Independent proof of what happened to a parcel.
Plain answers for retailers, payment and chargeback teams, insurers, carriers and the AI agents working for them. See it working in the interactive demo (example data).
Proof of delivery and lost parcels
What is independent proof of delivery?
A record of what happened to a parcel that does not come from the carrier or the retailer, the two parties usually on opposite sides of a dispute. Staffetta records each handoff (collection, depots, out for delivery, the doorstep) as signed entries in an append-only log, so anyone can check the evidence without having to trust the party it favours.
How is this different from the carrier's tracking or proof of delivery?
Carrier tracking is the carrier's own account of its own work. When a parcel goes missing, it is usually the only record, and it is written by one side of the dispute. Staffetta adds a second, independent record: detections of a tracking label by public networks, carrier events and signed handoffs, kept in a log that shows any later change.
What does the record actually show, and what can't it prove?
It shows when a parcel's label was detected near a network gateway at a known place and time, with the margin of error stated, plus carrier events and condition readings where a label has sensors. It does not claim an exact position, and every conclusion states what it cannot prove. Detections are presence near a known location, never a measured distance.
Does every parcel need a tracker?
No. Staffetta has three levels. Status uses carrier data only, with no label. Ambient Trace adds a thin Bluetooth label heard by public networks. Full Custody adds a cellular label for high-value parcels. It is designed so retailers can choose per order.
Chargebacks and payment disputes
Can Staffetta's record be used as evidence for 'item not received' chargebacks?
That is one of the main uses we are designing for: merchandise-not-received disputes (for example Visa reason code 13.1 and Mastercard 4855). The record can be supplied as supporting evidence of delivery from a source independent of the merchant and the carrier. The card issuer decides each case, so no evidence guarantees an outcome.
Why would independent evidence carry more weight than the merchant's own?
In a dispute, a merchant's or carrier's own report comes from an interested party. A record kept by a neutral third party, that anyone can check for tampering, is harder to dismiss. Staffetta makes no hardware, runs no network and carries no parcels, so it has no side in the outcome.
Parcel insurance and claims
Can insurers use Staffetta for parcel claim evidence?
Yes, that is a planned use. Shipping insurers and claims teams can see where custody was last confirmed, which party held the parcel when it was lost or damaged, and whether condition limits (such as temperature) were broken, with each finding linked to the evidence behind it.
Can carriers and logistics providers use it too?
Yes. Because every leg is documented, each carrier is only accountable for its own leg. That helps settle liability between carriers, couriers and retailers on evidence rather than on who argues hardest.
Trust and verification
How do I know the record hasn't been altered?
Each entry is signed and added to an append-only log, and the log's state is designed to be anchored with an external timestamp. Change one entry afterwards and the chain shows it. An open verifier, shared with design partners now and to be published, lets anyone check a record independently, and the interactive demo lets you try to break one yourself.
Who controls the evidence?
Nobody alone. No single sensor maker, network or carrier can hold, edit or switch off the record. Staffetta writes the label specification, holds the keys and receives data directly from the network, and is built to work with several suppliers at every layer, without exclusivity.
Does the record contain personal data?
The log holds salted commitments, not names or addresses. If a person asks for their data to be erased, one row is deleted without breaking the rest of the log.
Who it is for and availability
Which retailers and sectors is it for?
Retailers and marketplaces shipping higher-value or sensitive goods, where a lost or disputed parcel is costly: consumer electronics, luxury goods, watches and jewellery, premium fashion and resale, health and beauty, temperature-sensitive goods and spare parts. Insurers, payment and chargeback platforms and carriers use the same record.
Can AI agents use Staffetta?
That is a design goal. Records and conclusions are structured so customer-service, claims and dispute agents can act on them and verify them. There is no public API yet; see the page for builders and AI agents for what is planned.
Is Staffetta available now?
Staffetta is in development. The record format, log and verifier are built and under test, and field trials on real parcels start in Spain in October 2026. We are working with a small number of design partners in the UK and Spain. Examples in the demo use illustrative data.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is being set with pilot partners and will depend on the level (Status, Ambient Trace or Full Custody) and volume. Email hello@staffetta.io to discuss a pilot.