What to do with suspicious Amazon package without a label?
May 27, 2024 11:26 AM Subscribe
Came home to a suspicious package with Amazon tape but without a label. Is this a bomb?
I came home from a picnic today with a package at the door: a medium sized brown box with amazon packing tape, but with no label. Looking at my accounts, I haven't ordered anything. When picked up, it rattles almost like a box of crayons, and seems to have something heavier inside.
I put it back outside for the time being, and am not sure whether to call a non-emergency number or just open the damn thing. I wasn't able to find much on the internet, do you have any input?
In East Coast USA.
I came home from a picnic today with a package at the door: a medium sized brown box with amazon packing tape, but with no label. Looking at my accounts, I haven't ordered anything. When picked up, it rattles almost like a box of crayons, and seems to have something heavier inside.
I put it back outside for the time being, and am not sure whether to call a non-emergency number or just open the damn thing. I wasn't able to find much on the internet, do you have any input?
In East Coast USA.
I bounce through my boring old East Coast USA life believing that I don't have enemies who'd bomb me so I would open it. I also reuse Amazon boxes for other things. I'd assume that a friend, neighbor, family member, etc left a gift for me. Or sent me a gift and the label fell off. Or the neighbor received it and didn't order anything so they thought perhaps I did. I have about 2 dozen equally boring reasons for a mystery box on my porch before I get to bomb.
If you're living a vastly different life than I am where someone would bomb you, then call someone.
posted by kimberussell at 11:42 AM on May 27 [15 favorites]
If you're living a vastly different life than I am where someone would bomb you, then call someone.
posted by kimberussell at 11:42 AM on May 27 [15 favorites]
Just open it up, outside, maybe wear gloves and point it away from you when you do if you're worried about some sort of prank, but... look, if you really thought it might be a bomb you wouldn't be shaking it and then asking people on the internet about it.
posted by mhoye at 11:43 AM on May 27 [20 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 11:43 AM on May 27 [20 favorites]
could there be a cat in it?
posted by HearHere at 11:51 AM on May 27 [5 favorites]
posted by HearHere at 11:51 AM on May 27 [5 favorites]
Just open it. It’s not a bomb. Let us know how it goes.
posted by not just everyday big moggies at 11:53 AM on May 27 [4 favorites]
posted by not just everyday big moggies at 11:53 AM on May 27 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: I have an update sooner than I thought I would. My Dad came home baffled by my Mom and I's paranoia, and decided to cut a hole to look inside. And what do we find?
Pie Weights!
..and an Amazon gift note wishing many "non-slumping" pie crusts from a name we didn't recognize. It seems to be meant for a relative, but it doesn't answer the question of why Amazon delivered it without a label.
I do feel a little silly now, but better safe than sorry I suppose :) Nonetheless, it was very amusing for a sleepy Monday.
posted by lianove3 at 11:53 AM on May 27 [12 favorites]
Pie Weights!
..and an Amazon gift note wishing many "non-slumping" pie crusts from a name we didn't recognize. It seems to be meant for a relative, but it doesn't answer the question of why Amazon delivered it without a label.
I do feel a little silly now, but better safe than sorry I suppose :) Nonetheless, it was very amusing for a sleepy Monday.
posted by lianove3 at 11:53 AM on May 27 [12 favorites]
Pie Weights For No Man
posted by Glomar response at 1:07 PM on May 27 [116 favorites]
posted by Glomar response at 1:07 PM on May 27 [116 favorites]
OMG
posted by Dolley at 1:25 PM on May 27 [1 favorite]
posted by Dolley at 1:25 PM on May 27 [1 favorite]
My first thought was that it was a parcel that Amazon delivered to your neighbour by mistake, and your neighbour opened it, thinking that it was a parcel for them, but then realised it was for you, and sealed it back up again, probably feeling embarrassed about accidentally opening someone else's mail.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 1:37 PM on May 27 [2 favorites]
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 1:37 PM on May 27 [2 favorites]
Pie Weights For No Man
Pie Weights of the Carry Bean Plate
posted by chavenet at 4:03 PM on May 27 [8 favorites]
Pie Weights of the Carry Bean Plate
posted by chavenet at 4:03 PM on May 27 [8 favorites]
What a rollercoaster of an AskMe! Thank you for sharing this with all of us. It certainly enlivened my day!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:02 PM on May 27 [4 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:02 PM on May 27 [4 favorites]
Just for the record, unless a box is completely sticker free, it probably has some sort of a label on it, recognizable or not. Barcodes especially, but any strings of numbers and or letters means something to the people in the know.
And it's infinite more likely the stickers came off than to be explosive
posted by Jacen at 8:06 PM on May 28 [1 favorite]
And it's infinite more likely the stickers came off than to be explosive
posted by Jacen at 8:06 PM on May 28 [1 favorite]
Mod note: [oh hai, just wanted to let you know that this bomb threat thread has been added to the sidebar and Best Of blog.]
posted by taz (staff) at 2:30 AM on June 2 [1 favorite]
posted by taz (staff) at 2:30 AM on June 2 [1 favorite]
My favourite part of this story is that you thought it might be a bomb SO YOU BROUGHT IT INSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND SHOOK IT
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:42 PM on June 3 [6 favorites]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:42 PM on June 3 [6 favorites]
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Do you think someone might be wanting to bomb you?
I would call Amazon and ask. No label is pretty odd though
posted by Windopaene at 11:29 AM on May 27 [2 favorites]