Q. A friend of mine who enjoys cigars asked another
friend who lives in Spain if on his next trip to London he could buy 100 cigars in Gibraltar and bring them to London. The cigars retail in Gibraltar at about one third of the price in London. The transaction was made and the cigars packed in the check-in luggage, but on arrival at Gatwick only three out of four boxes were to be seen. The ‘courier’ explained this to his friend, but the buyer said he would only pay for three boxes (at cost in Gibraltar) and the fact that the courier had mislaid one box was his problem. The courier is now out of pocket to the tune of £50 and insists that this is the last time he will go out of his way for a friend. Can you recommend what the courier should have done, other than to carry the cigars with him on board?
J.B., Berkshire A. Organise a whip-round among friends to pay the £50. Shame the cigar-lover — who is clearly at fault — by explaining to him, ‘We’ve reimbursed X’s lost fifty quid because, frankly, someone had to... ’ pause ‘... and it would be such a shame if we couldn’t ask him to do the same for us in the future just because he had his fingers burned.’
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