AZE.US
Courier delivery is supposed to make shopping easier.
But in Azerbaijan, a growing number of complaints point to a more troubling scenario: a courier collects goods from a seller, fails to deliver them to the buyer and then disappears from contact.
The issue has become more visible as both customers and shop owners report cases in which couriers hired through delivery platforms or partner fleets allegedly take products and do not hand them over to the final recipient.
Lawyers say the first question is not only where the courier went, but who is responsible to the customer.
According to Misira Khalilzada, a member of the Bar Association, if a buyer has paid for a product in advance and does not receive it, the seller must compensate the damage. The reason is that the store undertakes the obligation to deliver the product to the customer on time and in full.
In that situation, the consumer has the right to demand either a replacement product or compensation for the loss.
The courier may also face separate liability. Lawyer Emil Aslanov said that if a courier fails to deliver goods entrusted to him or misappropriates them, legal responsibility may follow.
If the value of the goods is up to 500 manats, the case may fall under administrative liability. In that case, the person may face 160 to 240 hours of community service. If that punishment is not considered appropriate for the individual, administrative arrest of up to three months may be applied.
If the value of the goods exceeds 500 manats, the matter may move into the criminal sphere. In such cases, the courier may face punishment of up to two years in prison.
Delivery platforms say disputed cases are reviewed individually. Yango Azerbaijan said the service works with partner fleets, which independently attract couriers. If a delivery is not completed or another problem occurs, the user should contact support through the app. The company said all complaints are registered and checked.
Bolt also said delivery services are carried out by independent courier partners, not company employees. The company noted that delivery problems can sometimes occur, including lost parcels or cases in which the parties cannot reach the courier. Users are advised to contact support through the app immediately.
Lawyers say customers and sellers should not rely only on internal platform support when a product disappears. If the goods are not delivered and there is no clear response from the courier or platform, the affected party can also contact law enforcement.
The problem exposes a weak point in the fast-growing delivery market. The buyer expects the order to arrive, the seller expects the courier to complete the job, and the platform points to independent partners.
But when the goods disappear, the loss becomes very real – and, according to lawyers, the customer should not be left alone with it.
AZE.US