Thinking of sharing your shipment with a friend?
Friends and family often ask to add a few things to your shipment. It sounds simple and generous, and we understand the impulse. But shipping your own goods is complicated enough, and every scenario below has actually happened. We have even seen long-term friendships end over them.
Before you say yes, ask yourself what happens if:
- They ship something forbidden. Contraband like an electric bike, scooter, or seeds, or goods that require special licensing, can put your entire shipment at risk.
- They ship far more than they said. “One box” can turn into five times that volume.
- They expect the cheapest possible rate. Most people have no realistic idea of what shipping really costs. They may assume you will bill them at your lowest “above minimum volume” rate per cubic foot, when fairly they should pay at least the “under minimum volume” rate, plus their share of all the peripheral costs.
- They don’t pay on time, or dispute your measurements, your rate, or which charges are theirs.
- They ship taxable goods. In fact, ALL goods are taxable. Could you lose your import rights or end up paying taxes on their items?
- Their goods are lost or damaged. Will they come after you? Demand to search your house? Still agree to pay for the shipping? Since the marine insurance policy is in your name, you would handle their claim, and it could complicate or delay your own claims.
- They insure through you but don’t cooperate, failing to supply required documents or misrepresenting their goods or their value.
- God forbid, there is an emergency and you need to store your goods for a month or a year, or send them back to where you came from. Their goods are now tangled up with yours.
- Their goods push you into overflow, so some of your own goods do not fit.
- Every added person adds complications. Multiple pickups, deliveries, and insurance policies each bring potential complications and unexpected expenses, such as sorting.
If you still want to share space, protect the friendship with a clear agreement
- Make a written agreement, signed by both of you (fax or email is fine), before you accept any goods. We can help.
- Base their share on your total bill, not your per cubic foot rate or anything else.
- Ask us to measure their goods.
- We suggest charging no less than 1.5 times your costs.
