Would You Do This to Fund Your Travel?
Just came across a new startup, Grabr, the “first peer-to-peer delivery network“.
Buyers can place orders for unique (or common) products from around the world and travelers can opt in for the items that fit their travel plans. As an example, I might put in a order for a case of the sparkling Malbec Rose that has proved impossible to get in the US. Someone who was traveling from Argentina to DC could agree to bring it to me, if the price was right.
It’s still pre-launch so not sure exactly how it would work. As a traveler, I’m skeptical that the profit would be worth the time investment of shopping, hauling, and then delivering, but who knows.
Would you sign up for this service as a way of earning extra cash on a trip?
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It seems to me that unless you live in a very large city, the logistics would be a nightmare. Let’s say that I want, say, a few bottles of a rare and specific Australian shiraz. If the flier that’s visiting Australia lives in Las Vegas, and I live in Charleston, there’s an obvious disconnect. That doesn’t even cover very sensitive or perishable items. But even in this example, there’s another problem. I live in Tennessee. State law prohibits transporting alcohol by mail or UPS, so I’m not sure how to get my desperately wanted wine. This must be really good stuff for me to go to all this trouble, I tell ya! Anyway, you get the idea. It sounds like a nice theory that would be tough to work out in real life.
Not to mention that selling alcohol for a profit without a license is another legal issue.
I would never do this as a traveler. If the item has been pre-bought by someone else I can run into issues with airline security “have you been given something to cary by anyone”, even worse, the content can be different from what I was told (might be something illegal). If I have to buy the stuff myself, it’s time, effort, and potentially even money that I have to put up and there is always the risk that I’ll get the wrong item. If all that is not an issue, there are always the possibility of lost items and customs to deal with when you get home. I’m not sure how can this be worthwhile to the traveler.
I signed up just to see what is out there. I agree with the concerns from the posters above, but I wouldn’t mind doing it if I knew what the contents were. For example, if all I needed to do was bring a couple of bottles of beer or wine that are only available locally, it’s no big deal. I definitely wouldn’t be accepting any random boxes, and I also wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t getting paid for the items ahead of time if I had to shop myself.
I agree with Sagy. The potenti TSA questions ( receded to (which are asked for a good security reason) would be a deal breeaker for me at any remuneration.