Lost packages sold by the kilo are popular among champions

ELois pulls her face. We don’t win every time! This Tuesday morning, in the Géant casino gallery in Champigners, this young woman bought packages worth €60 whose contents she did not know. As a result, she finds herself the happy owner of “ Two silencers for car exhaust pipes » And Manchester player Kevin De Bruyne football jersey with matching socks…

ELois pulls her face. We don’t win every time! This Tuesday morning, in the Géant casino gallery in Champigners, this young woman bought packages worth €60 whose contents she did not know. As a result, she finds herself the happy owner of “ Two silencers for car exhaust pipes » And Kevin De Bruyne football jersey, Manchester player, with matching socks. Very disappointed, she tried her luck again, buying another package for €10. This time, it’s a baby blanket. To avoid showing her too much annoyance, she quickly discovers the fate of this new purchase: “I will give it to my daughter.”

Since Monday, many of them, like Eloïse, have tried their luck in this new lottery. A concept that is a hit almost everywhere in France: the resale of lost or unclaimed packages by the kilo.

Photo Julie Desbois

every year, Thousands of tons of packages do not reach their recipients. In the past, these packages were destroyed. For two years and the anti-waste law prohibits destruction, it can be resold. A new business started by two brothers Nicolas and Flavian Legendre from Saint-Palais-sur-Mer. They formed their company Mystery Parcels France in Charente-Maritime, with which they buy back tonnes of lost parcels across Europe and then resell them to individuals by the kilo during flash sales for between €1 for 50 grams and €20 per kilo. Only rule: Do not open package before purchase. “We keep a surprise. »

If they had any merchandise left, the two men set up their bins Monday morning, until Saturday evening at 6 p.m., at the Gent Gallery in Champions. They planned 1.5 tons. Flavian comes regularly to restore the bins.

Customers feel the package, weigh and re-weigh, turn and turn the package, inspect it from every angle, shake it in search of a key. “It doesn’t always work. » Celine, a 41-year-old singing teacher in Dirac, thought she had bought a poster in a cylindrical package. missed out It’s a mini-drill. What will she do with this? Sell ​​it again. “It’s like buying a scratch card or playing the lottery, you spend your money hoping to win. »

The more expensive you shop, the more likely you are to get a good deal.

Mini-drill, violin and luxury bag

And sometimes it works. One lucky girl got two linked watches for €5. Another left with the phone for €10. On the Facebook page dedicated to the event, “players” display their trophies: a violin, a fake Dyson hairdryer made in China, a luxury Jacquemus bag worth €500, a shower head, a cat scratcher… As soon as they are bought, these objects are often re-posted on the Internet. is sold. Like this bait boat for fishermen bought for €40 and worth several hundreds.

Angelique Trimolinard, a 33-year-old temporary worker, paid €20 for her package. Inside, 43 size shoes. “And what’s more, they’re not pretty, I can’t resell them on the Internet. The more expensive you buy, the more likely you’ll get a good deal.”, he thinks. Not necessary. A customer invested €1 in a small package and won his day. Inside the envelope was a necklace from luxury brand Bulgari worth several hundred euros.

Christophe Gaillard is a transporter. His job is definitely to deliver this kind of package. He won’t take his chances. “Shopping for the sake of shopping is not what interests me. I would be very afraid to get a pillow for €40. » Dylan, a 21-year-old roofer, touched all the packages. He ends up making his choice at 20€ one. “I like this. It is delicately cataloged. »

He will open it at home. Like Nathalie who just bought a box for €10 and wants to solve the mystery with her daughter this evening, to share the surprise. Aurelie Sawadogo, 38, also waited until she got home to find a set of high-end mattresses with four covers. At least these packages aren’t lost for everyone.