Poslaju for international deliveries

I had to send 4 pieces of A4-sized documents urgently to the US. The first people I think of to do this for me is Poslaju Malaysia, secondly - if you must know - is FedEx. More on FedEx later ...Edit July 11, 2006: Read about my FedEx experience!

So ok, I filled in the international airwaybill; waited patiently for my number to be called and attended to. DING! I'm up ... I handed the clerk my envelope, sealed and marked with the consignee's details and mine (the consignor). Fine, no probs. Weighed ... some form shuffling ... some calculator key-bashing ... some scribbling ... more calculator key-bashing (this is where I went, "Uh-oh ...")

"Tujuh puluh satu Ringgit, lima puluh Sen ..."

How much?

"Tujuh puluh satu Ringgit, lima puluh Sen." Shows me the scribbled amount on the receipt - RM71.50.

WTF ... I proceeded to ask, just how the HECK they came up with that amount. The courier charges was RM65. "Sudah tambah 10% surcharge bahanapi." Bahanapi? "Fuel surcharge bagi kapalterbang."

Kenapa mahal sangat? "Biasa la; tahun ini dah naik."

She asks me if I wanted to proceed and send it via Poslaju; suggested that better I just send via regular airmail. Because the documents were time-sensitive, I said no. Forget about it. I'll send via FedEx, which I thought would be cheaper than these obscene rates quoted by Poslaju ... of course, I was wrong. But you'll be surprised how much is the difference, for worldclass service from the #1 courier in the world.

Suffice to say (and warn) all: If you want to send documents internationally via courier from Malaysia, you might be better off using someone else. I am definitely not using Poslaju from now on for my international shipping; it charges too high for a rather insecure-feeling service.

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