Woman Orders Xbox Controller From Amazon, Gets Live Snake Instead

A woman who ordered a controller from Amazon got more than she bargained for when she realized a live snake was in the package.

Tanvi, from Bangalore in India, ordered an Xbox controller from the site, but when she opened the box she found the large reptile waiting inside. After seeking information to try and identify the type of snake, she wrote in a Reddit post that she believes it may be a spectacled cobra, a highly venomous species, though this wasn’t confirmed.

She clarified, in the viral post, that she was handed the box directly by the delivery driver and that it wasn’t left outside where the snake may have found its way inside after the delivery.

An Amazon spokesperson told Newsweek: “As soon as we were alerted to this issue, we worked with the customer to ensure they were safe and fully supported.

“Having launched a thorough investigation, we can confirm there were no safety breaches that occurred on Amazon premises. That said, we’ll continue to investigate this unprecedented incident while reinforcing our safety and security procedures across our delivery network, including our regional and rural partners.”

Tanvi shared a video of the snake, inside the box and struggling to free itself as it was stuck to a packaging sticker, to multiple channels on Reddit, where it was viewed thousands of times.

She later wrote on a post to r/Bangalore: “Fortunately, it was stuck to the packaging tape and did not harm anyone in our household or apartment.”

She added that, while she was given a full refund from Amazon: “What do we get for risking our lives here with a highly venomous snake?”

The software engineer continued: “This is clearly a safety breach caused solely by Amazon’s negligence and their poor transportation/warehousing hygiene and supervision. Where is the accountability for such a serious lapse in safety?”

An Amazon spokesperson continued in its statement to Newsweek: “We want to assure customers that they can remain confident in our safety procedures, and while we haven’t identified any gaps in our processes, we’ll continue to work hard to safeguard against such unprecedented incidents.”

Reddit users reacted to Tanvi’s posts in their droves, with one joking: “You bought it from the wrong Amazon.”

Another said they were “pretty sure this is only available for Prime Members,” to which one replied: “Prime mambas.”

Others shared concern for the snake, one user writing it clearly “needs food and water pretty bad,” and suggested Tanvir should care for it.

However, many more pointed out that the snake could be extremely dangerous, and should not be approached except by a professional.

While the breed still hasn’t been confirmed, the spectacled cobra is native to India and is one of the most common cobra species in the country. It can be found everywhere from savannahs and grasslands to villages and cities, according to Britannica.

It comes after a medical student in India received a package from Amazon filled with live ants.

The student told Newsweek it was a “disgusting experience,” adding that “the package was sealed when I got it, there were no breaks.”

Many suggested the ants could be an infestation of Rasberry crazy ants, originally native to South America, but which can now be found across the world, including in the U.S.

The ants appear to be attracted to electronics, and have been known to cause short circuits by chewing through wires while swarming, according to Texas Invasives.

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