International shipping - Who is responsible?

It's no one's fault, but you pretty much have to man up and take responsibility for your package. You agreed to get the beer there, you make sure it gets there. If you can't do that, don't trade.

I wouldn't trade with him.

 

I'm in agreement with stupac.

 

So if your package to him is seized by customs, he's ok accepting the loss? Seems like a weird gamble.

 

It may not be his fault that the beer doesnt make it, but it is his responsibility to get the agreed upon beer to you.

 

There are good and trusted BAs that are also idiots.

I think it is his responsibility to get the beers to your DOORSTEP, not just to the shipping place/customs. That's how all trades work.

Hope things come through with no problems for you.

 

Agree that I would not trade with this person. It is absolutely their responsibility to ensure that the box arrives at your doorstep with contents intact. That being said, international trades really aren't that complicated or risky. I trade exclusively internationally and never run into any problems. If both parties do the correct paperwork, it will be fine.

 

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do it, but I do think you guys either need to be on the same page with this, or stop the trade. Either you both get comfortable with "yes, responsible", or "no, responsible", or move on. Otherwise it's a disaster waiting to happen, as bottles most certainly do get seized at customs.

 

Did you agree to this BEFORE you shipped your package? If not, than it's totally his responsibility to make sure it arrives safely. I you agreed to it, well...unfortunetly that's the deal you made. Normally, it is the senders responsibility to get the package to the recipient's doorstep. This is true whether domestic or international.

 

Maybe this is overly cynical of me, but it's possible that he's going to short you and say "it was taken by customs! Not my fault." Your stuff got to him fine, his stuff needs to get to you fine.

 

Something about this smells really fishy. He got your package and then dropped the whole "If customs seizes it I'm not responsible"

He needs to make sure it gets to your doorstep.

 

Reading your post and then seeing your BA name caused me to soil myself a little. Is that you, Mr Capone?

 

Fair enough. At the very least I think it's really unfair for him to drop this on you now.

 

If he's jittery right now, and he's trustworthy, maybe give it a month if there's some endemic problem with international shipping. If not, since he already has your box, he should still find a way to reimburse you if the box is seized, and if he does a good enough job packing and filling out the forms, that shouldn't be an issue.

 

To be honest, as a Canadian, I think that it's actually the reverse of normal domestic trading for responsibility. If Canada Customs seizes a package (which I know they would, I never ship directly to Canada anymore) then I don't expect my U.S. trade partner to make it right, as it's Canada Customs who sucks, not him. Also, if I package is seized, it could very well be seized on try #2, #3, etc. You can't expect someone to send an infinite amount of packages, praying that one finally makes it's way through...

Edit: The exception is that I get a call from customs complaining about a leaking beer box. It's the senders responsibility to package it in an 'indestructable' fashion.

 

This! That's especially awesome if he took that position after yours already arrived safely. I'd be curious to know if that is the case.