered to me by Royal Mail. I was waiting for something of a similar size, so I ripped open the plastic envelope it was in. Inside was a phone box. I don't know why but I opened the box- it wasn't sealed in any way. Anyway, the phone inside instantly slid out of the box as it was balanced at the top ( stupid packaging) and fell on the floor and the screen smashed. This all happened in around 30 seconds.

When I looked at the address on the label it was my address but someone elses name! I'm honestly mortified that I have broken someone elses phone, but it really was an accident.

I'm thinking it might be better to return the phone to the sender and get a certificate of posting.. That way the sender will send her a new phone I think?

I could probably track the perso whose name was on the label down via our local facebook page. IShe isn't in the group, but zi bet someone would know her. I would then have to give her a broken phone though.

I don't know what to do for the best. The packaging really was awful. The phone wasn't protected at all, just resting right at the top of the box. There is no paperwork in the package either.

So shall I return it to the sender with 'not known at this address'? I've tried to ask myself what I would want someone to do, and other than knowing I wouldn't want a broken phone I really don't know! Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Bishybarnybee · 15/05/2020 09:01

People are ascribing a level of conscious and deliberate choice here that I don't think reflects how we act in real life.

I've definitely opened something thinking it was what I'd ordered, been very confused when I saw the contents, then realised it was for another household member.

In that second of confusion, I might well open a box because my brain hadn't caught up with reality. I'd still be processing that it wasn't what I'd assumed it was.

Don't be too hard on yourself, OP. I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world to send it back to the sender without a detailed explanation. .

Footywife · 15/05/2020 09:01

I know I wouldn't have opened it. I know that because I've had a similar thing happen to me.

Package it up and return to sender as addressee unknown.

incognitomum · 15/05/2020 09:04

Did you sign for it?

Whenwillthisbeover · 15/05/2020 09:05

Phone boxes aren’t obviously phone boxes! I buy all our iPhones reconditioned from eBay sellers and they come in plain black brand new boxes with the chargers etc. The phones are like new and the packaging unlabelled.

CrunchyCarrot · 15/05/2020 09:05

Put in a note saying 'damaged goods', no big explanations, re-package it and return to sender.

For future mail, check the name and address before opening! I have done the same, just not with such bad results!

pobparker · 15/05/2020 09:07

Did the parcel have one of the Royal mail 2D stickers
If so the seller /company has probably input postcode and accidentally selected wrong address from a drop down menu - very easy to do, if in a rush- it probably belongs to someone near to you

Lairymary · 15/05/2020 09:11

For the people saying "it's a scam", it doesn't matter if it's a scam or not if OP just returns to sender marked not known at this address and hopes the sender doesn't get shitty that the packaging has been opened..... and the product destroyed (which could have happened in transit if they ask). Get proof of postage to cover your back. It's either the actual recipient or the sender that has made the mistake with the address so hopefully that will take some blame away from OP. Hopefully a lesson learned. If someone knocks at your door asking for the package, say it was returned to sender!

tara66 · 15/05/2020 09:12

Hermes was supposed to collect a returning parcel from me yesterday. It is all labelled up sitting next to door, paid for - will they come today?

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 15/05/2020 09:25

*@BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou but presumably you’ll have addressed it to your daughter and to the correct address? Not really comparable *

But OP had no reason to believe the package wasn’t addressed to her, it was delivered to her so she opened it. I gave an example to show why OP was not unreasonable to open the box. IF she opened the box AFTER seeing that the NAME was wrong (remember the address WAS hers) then that would not be okay.

BreastedBoobilyToTheStairs · 15/05/2020 09:31

I really don't think it's that unusual to open an unsealed box. If you're expecting a parcel around that size and you're delivered something in an unsealed box it could very well just have been put in the box for the purposes of transport. I can absolutely imagine sliding the lid off in confusion immediately after pulling the paper off, in a moment of hands-acting-faster-than-brain because without the benefit of hindsight it seems more likely that your parcel has been oddly packaged than someone else's brand new phone has been sent to you in an opened box. It's not like the box was shrink wrapped and Op pulled the plastic away.

It does sound like the phone scam though so like PPs have suggested I'd call the company and return to sender. Sorry this has happened Op! Either way it's a rubbish for you.

bridgetreilly · 15/05/2020 09:32

I would certainly have opened it, thinking (since it wasn't sealed) that someone was reusing the packaging to send me something else. Just 2 days ago, a friend sent me a surprise in the post. If I'd looked at it and immediately assumed it wasn't mine because I hadn't ordered it, I'd have missed out on her lovely, thoughtful gift. If the thing had been sealed up, then I'd have been more cautious, because it's unlikely anyone would be sending me a phone that I wasn't expecting!

Winterwoollies · 15/05/2020 09:36

I’m awaiting a parcel. A parcel arrived yesterday. Exciting. However, it’s for a house quite a way down the road. I managed to not rip it open and, even though I would then know it wasn’t for me by looking at it, I also managed to then not rip open the internal packaging and break the contents.

This story is really odd.

AtopAHighHill · 15/05/2020 09:48

I would have opened it too op.
I'd get in touch with the phone company in case it's a scam.
Wouldn't worry about it any further after that.

heartsonacake · 15/05/2020 09:48

This story is really odd.

Winterwoollies It’s not odd. OP is just nosey and trying to blame the result of that meaning she’s smashed and damaged someone else’s expensive property on poor packaging.

Stefoscope · 15/05/2020 09:54

If you don't recognise the name, then I think all you can really do is put it back in the post as 'not known at this address, return to sender'. I once got sent a parcel with someone else's name on (didn't recognise it) but it was my address. I hung onto it for a couple of months in case anyone came by to claim it, noone did, so it went back into the post box.

SunshineCake · 15/05/2020 09:57

If you hadn't have caused the phone to sash would you be bothered about getting it to the owner?

footprintsintheslow · 15/05/2020 10:02

I would've opened the box because it could've been a recycled box used to package something else. Op said they were expecting a small sized parcel.

OhLookHeKickedTheBall · 15/05/2020 10:03

I've had similar from eBay and Amazon marketplace sellers - reusing boxes so if I was expecting something I'd have opened the box too. Unless the box was sealed officially and then I'd have paused for thought.

Definitely don't hand it over if a courier comes round. Call the company that sent it to check if they're legitimate and send the parcel back to them yourself.

heartsonacake · 15/05/2020 10:25

If you hadn't have caused the phone to sash would you be bothered about getting it to the owner?

SunshineCake Well that’s the thing, isn’t it. OP said she could look on FB easily for them, and I suspect she would do if she hadn’t have smashed their property.

As it is, she did smash it and is now worried she’ll have to pay for such expensive damage so now she won’t try to find them at all. She’s just going to send it back and pretend she never did anything instead of owning up and taking responsibility.

FrankieDoyle · 15/05/2020 10:26

Sorry YABU. Agree with @heartsonacake

BluebellForest836 · 15/05/2020 10:42

I understand opening the parcel and not looking at the name on the front but when you seen it wasn’t what you ordered you didn’t check the front of the envelope and then proceeded to open what was inside and then break the item.

I think you should find the women and then pay for a new screen. I don’t know why you opened the box with the phone in as soon as you realised it wasn’t what you ordered. Stop being so nosy.

BluebellForest836 · 15/05/2020 10:45

@Winterwoollies - I don’t think the story is odd. The OP is just nosey and then broke the item.. now she’s being tight fisted and doesn’t want to pay for it even though she opened the package and then opened the interns contents for no reason at all. It’s her own fault as she should pay.

BluebellForest836 · 15/05/2020 10:46

@bridgetreilly - your story is all well and good but was the parcel actually addressed to you unlike the OPsHmm

Original poster
Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2020 11:02

It honestly wasn't packaged properly. I assumed the thing I ordered had been put in the phone box I think ( though it happened so quickly I can't be sure) as it was the right size.

Every phone I've ever bought the box has been sealed in some way.

It was a Huawei phone.

I think it must be a scam.

I'm not thick.

It's going back!

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 15/05/2020 11:06

OP

You haven’t done anything wrong. I’d have done the same. Some very odd comments on this thread as usual.