[Pro_SE]

I'll keep the method in the back of my head, but really was looking for a way for me to make up some excuse which required not for me to send it back.

When you say 'cut into the box' how can that be, can I make a hole and just stuff the phone book in? How am I supposed to seal it.
How does this work, does it count as tamoering or do they even check (UK)

cut open the tape you used to seal it with a knife. open the flaps and put in a phone book, or something similar. re tape it back up messily. they shouldn't check and you should be good to go.

If they do happen to check and say there was no tablet in there, what would be my response?

say you had no idea, and you definitely put a table in there.