The most bizarre thing just happened and I'm wondering if anyone else has ever had anything like this happen. We had a guest visiting from California who asked me to mail some of the things she had purchased in Europe home for her so that she did not have to take them along as she continued her travels. I took the box to our small local post office and sent it at the cheapest rate since she was in no hurry. I filled out a customs form which was attached to the box, standard procedure.

When the box was delivered to her, and she had to sign for it, the contents were partially different from what had been mailed. A couple of things from the original package were in there, but others were missing and in their place were three unmatched shoes, and some other things that she definitely had not included. She guesses that she lost $100 of stuff.

The box did not appear to have been tampered with. We guessed that the mix up might have happened in US Customs but there was no indication they opened it.

We have mailed letters to the US from this same post office that have never arrived, so I'm beginning to wonder. Any similar experiences? Any ideas?

Did you pack the contents or did she ?

This is very old trick. Youz substitute the real goods witrh some rubbish that is same approx weight. Once you signed for it, it's deemed delivered and you don't hjave much recourse.

A 1kg bag of sugar used to be a good substitute for a lot of things or an old house brick if times we tough

She packed it but I saw the contents and then I did not seal the package until I got to the post office since I wasn't sure what the process was.

But, have you heard this happening on packages mailed from Switzerland?