Ever wondered what happens to ‘lost mail’ — packages and pieces of mail that can’t be delivered?
Well, believe it or not, a lot of that unclaimed mail actually gets auctioned off to the highest bidder. And apparently, small business and vendors will buy some of those unclaimed packages and sell them as mystery boxes online and in store.
In a video that now has over 33 million views, TikTok user Stephanie, who goes by @caloriequeen14, explained to her followers how she came across a vendor at her local swap meet in Las Vegas who was selling lost packages for just $1 each.
Though Stephanie had no way of knowing what was in the packages, she decided to buy 100 of them “just for fun,” and is now opening all of them for her TikTok followers.
How awesome!
@caloriequeen14 Does anyone know how this is even a thing? Mystery box unopening. Opening lost mail packages. Part 1.
Stephanie’s decision has already paid off. Many of her packages have contained gift cards to retailers like Starbucks, Sephora and Applebee’s. Others, though, have contained slightly less useful items like a cheap phone speaker and a vape pen charger.
Obviously, TikTokers can’t get enough of Stephanie’s unboxing videos.
“The only thing I look forward [to] every day,” one person said.
“I’m addicted to watching this series,” another added.
Though the swap meet sadly doesn’t sell the $1 mystery packages online, many retailers and auction sites sell unclaimed mail. According to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), valuable mail that cannot be delivered is auctioned via GovDeals. Another website called WiBargain also sells mystery boxes of liquidated goods from big box retailers like Target and Amazon.