We wanted to send something nice to our son, who is studying in New York. Nothing fancy—just some soy sauce, ready-to-eat spicy anchovies, Maggi instant noodles, hair cream, and a Baju Melayu for the upcoming Eid celebrations. We’ve sent something similar through EasyParcel before and it got there without a hitch. This time around, however, was an unmitigated disaster.
The first red flag was that a month had already passed since we dropped off the parcel at EasyParcel via their partner UPS, but it still hadn’t arrived at its destination in New York. The last delivery took less than two weeks. When we contacted customer service, they requested documentation for the parcel. Apparently, you now need:
- Commercial Invoice: Complete and accurate details such as product description, country of origin, Harmonized Tariff Code, quantity, and value.
- Importer Identification: For formal entries, the Importer Tax ID (EIN or SSN).
- Contact Information: The recipient’s email address and contact details for duty and tax processing.
- Country of Origin: A clear statement of the country of origin for each item to ensure correct duty assessment.
The last two items were easy enough, but we didn’t know about the first two. I’m sure they’re hidden somewhere in their hundred-page terms and conditions, but who actually reads that? I did create an invoice and passed it along to customer service, but apparently it wasn’t enough. In the end, I received an email stating that my shipment had been destroyed because it had been held for too long.
To add insult to injury, not only did my son not get his parcel, but EasyParcel also decided to charge me an adjustment fee amounting to 234 Ringgit. Apparently, my package dimensions were different from what they measured. Naturally, I replied with a strongly worded email and vowed never to ship with them again.
So there you have it: the story of how I got screwed by EasyParcel. Don’t be fooled by their seemingly lower prices—they will charge you extra for adjustments, and there’s no guarantee your shipment will reach its destination. And when shit happens, they simply wash their hands of it.
