Cargo and postage

[Expat1441]

I just wanted some information on what would be the quickest yet affordable way for relatives to send me things from the UK to Indonesia Java specifically.

I know DHL is possible but that would be quite expensive is there any other cargo company I could use that would be cheaper?

I assume postage would be cheaper but how much longer would that take?

If anyone could tell me the names of some cargo and postage companies that arent expensive to use if there are any indonesian companies that are also based in UK even better.

Thank you

 

[Helpful Herbert]

I don't recommend DHL, I got less than half of the stuff I sent in my last package, the rest was taken by Customs and there seemed to be nothing that DHL could do about it, even though it was just basic things like books and clothes. The reason given is that it is illegal to send second hand items without a product certificate from the relevant ministry.
I ordered some books from Amazon UK last year (normal post), and they all got through (Jawa Barat) eventually, the quickest took 3 months, the slowest took 1 year. For things I have ordered to a Jakarta address with normal mail, most of them never arrived, for a couple they sent a large demand for money to be paid at the post office.
It is definitely way more difficult to send stuff now than it was a year or two ago, better to buy or pick up on your trips back.

 

[Will_M]

I receive tens of thousands of dollars worth of material from UK using DHL. Never a problem. The issue mentioned above is a customs issue, nothing to do with DHL at all I’m afraid.

Have also tried TNT / Fedex and always here 2 weeks later had it been DHL. Paying import taxes always a lot easier/ clearer with DHL also.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

When I use DHL, which is very expensive, I expect them to be able to get the things through customs. Every item in the package was listed down to the smallest detail including country of production and weight in grams, and was accepted by DHL in the UK. When the items were stolen by customs agents, DHL basically said there is nothing they can do, so what is the point of using them?

 

[Will_M]

Don’t expect DHL or any shipper for that matter to break Indonesian law. Yes - only a few books this time which probably had a more sentimental value rather than economical. However the law remains the same, and any shipper would have been powerless in that situation.

My agent in England has an account with DHL and so far price has always been below Fedex when we have compared quotes.

 

[Wisnu]

My experience with DHL - mostly sending document - to/from Indonesia is very good. Mostly less than a week. The most recent, 2 months ago, only need 3 working days from Nigeria to Indonesia.
In the past, no problem at all using normal post / USPS for on-line purchase of low cost materials; my brother collected at the post office after paying import duty. Typically 2 - 3 weeks. Cost effective.

The worst experience is with UPS - last year, my daughter sent her passport to UK consular in NYC from DC to obtain student visa for her master degree in UK. Took more than a month for UPS to admit that package has been lost so she can report to police. at the end, she has to defer her study for one year.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

Don’t expect DHL or any shipper for that matter to break Indonesian law. Yes - only a few books this time which probably had a more sentimental value rather than economical. However the law remains the same, and any shipper would have been powerless in that situation.

My agent in England has an account with DHL and so far price has always been below Fedex when we have compared quotes.

Don't you think they should know what Indonesian law is before they accept payment for sending a package to Indonesia? They tell me now that sending a second hand book by DHL is illegal under Indonesian law, but their UK office accepted it. To me that is a sign they do not know their job. If they don't know the customs laws in each country, then what exactly are they doing in a business like this, where literally their job is to deliver a package from A to B [i.e. they need to understand a) transport and b) customs rules].

 

[R Cameron]

Don't you think they should know what Indonesian law is before they accept payment for sending a package to Indonesia? They tell me now that sending a second hand book by DHL is illegal under Indonesian law, but their UK office accepted it. To me that is a sign they do not know their job. If they don't know the customs laws in each country, then what exactly are they doing in a business like this, where literally their job is to deliver a package from A to B [i.e. they need to understand a) transport and b) customs rules].

I disagree that a DHL branch in the UK should know the nuanced customs requirements of all 200+ countries they ship to.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

I disagree that a DHL branch in the UK should know the customs requirements of all 200+ countries they ship to.

How many of the countries they ship to should they know the customs requirements? 100? 10? Zero? Would it help their business to understand customs rules, I wonder?

 

[Hawk256]

How many of the countries they ship to should they know the customs requirements? 100? 10? Zero? Would it help their business to understand customs rules, I wonder?

My biggest customs issue (which was pretty drastic and expensive) was from a FedEx shipment. Long story short, it shouldn't have been accepted for shipment (according to Indonesia customs) in the US but it was. Even with that, I don't blame FedEX, I blame customs. Their rules aren't always clear and can be applied in creative ways at anytime based on who is working. I would recommend anyone not to ship anything of value or weight to Indonesia unless you are prepared to pay out to customs. I have never received a shipment to Indonesia through any carrier that did not carry a large customs bill. YMMV.

 

[R Cameron]

How many of the countries they ship to should they know the customs requirements? 100? 10? Zero? Would it help their business to understand customs rules, I wonder?

I always operate on the assumption of Zero and take the responsibility upon myself to know what is permitted or what fees may be incurred. Did you ask if those items were okay according to Indonesian customs and they misinformed you, or did you assume this was part of their service?

 

[Will_M]

Don't you think they should know what Indonesian law is before they accept payment for sending a package to Indonesia? They tell me now that sending a second hand book by DHL is illegal under Indonesian law, but their UK office accepted it. To me that is a sign they do not know their job. If they don't know the customs laws in each country, then what exactly are they doing in a business like this, where literally their job is to deliver a package from A to B [i.e. they need to understand a) transport and b) customs rules].

I would disagree. You, as the sender and/or recipient, should know the rules of the country you are sending items too.

 

[Helpful Herbert]

I always operate on the assumption of Zero and take the responsibility upon myself to know what is permitted or what fees may be incurred. Did you ask if those items were okay according to Indonesian customs and they misinformed you, or did you assume this was part of their service?

We asked them specifically and spent 2 hours completing the form provided (countries of origin, weight etc.). The DHL guy came round to the house, and checked everything in detail and said it would be fine.

 

[kripik-pisang]

My understanding has always been that if the customs guy handling the shipment wants to buy his son a car then the rate goes up. Whatever the scenario there will be "import duty" that has zero relationship to what the official rate might be. At least you're not being singled out. No imported product enters Indonesia without "import duties" being paid directly into the pockets of customers officers. When police raided customs at Tanjung Priok they found lots and lots of cash in drawers, cupboards, etc.

 

[centurion]

My understanding has always been that if the customs guy handling the shipment wants to buy his son a car then the rate goes up. Whatever the scenario there will be "import duty" that has zero relationship to what the official rate might be. At least you're not being singled out. No imported product enters Indonesia without "import duties" being paid directly into the pockets of customers officers. When police raided customs at Tanjung Priok they found lots and lots of cash in drawers, cupboards, etc.

People make money on big shipments and containers, not on second-hand books, small items, etc. So for the rest of the mortals that receive or send small parcels-not containers, regular rules are applied.

 

[El_Goretto]

People make money on big shipments and containers, not on second-hand books, small items, etc. So for the rest of the mortals that receive or send small parcels-not containers, regular rules are applied.

Yes that's correct.

When I buy from Amazon, the import duty is calculated and built-in with the shipping fee and I receive my item without paying anything extra.

Others, such as ebay, the EMS website will tell me how much I want to pay and redirect me to a web page to make the payment. All online, no cash exchanging hands.