A package showed up for me: small glass tubes with 3 tiny ball bearings inside. I didn’t order this, and I have no idea what they’re for.

Safety Considerations

Receiving unexpected items in the mail can be concerning. Experts recommend:

• Do not ingest or open the items unnecessarily. Even small components can be choking hazards, and unknown powders or liquids could be unsafe.
• Check with the sender if there is a return address or tracking information. Sometimes packages are sent by mistake.
• Report suspicious packages to local authorities if there is any concern about safety or legality.

In this case, the recipient noted the package appeared harmless, containing only glass and metal, but is still trying to track down the sender.

Why It Happens

Packages like this occasionally arrive due to:

• Mistaken deliveries: Shipping errors are surprisingly common, especially with small components sent from factories or suppliers.
• “Brushing” scams: Some online retailers send cheap items to random addresses to artificially boost sales and inflate product reviews.
• Genuine gifts or experiments: A friend, colleague, or hobbyist may have sent the items as part of a science or DIY project.
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