Thursday, December 8, 2011
Borderlinx quits...
After jacking up prices three or four-fold for one last robbery spree in Kenya, DHL's EasyShop partner Borderlinx has decided to stop cross-border deliveries to Kenya. They say they have been forced to do so by the high incidence and risk of fraud. But given the jacked up prices and the requirement that payment be made in advance by credit card, it is unlikely they have been defrauded... more likely that they have pissed off so many customers it no longer makes sense to keep serving Kenya. RIVALS PLEASE!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Volumetric robbery works in Singapore too
Borderlinx robbery is getting out of hand, even when using their own volumetric weight calculations. Apart from the fuel surcharge, they have unbelievably high charges now for ‘duty’ and ‘customs clearance’ since they have decided to cancel cash on delivery.
In 2009 and 2010, I shipped 10kg volumetric weight (less that 5kg actual weight) for about $160 to Nairobi, Kenya. This year, some items that have an actual weight of less than one kilo are being quoted at 5kg volumetric weight with an estimated shipping cost of $303!
In 2009, they boxed small items in larger boxes to increase volumetric weight. I bet they will do/have done the same this time to get their $303. The really annoying bit is we have no options in Kenya but to submit to this robbery!
In 2009 and 2010, I shipped 10kg volumetric weight (less that 5kg actual weight) for about $160 to Nairobi, Kenya. This year, some items that have an actual weight of less than one kilo are being quoted at 5kg volumetric weight with an estimated shipping cost of $303!
In 2009, they boxed small items in larger boxes to increase volumetric weight. I bet they will do/have done the same this time to get their $303. The really annoying bit is we have no options in Kenya but to submit to this robbery!
UPDATE: Guess what, since my last post, DHL EasyShop/Borderlinx have gotten smarter. I've gotten dumber. They have disabled the option of Standard shipping for Kenya, so now its Express shipping or goodbye to your stuff. They have also nixed payment on delivery in favour of billing you what they feel like when you ship.
About me getting dumber: I've continued shopping online with them. I have a shipment sitting in their warehouse that is allegedly 5kg in volumetric weight (half the size of the one I complained about) and I'm being asked to pay $303 (TWICE as much as it took to ship 10kg in 2009 and 2010). I'd say this time it wasn't a mugging: it's the Gaddafi treatment! (Details to follow in a bit.)
About me getting dumber: I've continued shopping online with them. I have a shipment sitting in their warehouse that is allegedly 5kg in volumetric weight (half the size of the one I complained about) and I'm being asked to pay $303 (TWICE as much as it took to ship 10kg in 2009 and 2010). I'd say this time it wasn't a mugging: it's the Gaddafi treatment! (Details to follow in a bit.)
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