Take a chance in Brussels: Store Offers Unopened Amazon Packages for Sale

In Brussels, a new shop named “Pile ou Face,” meaning “Heads or Tails” in French, has opened its doors, offering still-sealed unwanted Amazon parcels by the kilo. Customers can purchase these parcels for 16 euros ($17.40) per kilo, akin to buying a lottery ticket with the chance of winning a connected watch, a smartphone, or possibly receiving a less valuable item.

Located near the central square Place Flagey, the shop presents customers with an array of sealed boxes to choose from, with some opting to open their parcels right then and there. Paul, a customer who preferred not to disclose his last name, expressed satisfaction with his purchase, obtaining several headphones for his 40 euro investment.

However, Gisele Peeters, while intrigued, found herself disappointed when her 14.40 euro parcel revealed an old-style telephone with a dial. Despite this, she remains optimistic about reselling the item.

Arnaud Userstam, the shop’s founder, noted that connected watches and smartphones are among the most desired items, but customers often end up with various surprises, such as clothing or peculiar items like a batch of toothbrushes for dogs.

The concept behind Pile ou Face arose from Userstam’s curiosity about the fate of parcels with delivery issues, stemming from his personal experiences. Discovering similar shops elsewhere, Userstam established agreements with Amazon in Europe to acquire parcels that were unclaimed, returned, or lost, which were previously slated for disposal.

While Userstam didn’t delve into the specifics of these contracts, he highlighted that the shop’s initiative saves these parcels from being discarded, offering customers the excitement of a potential surprise with each purchase. (Conversion rate: $1 = 0.9188 euros)