Package stolen - feedback on how to handle the situation

Had this same instance happen to me except the package was stolen in transit. The trader I dealt with was awesome about it, understood that it was just beer and told me not to worry. I sent him some nice glasses/bottle openers as a thank you.

Based on what you said above, the trader you're dealing with didn't even ship on his end yet. The fact that the package was stolen is out of your hands and if you didn't receive anything, I would just chalk it up as a loss on your end.

 

Totally disagree here. If the package is lost/stolen/damaged in transit, then it's the shipper's responsibility to replace/resend. Once it's been successfully delivered -- assuming everything is included, and nothing is damaged -- then the shipper has fulfilled their end of the bargain.

OP, I don't think you're on the hook to send anything else here. The other trader should have arranged to have someone pick up the package or to have it held by the carrier. You should absolutely not have to eat this as a loss when your package was delivered successfully and your trading partner let it sit outside for days.

 

I take a different view on this that @CWC177. If you held up your end of the bargain and you can prove it (which you should be able to do), then your trader should keep up his end of the bargain and ship your beers. It was his leaving that led to the theft, not your untimely shipping or something else.

 

In my eyes once package is delivered it is not your problem. You don’t need to send any more beer and they owe you the beer agreed upon.

 

Chalk up a $300 loss, no way.

 

I said I don't think he's on the hook since his package was stolen before the other trader even shipped his.

 

Only other option is to file a claim

 

Right, but you said "chalk it up to a loss", so I assume you're saying the other trader doesn't need to send their package. If that's what you're saying, that's equivalent to saying that OP is on the hook to resend another package if he wants to get the beer he's owed.

That's what I disagree with. OP fulfilled his end of the trade. OP doesn't need to resend anything, but the other trader still needs to ship his box.

 

Not sure who I'm agreeing with here anymore, LOL.

My opinion, you shipped, it was delivered. Your end of the trade has been fulfilled. Your trading partner owes you their side of the trade.

You have ZERO responsibility once the package has been delivered to the person. (unless it's broken inside...)

 

I would ask FedEx to run a trace just be absolutely SURE it wasn't delivered to a wrong address.; they will likely tell you too much time has passed for the driver to make a 100% determination.

That said, the box was delivered. The recipient had an opportunity to hold the box in transit and/or have a neighbor or friend grab it.

You are not responsible. The other trader should send their end.

This is black and white.

 

Just curious... how many trades does your partner have in the system? You have 19 so I'm surprised you were shipping first and it was received before he even thought to ship his.

 

I'm of the opinion that the OP fulfilled his obligation and is owed the agreed upon trade return. Do we now need to ask recipients if they live in a risky area for package theft or can people take responsibility for making every effort to keep them safe?

 

Sounds like OP already did everything that could be reasonably expected of them. If you let a box that’s been delivered to you sit outside for days and some goober grabs it, that’s your fault. Sounds like tough circumstances, but that’s not OP’s fault. Other trader should hold up their end of the bargain. OP could send something else small as a gesture if they want to maintain the relationship but even that seems kind of unnecessary.

 

The option is the other trader sends the beer he was supposed to send regardless of the fact beer was stolen. Having "stolen" beer remove the receiver from having to send beer opens up a whole can of worms. How do we know receiver isn't lying? Maybe they didn't take safeguards to make sure beer doesn't get stolen. Maybe it was delivered to wrong place, this does happen, did the receiver do the due diligence to track down the package? These are all reasons that once beer is delivered senders side of trade is fulfilled. Just like a package that never breaks along the way is on sender to make good, stolen package is not senders responsibility.

Now depending on circumstances, the two could work something out and maybe split the difference, but to me as it stands now receiver is not entitled to another package and needs to send their end of the deal.

 

If I could like this a million times I would.

 

Sent a box one time to a regular trader. He said he didnt get it and thought it was stolen. A few days later, he found out that his neighbor got it. Happens all the time. Check the neighborhood.

 

Yeah, in agreement with many on here. OP, you're good and you should be getting beer back from this person. It's unfortunate they had a family member pass away, but you had already shipped so they knew it was on it's way. Knowing that and that hey'd be out of town, they should have made arrangements for it to either be held or have someone swing by and grab the box. I also think all options should be exhausted before jumping to it being stolen. How does the person know? I'd be reaching out to Fedex, neighbors, etc., before I got back to my partner. Bottom line: if I know I'm not going to be around for a box delivery, I let someone know (wife/friend) to be on the lookout and or to grab it, just in case. Better safe than sorry.