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My name is Kwadwo, one of the cofounders of Shypmate. Shypmate is a way for people in Nigeria and Ghana to buy items and goods from the US and get it delivered

by kwadwon 11y ago

My name is Kwadwo, one of the cofounders of Shypmate. Shypmate is a way for people in Nigeria and Ghana to buy items and goods from the US and get it delivered through a traveler heading to one of those countries. We pay the travelers, the shoppers get their item at an affordable shipping price, and everyone is mostly happy. Perry Ogwuche, another cofounder, immigrated from Nigeria to the US for school and as a student had a pretty hard time finding an affordable way to send things back home. He often would wait until a friend was traveling back before sending things. So we started Shypmate to facilitate that behavior and process. We'd love your thoughts on feedback on the idea and process. People can make orders through the website, WhatsApp number, or email. We only deliver items that have been purchased through Shypmate and never let travelers carry items that Shypmate does not buy directly. On the other end, shoppers can meet travelers at the airport or pay an extra fee for local delivery. Our goal is to make international shopping and shipping affordable and fast in countries where UPS, Fedex, and DHL charge too much.

amazon_not 11y ago
How do you deal with import duties and taxes? Who gets burnt if the buyer fails to collect and pay duties and taxes? How will you deal with courier blaming you for any contraband they knowingly or unknowingly import? E.g. knowingly, but inserted in the package provided by you or unknowingly if the vendor provides the contraband in the package?
- kwadwon 11y ago
  If the item being delivered is over a certain value we'd have the shoppers (in Ghana or Nigeria) cover duties and taxes. We do hope to iterate and make the process more seamless but right now we package and seal the items in Shypmate packaging when we send it to the traveler. It is a very valid issue with preventing any contraband and making sure the traveler is safe. The couriers are also vetted before we allow them to carry packages for us. There is a certain amount of trust on both ends that is required for this to be a seamless process.
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    > If the item being delivered is over a certain value we'd have the shoppers (in Ghana or Nigeria) cover duties and taxes. Isn't it usual for countries to charge import duties on any goods (regardless of value) brought for trade (including for delivery to a purchaser) rather than for personal use, but allowing some exemptions for personal use? Is the "over a certain value" here an indication that the business model has couriers misrepresent items being delivered as personal-use items if they are within the allowed personal use quotas, even if though they are trade items?
    - amazon_not 11y ago
      Are you providing your couriers with any documentation stating that they are acting as your transport agents in shipping parcels into the country in an attempt to shield them from any liability? Do you provide all the necessary documentation for importing and clearing customs and/or do you train your couriers on how to perform these duties? Do you provide couriers with legal representation in-country and will you cover all costs for their defense?
      - tcokoro 11y ago
        We currently do not but these are things that we are looking into as we get feedback from current deliveries and quickly iterate. We are open and transparent and let the travelers know what things Shypmate covers and what we don't.
        amazon_not 11y ago
        Please stop before somebody gets hurt.
        sdoering 11y ago
        Why save people from themselves, if the do this naively? If anyone does use this service (as a courier) and if they do so without asking these obvious questions and then get burned - why protect them? People are (imho) obliged to think for themselves. If they fail to do so why have sympathy?
- sithadmin 11y ago
  Aside from what you're asking, I'm also wondering how a traveler/courier would avoid a shakedown/arrest by local authorities for participating in what appears to be a pretty overt scheme to bypass normal importing processes and restrictions.
  - kwadwon 11y ago
    The process of buying items in the US and carrying it back home to Ghana or Nigeria is one that is already pretty common. It is true that occasionally people are detained however. Any lost goods would most likely need to be replaced or money will be refunded to shoppers until we can work out a fair and sensible agreement with local authorities. This will be a pretty big issue for us to address.
    - amazon_not 11y ago
      Detained. Do your couriers really know what they are getting themselves into? There is a non-zero chance of them seeing the inside of an African prison cell. "Do not accept parcels from strangers, make sure you pack your own bags and not to leave luggage unattended."
      - sithadmin 11y ago
        >Detained. Do your couriers really know what they are getting themselves into? I do, but that's mostly because I travel a fair amount, and have some indirect professional exposure to international trade compliance/regulations. That's also precisely why I would probably never participate in a scheme like this, especially when travelling to countries with flaky civil or human rights records (in this case, Nigeria in particular).
        amazon_not 11y ago
        While not trying to give offense, this service can easily be seen as taking advantage of the desperate, uninformed and/or gullible. For your sake I hope you are very explicitly informing your couriers about the risks associated with carrying parcels for you and that you are seeking and getting informed consent. Any other case and you are a lawsuit waiting to happen.

by kwadwon 11y ago

amazon_not 11y ago

How do you deal with import duties and taxes? Who gets burnt if the buyer fails to collect and pay duties and taxes? How will you deal with courier blaming you for any contraband they knowingly or unknowingly import? E.g. knowingly, but inserted in the package provided by you or unknowingly if the vendor provides the contraband in the package?

kwadwon 11y ago
If the item being delivered is over a certain value we'd have the shoppers (in Ghana or Nigeria) cover duties and taxes. We do hope to iterate and make the process more seamless but right now we package and seal the items in Shypmate packaging when we send it to the traveler. It is a very valid issue with preventing any contraband and making sure the traveler is safe. The couriers are also vetted before we allow them to carry packages for us. There is a certain amount of trust on both ends that is required for this to be a seamless process.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > If the item being delivered is over a certain value we'd have the shoppers (in Ghana or Nigeria) cover duties and taxes. Isn't it usual for countries to charge import duties on any goods (regardless of value) brought for trade (including for delivery to a purchaser) rather than for personal use, but allowing some exemptions for personal use? Is the "over a certain value" here an indication that the business model has couriers misrepresent items being delivered as personal-use items if they are within the allowed personal use quotas, even if though they are trade items?
  - amazon_not 11y ago
    Are you providing your couriers with any documentation stating that they are acting as your transport agents in shipping parcels into the country in an attempt to shield them from any liability? Do you provide all the necessary documentation for importing and clearing customs and/or do you train your couriers on how to perform these duties? Do you provide couriers with legal representation in-country and will you cover all costs for their defense?
    - tcokoro 11y ago
      We currently do not but these are things that we are looking into as we get feedback from current deliveries and quickly iterate. We are open and transparent and let the travelers know what things Shypmate covers and what we don't.
      - amazon_not 11y ago
        Please stop before somebody gets hurt.
        sdoering 11y ago
        Why save people from themselves, if the do this naively? If anyone does use this service (as a courier) and if they do so without asking these obvious questions and then get burned - why protect them? People are (imho) obliged to think for themselves. If they fail to do so why have sympathy?
sithadmin 11y ago
Aside from what you're asking, I'm also wondering how a traveler/courier would avoid a shakedown/arrest by local authorities for participating in what appears to be a pretty overt scheme to bypass normal importing processes and restrictions.
- kwadwon 11y ago
  The process of buying items in the US and carrying it back home to Ghana or Nigeria is one that is already pretty common. It is true that occasionally people are detained however. Any lost goods would most likely need to be replaced or money will be refunded to shoppers until we can work out a fair and sensible agreement with local authorities. This will be a pretty big issue for us to address.
  - amazon_not 11y ago
    Detained. Do your couriers really know what they are getting themselves into? There is a non-zero chance of them seeing the inside of an African prison cell. "Do not accept parcels from strangers, make sure you pack your own bags and not to leave luggage unattended."
    - sithadmin 11y ago
      >Detained. Do your couriers really know what they are getting themselves into? I do, but that's mostly because I travel a fair amount, and have some indirect professional exposure to international trade compliance/regulations. That's also precisely why I would probably never participate in a scheme like this, especially when travelling to countries with flaky civil or human rights records (in this case, Nigeria in particular).
      - amazon_not 11y ago
        While not trying to give offense, this service can easily be seen as taking advantage of the desperate, uninformed and/or gullible. For your sake I hope you are very explicitly informing your couriers about the risks associated with carrying parcels for you and that you are seeking and getting informed consent. Any other case and you are a lawsuit waiting to happen.