Exactly Tableview. The contents are not relevant, but the form of packaging is. And this check in special box counter thing has only ever happened to me departing UK.
Am seriously considering taking an empty cardboard box to every check in i do around the world to see whether it is universal!
And PLEASE: my friend was not harassed about the contents... they said from the start it was coz the box hadn't been checked in at the special box check in counter place.