Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Barande?

Barande is a peer-to-peer (P2P) matching platform that directly connects travelers with extra luggage capacity (casual couriers) and individuals seeking to send items or vital documents (senders). Our goal is to make cross-border and domestic shipping faster, more personal, more sustainable, and significantly more affordable than traditional postal and courier services.

What is Barande's legal role?

Barande acts strictly as a technical platform and intermediary. The actual carriage agreement is formed directly and exclusively between the Sender and the Traveler. Barande is not a transport carrier, freight forwarder, or courier enterprise.

Which languages are supported?

The Barande App and website support three languages:

• 🇩🇪 German
• 🇬🇧 English
• 🇮🇷 Persian / Farsi (فارسی) – with complete Right-to-Left (RTL) layout and integrated Jalali calendar.

On which devices can I use Barande?

Barande is available as a native app for iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store), as well as a web platform at https://barande.app.

How do I create a shipment request?

Senders have two easy options:

1. Search trips & book directly: Use the search on the home screen (origin/destination city, travel date). Find a matching traveler and send a booking request.
2. Publish a shipment request (shipment_requests): If no suitable trip is available, post your own request with cities, target deadline, weight, photos, and your offered price. Travelers can apply directly.

Which item categories are supported?

• 📄 Documents / Papers: Certificates, contracts, letters (usually flat rate).
• 👕 Clothing & Textiles: Clothes, shoes, fabrics.
• 📱 Electronics: Smartphones, laptops, accessories (cabin baggage only, customs rules apply).
• 💄 Cosmetics & Care: Creams, perfumes (subject to liquid limits in cabin bags).
• 🍫 Non-perishable Food: Sweets, nuts, spices, dried fruit (no perishable items).
• 💊 Medication: Original packaging with required prescriptions and customs permits only.
• 📦 Other: Other permitted everyday items.

What is Domestic Onward Shipping (Domestic Post)?

Many travelers offer to forward shipments upon landing via local postal carriers (e.g., DHL, Deutsche Post) to your final address. If the traveler enabled Domestic Post Available, you can add this service directly by covering local postage costs.

How do I post a trip?

1. Tap "Post Trip" (PostRequestScreen) in the app.
2. Select departure/arrival cities and travel date.
3. Enter your flight number (e.g. LH600 or TK1234).
4. State how many kilograms you wish to share and set your price per kg.
5. Choose accepted categories and optional handover spots (e.g. airport).

How does live flight tracking work?

When entering your flight number, our app synchronizes your schedule in real time with the aviation database (Aviationstack API). You and your senders always see real-time flight status, delays, gates, and terminals.

When and how do I get paid?

Payout is released automatically via PayPal upon successful handoff. As soon as you verify the recipient's 4-digit confirmation PIN in your app, the escrow funds are immediately unlocked (ready_for_payout).

How does the escrow system protect me?

• Sender Protection: Senders pay at booking, but funds remain safely in escrow and are not pre-disbursed to the traveler.
• Traveler Protection: Travelers have guaranteed confirmation that funds are secured and will be disbursed instantly upon confirmed delivery.

How does the 4-digit PIN verification work?

1. Upon confirmed booking, the system creates a random 4-digit security PIN (delivery_pin).
2. This PIN is visible only to the Sender and Recipient.
3. At physical handoff, the recipient provides the PIN to the traveler.
4. The traveler enters the PIN in the app (verify_delivery_pin).
5. The system marks the booking as completed and triggers payout.

Mandatory open visual inspection prior to travel

Safety first! Senders must never give travelers a sealed or opaque package that cannot be inspected.

• Travelers are legally and contractually obligated to inspect all items in an open state together with the sender.
• If anything appears suspicious or prohibited, travelers have the right to refuse transport (handle-rejection) with photo documentation.

What items are strictly prohibited?

1. 🔋 Lithium batteries, power banks & e-cigarettes in checked baggage (IATA violation).
2. 💣 Explosives, fireworks, flammable gases/liquids, and hazardous materials.
3. 💊 Illegal narcotics and unapproved drugs.
4. 🔪 Weapons, weapon parts, knives, and ammunition.
5. 🍷 Alcohol and pork products (when traveling to restricted destinations, e.g. Iran).
6. 🔬 Sanctioned items, surveillance technology, and dual-use tech.
7. 🥩 Perishable food items (fresh meat, dairy).
8. 🐾 Live animals and protected flora.
9. 💶 Cash, bullion, and irreplaceable valuables.

What is the digital customs transport manifest (customs_manifest_code)?

Senders sign a digital statutory declaration upon booking. An official digital transport manifest with a unique code (e.g. BRD-2026-A1B2C3) is generated.

• Viewable in-app, shareable as PDF, or printable.
• Serves as official proof of private P2P transport, verified identities, and declared goods at airport and customs checkpoints.

Why should I verify my profile?

• Verified members receive a blue Verified Badge on their profile.
• Senders trust verified travelers significantly more – verified travelers receive up to 4x more booking requests.
• Mandatory for packages with declared value exceeding 99 Euros.

How does verification work?

1. Go to Profile > "Verify Profile".
2. Upload a photo of your government-issued ID (passport or national ID card).
3. Upload a portrait selfie and a live selfie holding your ID next to your face.
4. Our AI vision system (OpenAI GPT-4o Vision) cross-checks facial patterns and document authenticity in seconds (verify-identity-ai), with human moderation for ambiguous cases.

How is the total price structured?

1. Transport Remuneration: Weight (kg) × traveler's rate per kg, or agreed flat rate.
2. Barande Service Fee: 15% to cover platform infrastructure, escrow safety, KYC, and payments (incl. 19% German VAT).
3. Optional Domestic Postage: If destination onward shipping was booked.

Do I receive official invoices?

Yes! Official PDF receipts are generated upon booking completion:

• For Senders: Invoice with itemized 19% VAT on service fees and transport remuneration as a transitory item (§ 10(1) s. 5 UStG).
• For Travelers: Payout voucher of received remuneration.
• Archived for 10 years in compliance with statutory fiscal requirements (§ 147 AO).

What if the Sender cancels?

• More than 24 hours before flight: 100% full refund of transport compensation. Service fee is retained as processing fee. Luggage allowance is restored to the traveler.
• Less than 24 hours or No-Show: No refund of transport fee. It is disbursed to the traveler as fair compensation for reserved baggage space.
• After physical handoff: Cancellation is excluded once the package is marked as received.

What if the Traveler cancels?

If the traveler cancels the trip, the sender receives an immediate 100% full refund including all platform service fees.

How do I chat with my transport partner?

Once a booking is requested or confirmed, encrypted real-time in-app chat is unlocked for messaging, sharing meeting points, and exchanging photos.

How does Barande prevent harassment and fraud?

Barande enforces a strict Zero Tolerance Policy (Apple EULA Guideline 1.2):

• Automated Content Filtering: Abusive or suspicious messages are blocked server-side.
• Report Users: Accessible via the flag icon. Our safety team reviews reports within 24 hours.
• Block Users: Instantly hides abusive users from your feeds and chats.
• Sanctions: Violators face temporary or permanent account termination (banUserByAdmin).

How does the review system work?

Following completion, users rate each other with 1 to 5 stars and written feedback, building community reputation.

How can I delete my account?

You can delete your account at any time in the app under Settings > Danger Zone > Delete Account.

• Safety Guard: Account deletion is prevented if you have active, unfinished trips or shipments.
• GDPR Deletion (Art. 17): Unbooked trips/requests are deleted immediately. Completed records are anonymized (Deleted User [ID]), ID files and emails purged, and credentials destroyed.

Where is my data hosted?

Our servers and databases are located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (EU) in full compliance with GDPR standards. All transfers are encrypted with 256-bit SSL/TLS. See our Privacy Policy for details.