--- title: "Customer orders AirPods Pro 3 but gets box of staples, Shopee issues full refund and takes action" url: "/trending-now/customer-orders-airpods-pro-3-gets-box-staples-shopee-issues-full-refund-and-takes-action" published: "2026-10-21T10:33:28.000Z" updated: "2026-10-21T10:39:44.000Z" section: "Trending Now" authors: ["Cherry Tan"] tags: ["TNP News","Shopee","customer complaint","Apple","online shopping"] --- # Customer orders AirPods Pro 3 but gets box of staples, Shopee issues full refund and takes action *A customer who purchased a pair of AirPods Pro 3 was horrified to find rows of staples instead of earbuds within the packaging.* A customer who ordered a pair of AirPods Pro 3 was horrified to find rows of staples instead of earbuds inside the box. TikTok user @momo043522 shared the experience in a post made on Oct 29, saying they had purchased the AirPods through what appeared to be an authorised Apple reseller on Shopee named “Apple Flagship Store”. “However, when I received and opened my parcel, I found STAPLERS inside instead of the earphones!!! There were no AirPods in the package!!!” the user wrote in the caption. Speaking to Stomp, the customer, who only wanted to be known as Hu, said they had ordered the AirPods on Oct 17 at 8.23pm for $254 on Shopee after applying a voucher and redeeming some Shopee Coins earned through the platform. A check on Apple’s online store showed that the same pair of in-ear headphones would cost $349. ![Customer orders AirPod Pro 3 but gets box of staples, Shopee issues full refund and takes action](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/1889a9de9a5db91ef1b932c4a05eeba76e7ec67cdcd121e2c795166be3311f44) *The earbuds cost $349 on Apple’s official online store.* The 24-year-old teacher said the courier left the parcel at their doorstep on Oct 18 and sent a photo notification. Hu, who was home at the time, collected the parcel and opened it at around 2.30pm. “The outer packaging was intact, and I did not notice anything unusual,” she said, adding that there appeared to be nothing amiss with the seals on the AirPods box as well. But instead of earbuds, Hu found rows of staples neatly packed inside. “I was shocked and couldn’t believe my eyes,” she recalled. It was the first time Hu had experienced this, and considered it “unbelievable... and extremely serious”. ## Seller issues refund before receiving returned item Hu contacted the seller immediately after discovering the issue and was asked for the AirPods’ serial number for investigation. She was also instructed to request to submit a return and refund request. “I continued following up with the seller throughout the day on Oct 19, but only received a meaningful response at around 5pm,” Hu told Stomp. The seller then instructed Hu to return the item and record a video of the process. It also said it was unaware of the issue, as “all products are brand new and sealed”. At around 6pm that evening, she packed and deposited the item at a nearby pick-up locker. ![Customer orders AirPod Pro 3 but gets box of staples, Shopee issues full refund and takes action](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/779122432e4aef6e6bb4f35c51b52381ab726a6a512bbcca6e69283f9fc180b3) *The seller apologised and said they “were not aware” of this.* “Later that night, I discovered that the seller had already issued my refund, even before receiving the returned item,” said Hu. In the comments section of the TikTok post, Hu clarified on Oct 20 that the quick refund came as a “surprise”, though they still found the entire ordeal “ridiculous”. Hu is hoping for a “reasonable explanation” of how the incident occurred, and has also advised fellow online shoppers to record unboxing videos when they purchase high-value items. “I hope both the seller and Shopee will strengthen their monitoring and quality control measures to prevent similar incidents and avoid betraying consumers’ trust.” ## ‘Appropriate action’ has been taken: Shopee In response to Stomp’s queries, a Shopee spokesperson said on Oct 21: “Upon receiving the report, we promptly looked into the matter and issued a full refund on 19 October 2026.” Shopee said it has since completed its investigation, taken appropriate action, and is reviewing measures to prevent similar incidents. The spokesperson also thanked the customer for bringing this matter to the company’s attention. “Providing our customers with a safe and reliable shopping experience remains a key priority for Shopee.” ## ‘Not the actual Apple store’ Hu’s post has attracted considerable attention, garnering at least 111,200 views, 3,180 likes and 3,600 shares. One comment, which has almost 800 likes, warned shoppers against assuming that a store bearing Apple’s name on Shopee was operated by Apple. “Fun fact the apple store in shopee is NOT the actual apple store,” the commenter wrote. Another advised shoppers check Apple’s website for its list of authorised resellers to err on the side of caution. However, at least two users told Hu they had previously purchased items from the same shop without encountering any issues. “I bought airpods from them twice and it was fine 😭,” one wrote.