Macy's mummy

[snopes]

Comment: I heard a story about a department store(maybe Macy's) that had
acquired an Egyptian coffin that they assumed to be a novelty item. After
they sold it the new owner discovered an actual mummy in the coffin.

[diddy]

Originally Posted by snopes

Comment: I heard a story about a department store(maybe Macy's) that had
acquired an Egyptian coffin that they assumed to be a novelty item. After
they sold it the new owner discovered an actual mummy in the coffin.

Macy's (and other department stores) don't go out and "acquire" anything as a novelty like that. They buy everything from a distributor or manufacturer and sell those items. In other words, they buy from other people with whom they have a contract with. How or why they would waste their time selling something like this (imagine trying to sell it without someone inspecting it).

Besides, the Egyptians don't just sell coffins unless somebody stole it from a museum. Any archaeological site is well cataloged before the artifacts are removed and sites are guarded to prevent theft (I figure that most Egyptians frown on stealing coffins and the like). Minor stuff like trinkets are one thing, a full sized coffin is quite another thing. Why Macy's (or any reputable store for that matter) would try and buy something that would scream of "stolen" and bring down the wrath of federal agents is beyond me.

[forcadragons]

Sounds like something Al Fayed might do at Harrod's.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by forcadragons

Sounds like something Al Fayed might do at Harrod's.

Yeah, with Dodi inside it.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by forcadragons

Sounds like something Al Fayed might do at Harrod's.

So you've seen the memorial thingy then?

[queen of the caramels]

Originally Posted by forcadragons

Sounds like something Al Fayed might do at Harrod's.

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

So you've seen the memorial thingy then?

Not a chance, even when I eventually holiday in Blighty.

[rogue74656]

I seem to remember reading about a "special gifts department" of one of the big, old department stores like Macy's or Bloomingdales. The department would acquire unique items to be offered for sale to very wealthy clients.

Does anyone remember this? Could they be related?

-rogue

[Daphodil]

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

So you've seen the memorial thingy then?

I did...while cheesy is the word I would use to describe it, a mummy (besides Diana) would have made it cooler. Sorry, I'll get it.

[quiltsbypam]

Originally Posted by diddy

Macy's (and other department stores) don't go out and "acquire" anything as a novelty like that. They buy everything from a distributor or manufacturer and sell those items. In other words, they buy from other people with whom they have a contract with. How or why they would waste their time selling something like this (imagine trying to sell it without someone inspecting it).

Besides, the Egyptians don't just sell coffins unless somebody stole it from a museum. Any archaeological site is well cataloged before the artifacts are removed and sites are guarded to prevent theft (I figure that most Egyptians frown on stealing coffins and the like). Minor stuff like trinkets are one thing, a full sized coffin is quite another thing. Why Macy's (or any reputable store for that matter) would try and buy something that would scream of "stolen" and bring down the wrath of federal agents is beyond me.

If it was acquired a long time ago, though, that wouldn't be the case. Things were sold, stolen, what-have-you, long before any authorities would have cared. So I can see something being acquired, say, 100 years ago that may have been sold much more recently when someone was cleaning out say a storage room. Once something finds a home in a storage area, it can stay for a powerful long time. (Spoken as a true pack rat )

[pob14]

Originally Posted by quiltsbypam

If it was acquired a long time ago, though, that wouldn't be the case. Things were sold, stolen, what-have-you, long before any authorities would have cared.

But would Macy's (or whoever) have sold a sarcophagus without even opening it?

Originally Posted by snopes

After they sold it the new owner discovered an actual mummy in the coffin.

[diddy]

Originally Posted by quiltsbypam

If it was acquired a long time ago, though, that wouldn't be the case. Things were sold, stolen, what-have-you, long before any authorities would have cared. So I can see something being acquired, say, 100 years ago that may have been sold much more recently when someone was cleaning out say a storage room. Once something finds a home in a storage area, it can stay for a powerful long time. (Spoken as a true pack rat )

They were talking about the department stores though. It doesn't make sense that they would sell one unique item like that and never opened. Besides, wouldn't have it been opened sooner?

[snopes]

Macy's (and other department stores) don't go out and "acquire" anything as a novelty like that. They buy everything from a distributor or manufacturer and sell those items. In other words, they buy from other people with whom they have a contract with.

Here's a hint for you: Macy's opened in 1858.

- snopes