1. How it usually happens
The parcel arrives, you open it quickly on the kitchen table or the sofa, perhaps with one hand while looking at your phone. Everything seems normal until the problem emerges: product damaged, missing, or different from what you ordered.
At that point, the classic thought kicks in: "I should have filmed it".
There is also a less obvious dynamic: sellers (especially on marketplaces) know that the opening phase is difficult to prove. If something is missing, it is easy to claim it was there when shipped. The moment of unboxing is therefore a grey area between "shipped correctly" and "received correctly".
A curious anecdote: many unboxing videos online are aesthetically perfect, with music and quick cuts... and completely useless as evidence, because they skip the critical steps.
2. What you need to prove
The goal is simple: credibly document what you received and in what condition, without leaving gaps in the sequence.
You must be able to prove:
- the condition of the parcel before opening
- that the opened parcel is exactly the one received
- how it was opened (without suspicious tampering)
- what was actually inside
- any damages, defects, or missing items
- the correspondence (or lack thereof) with the order
Basically, you are building a "continuous story" from the sealed parcel to its final content.
3. What to collect
During the unboxing, every visual and documentary detail counts.
- Continuous video of the parcel being opened
- Photos of the sealed parcel (labels, any external damage)
- Detail of the shipping label
- Footage of the moment the parcel is opened
- Internal content as soon as it is visible
- Photos or videos of any damage or anomalies
- Screenshot of the online order
- Order confirmation and shipping emails
- Any chats with the seller
- Manuals, internal packaging, missing or present accessories
A handy little trick: when showing the content, pan the camera slowly and linger for a few seconds on each item. Those pauses become invaluable when someone has to review the footage.
4. How to proceed
The idea is to turn the unboxing into a simple, orderly sequence, without needing special equipment.
Before opening:
- Place the parcel in a well-lit area
- Prepare your phone with enough free space to record
- Frame the entire parcel before touching it
During opening:
- Start the video and keep it rolling continuously
- Show all sides of the parcel
- Clearly frame the label
- Open the parcel slowly, without going out of frame
- Avoid cuts or pauses in the recording
After opening:
- Show the content exactly as it is immediately
- Film any damage or missing parts up close
- Also take some photos for specific details
- Save the video and images without modifying them
- Use ExistBefore to timestamp the most important files (video, photos, documents)
Think of this as a mini-documentary: anyone watching it should understand everything without needing extra explanations.
5. Mistakes to avoid
Some mistakes make the documentation much less useful:
- Stopping the video while opening
- Framing poorly or leaving parts out of shot
- Opening the parcel before starting to record
- Mixing up items before showing them
- Using filters, edits, or compression on the files
An important tip regarding storage: keep the original files exactly as they were created, without unnecessary transfers between apps or devices.
Timestamping the collected material immediately gives you an organised foundation ready to use without complications.
6. After documenting
Once you have gathered the evidence, you can proceed with more confidence.
- Contact the seller, attaching photos and videos
- Open a dispute on the purchasing platform
- Involve your payment provider if necessary
- Keep everything in case of further requests or checks
- Consider seeking support from consumer associations if the situation gets complicated
At this point, the difference is clear: instead of a generic description, you present a clear sequence of what happened, from the sealed parcel to the actual content.