Mysterious Package that I didn't order - what do?
November 5, 2015 4:03 PM Subscribe
I received a package today sent via Media Mail in USPS. Inside contained only a book on cannibalism in Africa. This is totally creepy. I have no idea why this was sent to me. What now? Can I find out more information about the sender?
I received this creepy looking book: JUNGLE WAYS: A first-hand account of cannibalism and the secret ceremonies of jungle magic practiced by primitive savages, by William Seabrook.
I did not order this book. I have no interest in the subject matter. If it's a prank by one of my friends, I can't even think of why someone would think this is fun or that I would be interested in this subject matter.
The book was addressed to:
"[Karaage]'s Place" and left out a letter on my street name, but otherwise had the address details correct.
The return address says "Hunter Books, 5430 N. 25th Street, Phoenix, AZ 86016".
When I check the tracking number, it says it was accepted on October 29th in Intercourse, PA. I do not know anybody in PA. Flipping through the book I have found no notes of any sort.
Any advice on what to do next? Can the tracking number be used to check for more information with the sender? Can I ask USPS to take it back somehow? WILL READING THIS BOOK RESULT IN MY GRISLY DEMISE?
I received this creepy looking book: JUNGLE WAYS: A first-hand account of cannibalism and the secret ceremonies of jungle magic practiced by primitive savages, by William Seabrook.
I did not order this book. I have no interest in the subject matter. If it's a prank by one of my friends, I can't even think of why someone would think this is fun or that I would be interested in this subject matter.
The book was addressed to:
"[Karaage]'s Place" and left out a letter on my street name, but otherwise had the address details correct.
The return address says "Hunter Books, 5430 N. 25th Street, Phoenix, AZ 86016".
When I check the tracking number, it says it was accepted on October 29th in Intercourse, PA. I do not know anybody in PA. Flipping through the book I have found no notes of any sort.
Any advice on what to do next? Can the tracking number be used to check for more information with the sender? Can I ask USPS to take it back somehow? WILL READING THIS BOOK RESULT IN MY GRISLY DEMISE?
Calm down. Some used bookstore got its Amazon orders mixed up.
posted by bq at 4:12 PM on November 5, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by bq at 4:12 PM on November 5, 2015 [12 favorites]
If you are really concerned about who sent it I'd reach out to Hunter Books in AZ and see what they have to say.
Otherwise I'd probably leave it on the bookshelves as a conversation piece but you could also throw it away and never think of it again (or give to goodwill).
posted by magnetsphere at 4:12 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Otherwise I'd probably leave it on the bookshelves as a conversation piece but you could also throw it away and never think of it again (or give to goodwill).
posted by magnetsphere at 4:12 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Some used bookstore got its Amazon orders mixed up.
That would not explain how they got my address or my first name.
posted by Karaage at 4:15 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
That would not explain how they got my address or my first name.
posted by Karaage at 4:15 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Yeah, I'm with you, it's weird and you are not overreacting. Call the bookstore, see what they can tell you, and let us know what you find out. Good luck!
posted by WalkerWestridge at 4:17 PM on November 5, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 4:17 PM on November 5, 2015 [11 favorites]
Per bq, did you order anything from an Amazon third-party seller (or, I guess, Amazon itself) recently? The order might have gotten tangled with something else somewhere in the system, and "[Buyer]'s Place" might just be some charming affectation that Hunter Books uses.
If you're worried about getting on their radar or whatever, drop me a MeMail and I'll call them for you -- I have no such worries thanks to the many, many other weird small businesses that I'm on lists for.
posted by Etrigan at 4:21 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you're worried about getting on their radar or whatever, drop me a MeMail and I'll call them for you -- I have no such worries thanks to the many, many other weird small businesses that I'm on lists for.
posted by Etrigan at 4:21 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
Check your credit cards online, it might be a test to see if the account is valid. Probably in the $5 range charge.
posted by TheAdamist at 4:27 PM on November 5, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by TheAdamist at 4:27 PM on November 5, 2015 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Sent an email to the bookstore inquiring. Let's see what comes back. The address lead me to this site. Hunter Books
Also, I have ordered things from Amazon and from other sites, but nothing book related since at least early October.
posted by Karaage at 4:27 PM on November 5, 2015
Also, I have ordered things from Amazon and from other sites, but nothing book related since at least early October.
posted by Karaage at 4:27 PM on November 5, 2015
I would simply ask them. Explain you didn't order it, but that the name and address was correct and you would like to try to figure out who had it sent to you. If your correct name is on it and it's written as "(Name)'s Place," I do think it's creepy and I would investigate.
posted by AppleTurnover at 4:38 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by AppleTurnover at 4:38 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
It doesn't matter what you've ordered from Amazon, your address is in the system. The hubs and I got a similar mysterious package (only in our case it was an video game console) a few months back. Like others have said, contact the bookstore and tell them that they got their orders mixed up.
posted by patheral at 4:42 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by patheral at 4:42 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Try to imagine that instead of a creepy imperialist book you got a copy of "Cutest Anime 2015" from Adorable Imports, Inc. If you'd gotten something like that, you'd be assuming that it was just some kind of weird system glitch and calmly preparing to send the book back.
I have gotten packages from smaller vendors who do weird/creepy personalization things that they think are cute. My bet is that they address all their books to "[Customer's] Place" in folksy handwriting or whatever. (Seriously, I got a personal note with some socks I ordered on clearance from a foofy men's boutique once. The ways of small businesses which cater to the wealthy - like safari takers! - tend to be a bit intrusive.)
posted by Frowner at 4:54 PM on November 5, 2015 [6 favorites]
I have gotten packages from smaller vendors who do weird/creepy personalization things that they think are cute. My bet is that they address all their books to "[Customer's] Place" in folksy handwriting or whatever. (Seriously, I got a personal note with some socks I ordered on clearance from a foofy men's boutique once. The ways of small businesses which cater to the wealthy - like safari takers! - tend to be a bit intrusive.)
posted by Frowner at 4:54 PM on November 5, 2015 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: Hunter Books got back to me and told me they received an e-commerce order from Abebooks. Which I've never ever ordered from before, so that throws out the Amazon theory.
posted by Karaage at 5:00 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by Karaage at 5:00 PM on November 5, 2015
AbeBooks is owned by Amazon - they could well have intermingled systems.
posted by brainmouse at 5:02 PM on November 5, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by brainmouse at 5:02 PM on November 5, 2015 [6 favorites]
Best answer: One time I ordered something for myself on Amazon - for some reason the mailing address for my order defaulted to one of my best friends, who I sometimes sent stuff to via Amazon. I didn't catch it, and a few days later she posted a picture of my stuff on Facebook asking WTF, and that's when I realized what had happened.
You could ask on FB, just in case.
posted by bunderful at 5:22 PM on November 5, 2015 [13 favorites]
You could ask on FB, just in case.
posted by bunderful at 5:22 PM on November 5, 2015 [13 favorites]
Response by poster: bunderful got it right! Asked around and it turns out a cousin had mistakenly ordered it to my place, and she had used "[Karaage's] Place" as the label for my address in her address book, but somehow it got transposed to my name.
..............now to figure out why said cousin is reading about cannibalism in africa
posted by Karaage at 5:39 PM on November 5, 2015 [68 favorites]
..............now to figure out why said cousin is reading about cannibalism in africa
posted by Karaage at 5:39 PM on November 5, 2015 [68 favorites]
Tell her that Seabrook is a tosser, and that if she wants to learn about west African cannibalism you know an anthro nerd on Metafilter who will check his bibliographies for stuff about the Krahn/Guere people and their dietary habits.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 9:39 PM on November 5, 2015 [51 favorites]
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 9:39 PM on November 5, 2015 [51 favorites]
loved this thread. laughed.
would read again!
:)
posted by acm at 1:25 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
would read again!
:)
posted by acm at 1:25 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by roger ackroyd at 4:11 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]