Say Bob Enterprises wants to ship 10 dTons of electronics parts from System A to System B. Far Trader LugNut lands at the starport and contacts Bob Enterprises to say that they're headed that way and have cargo space available at 1000 Cr per dTon. Bob Enterprises arranges to have the cargo loaded, and the Far Trader LugNut takes off for System B.
So, what's to ensure that Far Trader LugNut doesn't just abscond with the cargo? How does Bob Enterprises know that the cargo has been delivered? How/When does the crew of the LugNut get paid?
Seems to me that this aspect of trading/shipping isn't well detailed in the classic traveller or T20 rules. GURPS: Far Trader may have some information, but I don't have that book.
Are there Imperial bonding/escrow agents who handle payment once the cargo is delivered and hiring bounty hunters when the payment isn't? Does the LugNut pay a yearly bond fee to the bonding/escrow agents? Or, is it a percentage of the cargo fee paid by Bob Enterprises? Why would Bob Enterprises trust some random far trader that shows up to deliver the cargo without some sort of 3rd party guarantor?
What do you think?
Ron
So, what's to ensure that Far Trader LugNut doesn't just abscond with the cargo? How does Bob Enterprises know that the cargo has been delivered? How/When does the crew of the LugNut get paid?
Seems to me that this aspect of trading/shipping isn't well detailed in the classic traveller or T20 rules. GURPS: Far Trader may have some information, but I don't have that book.
Are there Imperial bonding/escrow agents who handle payment once the cargo is delivered and hiring bounty hunters when the payment isn't? Does the LugNut pay a yearly bond fee to the bonding/escrow agents? Or, is it a percentage of the cargo fee paid by Bob Enterprises? Why would Bob Enterprises trust some random far trader that shows up to deliver the cargo without some sort of 3rd party guarantor?
What do you think?
Ron