Delivered by the Universe

On a few occasions, I thought about things I might want or need — and then they were delivered to my house.

I was thinking I might want to buy a MIDI controller (a small music keyboard). Not long after, one showed up at my door. The return address said it came from a sporting goods store. I never ordered it. I wasn’t charged. And sporting goods stores don’t sell musical equipment.

When my TV broke, I was worried I couldn’t afford a new one. Then I got a survey email from a TV manufacturer. I filled it out, and they offered me a free $1,600, 68-inch TV in exchange for a few follow-up surveys about my experience using it. They shipped it to me. Later, they sent a soundbar, a pair of rear speakers, and an Amazon Echo.

Another time, I looked at my printer and scanner and thought they were taking up too much space. It’d be nice to have an all-in-one. A few days later, UPS delivered a $360 all-in-one printer to my house. I didn’t order it. I wasn’t charged for it.

This might sound unbelievable, but it happened.