USPS opening packages from China?

[Sylin]

I've imported a few things from China over the years--mostly books or art. Never electronics, until recently, when I bought a gaming accessory from a distributor in Hong Kong.

When the package arrived today, it was completely opened. Not just the packaging, but the box inside as well, and the bubble wrap inside that.

I was curious if US Customs or the USPS searched it because it was imported electronics? Or if it was just a victim of terribly poor packaging?

[quexos]

I would assume any package from any country can randomly be opened by the customs of any country or else it would be easy to send illegal drugs everywhere.

[RiseDarthVader]

Woudln't they atleast re-seal the box though if nothing illegal is found? And put like a notice in the box it got searched. I would be annoyed if the box was opened and the contents could be missing or stolen.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

Woudln't they atleast re-seal the box though if nothing illegal is found? And put like a notice in the box it got searched. I would be annoyed if the box was opened and the contents could be missing or stolen.

this.

I would think that a label would have been put by customs saying it had been inspected by so and so. If the airport does it , no reason why customs shouldn't do it.

[Seablazer]

I've had my fair share of packages opened by customs (most recent being a package from Germany), and they will reseal the package with tape that says "Package Inspected by US Customs."

If your box came unsealed, I would question the Post Office about it because that doesn't sound right.

[CasualKiller]

Probably opened by an employee along the way. Fortunately for you it wasn't in the color he wanted

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Probably opened by an employee along the way. Fortunately for you it wasn't in the color he wanted

Yeah, I thought about the whole re-seal-it-and-add-sticker thing, too, because we've had our luggage searched by TSA before (TSA-approved locks FTW!) and they always told us. But this was just hanging open.

It was an Xbox 360 120gb HDD. I guess that explains why he didn't want it, eh? /rimshot

[jw]

Originally Posted by quexos

I would assume any package from any country can randomly be opened by the customs of any country or else it would be easy to send illegal drugs everywhere.

They have dogs that do that without having to open the package. May have been xrayed and looked odd. If it was a hard drive I can understand why





That would look suspicious to me

[Sylin]

jw, I think you're right. They were probably like:

OHNOES!

[jsteinhauer]

I have had packages sent from overseas apparently opened by customs, a single item removed, the rest sent on. No explanation given. I would not have know the item was missing had the sender not asked about it. It was only an unusual food item.