Even the most basic e-commerce transaction such as buying a book online can still have its unexpected surprised. One reader was recently left scratching his head when his purchase from Buy.com turned out to be a Navy book - not a naval book, mind you, but a book that is stamped as being property of the U.S. Navy. "I just purchased a copy of The Modern Library's edition of The Character of Physical Law by Richard Even the most basic e-commerce transaction such as buying a book online can still have its unexpected surprised. One reader was recently left scratching his head when his purchase from Buy.com turned out to be a Navy book – not a naval book, mind you, but a book that is stamped as being property of the U.S. Navy.“I just purchased a copy of The Modern Library’s edition of The Character of Physical Law by Richard Feynman,” the reader wrote. “The book I got from Buy.com is brand new, not a used book. But it has a library-style plastic sleeve over the dust cover, a library spine label ‘530 FEY,’ and a sticker on the inside front cover that says ‘PROPERTY OF THE US NAVY.’ “ The reader tried contacting Buy.com to see if he could clear up what had happened, but without much success. “I asked the Buy.com support e-mail people, but got only banal auto-answers about returning the item if I was not satisfied. I wondered if there was any way to figure out why buy.com sent me the US Navy’s book. I wouldn’t know where to start trying to figure this mystery out.”There are only a few clues to go on. “The USPS tracking on the package showed it was shipped from Atlanta, GA 30369,” the reader wrote. “I guess Buy.com has a warehouse there, since some math books I ordered were also shipped from there. The book is brand new — it even smells ‘new’ — not used at all. I’m sure there is an innocent explanation — perhaps a box of books intended for the Navy got switched with a box for retail? Anyway, I guess this isn’t really a gripe — I don’t care as long as the book has all the pages — but it’s just such a perplexing mystery.”A mystery, indeed. And if there are any aspiring detectives out there who think they can solve it, the reader and I would both be interested in hearing your theory. Post your comments on my website or write me at Foster@gripe2ed.com. Or now you can also leave me a voice mail at 1 888 875-7916. Happy hunting. Read and post comments about this story here. Technology Industry