From a Historic Hong Kong Workshop to Connecticut: The Story of a Hand-Carved Mahjong Set

Some items carry more than just physical weight—they hold the memory of craftsmanship that is rapidly vanishing.

A few months ago, E., a client living in Connecticut, reached out to us with a dream. She was fascinated by traditional Chinese craftsmanship and wanted to own an authentic, hand-carved mahjong set from Kam Fat Mahjong (金发麻将)—one of the very last traditional workshops in Hong Kong where tiles are still carved by hand by master artisan Ms. Ho Sau Mei.

Since ordering direct overseas from small historic shops isn’t straightforward, E. asked a local friend in Hong Kong to place the order in person. But once the carving was completed three weeks later, a new dilemma arose: her friend had left Hong Kong, leaving no one on the ground to inspect the tiles, collect the order from the store, and handle the heavy international shipping back to the United States.

That was when E. found Zerrand’s Hong Kong proxy pickup service.

The First Surprise: A Receipt Copy & Mutual Trust

Our coordination started over email and WeChat. To collect custom goods in Hong Kong, shops usually demand the original physical receipt. However, E. only had a digital copy sent by her friend.

Instead of turning her away, we worked together. We asked E. to check with the shopkeeper first, while we prepared to verify everything in person. Thanks to E.’s prompt communication and clear instructions, Master Ho agreed to release the set with the receipt copy. E. trusted us completely, transferring the service fee via Wise to our Alipay account right away.

With the green light given, our team headed out into the streets of Hong Kong to pick up the 6kg masterpiece.

The Plot Twist: When Couriers Say “No”

Collecting the heavy set was smooth, but the real challenge hit us when we walked into the international courier offices.

When we brought the packaged set to major global couriers like DHL, UPS, and FedEx, we hit an unexpected roadblock: their system flagged mahjong tiles as “gambling-related items,” and they flatly refused to ship them to the US.

E. was naturally anxious—her precious, one-of-a-kind art piece was stuck in transit. But finding solutions for tricky situations is exactly why Zerrand offers custom proxy shopping and forwarding.

We immediately pivoted, contacting our reliable direct-line freight partners who specialize in tax-inclusive, hassle-free international logistics for unique items. Within hours, we secured a safe, compliant, and cost-effective shipping route for E.’s set, complete with end-to-end tracking.

A Thoughtful Touch of Respect

While waiting for the package to clear dispatch, E. sent us a message:

“Did you happen to take any pictures of the store or of Master Ho Sau Mei? I was really hoping for pictures so I could feel like I was there.”

We had sent photos of the street, the storefront, the packaged box, and the shipping label, but we hadn’t taken close-ups of Master Ho. We replied honestly:

“We didn’t feel it would be appropriate to take photos of her without her permission, so we respected her privacy.”

E. understood completely. To make up for it, we pulled up a clip from a previous visit we had made to Kam Fat Mahjong—showing Master Ho’s delicate hands carving a tile with traditional chisels—and shared it with E. It was a small, thoughtful gesture, but it bridged the 7,000-mile gap between Connecticut and a quiet workshop in Hong Kong.

The Best Final Outcome: “We Already Played Today!”

A little over a week later, we received a morning message from E. that made our entire team smile:

“Hi! I just wanted to say THANK YOU! The mahjong set arrived today. It is in perfect condition and looks exactly like the pictures you sent. We already played on it today and I am so happy with it! Thanks again for helping me get this set 😊”

Seeing a heritage piece transition safely from a Master’s workshop in Hong Kong to a warm family table in Connecticut is the reason we do what we do.

Whether you need a hard-to-find item picked up from a local Hong Kong store, sample consolidation from manufacturers, or help resolving complex cross-border delivery roadblocks, Zerrand is here on the ground for you.

Need help picking up items or shipping hard-to-send goods from Hong Kong or Mainland China? Explore our Cross-Border Assistance Services or reach out to us today.