What to check before accepting a package as a traveler

As a traveler on Sendways, you carry legal responsibility for everything in your luggage. This is not a technicality; customs officers treat unaccompanied-baggage rules seriously, and "I didn't know what was in it" is not a legal defence.

Verify the sender's identity and rating. Only accept packages from verified senders who have completed Sendways identity verification. Check their review history. A sender with 20 five-star reviews is a very different proposition from a new account with no history.

Inspect the package at handoff (visually). You are not obliged to open sealed packages, but examine the outside carefully. Reject anything that looks tampered with, feels wet, or has an unusual odour. You are entitled to know the general nature of contents.

Weigh it yourself. Bring a portable luggage scale to handoffs. Confirm the weight matches what was declared. This protects you from airline overweight charges and from being used to smuggle unweighted items.

Confirm the contents match the description. Ask the sender to describe the item verbally. Compare it to what they declared in the app. If there is a discrepancy, ask for an explanation before accepting.

Know the customs rules at your destination. Electronics, medicine, food, and significant quantities of the same item all attract scrutiny. If you are unsure whether something is permitted, decline. It is always better to turn down a booking than to face a customs problem.

Take photos at handoff. Photograph the sealed package from multiple angles, with the sender visible if possible. This is your proof of the item's condition when it left the sender.

Trust your gut. If something about the sender, the package, or the conversation feels wrong, decline the booking.