An international student at a university in Guangzhou is seeking compensation from a major international logistics company after a laptop sent to their family overseas was severely damaged during shipping.
The student placed an order through the company's China-based online platform and shipped a laptop internationally. However, upon arrival, the recipient found the laptop was significantly damaged and no longer functional.
The student contacted the shipping company multiple times to seek compensation, but was told that because she had not purchased additional shipping insurance, the company would only offer a payment equivalent to ten times the shipping cost, in accordance with the terms listed in the digital waybill. This amount fell far short of the actual value of the laptop.
"I didn't notice that clause when I placed the order," the student said. "It was buried at the bottom of the agreement and looked no different from the rest of the text."
Is the Compensation Cap Legal?
According to legal experts, the shipping company's proposed compensation may not be enforceable.
Under China's Civil Code, carriers are responsible for safely delivering goods within the agreed or reasonable time frame. If damage occurs during transit, the shipping company may be held liable for the full value of the lost or damaged items — even if the sender did not opt for additional insurance.
The clause cited by the company — limiting compensation for uninsured shipments to ten times the shipping fee — qualifies as a standard clause, which is typically drafted in advance for repeated use and not subject to negotiation. As such, it is subject to additional scrutiny under Chinese law.
"If such a clause was not clearly highlighted, and the company failed to alert the customer to its potential implications, it may be considered invalid," the expert noted. "Burying it at the bottom of an order confirmation without emphasis could be seen as an attempt to unfairly limit the customer's rights."
What Can the Student Do?
Legal professionals recommend that the student assert their right to be compensated based on the actual value of the damaged laptop. If negotiations with the company continue to stall, the student may consider pursuing the matter through China's legal system.
As the case involves international elements — both a foreign student and a global shipping firm — it falls under the category of cross-border civil disputes. According to China's Civil Procedure Law, courts in China have jurisdiction if the contract was signed through a platform operated in the country.
Experts also advised the student to collect and preserve key evidence, including:
1.The name and operating address of the logistics company's China-based entity;
2.Proof that the online platform is operated by the company itself;
3.Purchase receipts and invoices for the laptop;
4.Screenshots or confirmations from the original order and any correspondence with the company.
"This evidence will be crucial if the student decides to file a lawsuit," the expert added.
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