DHL document vs non document price gouge?

[WorriedNoodle]

Hi,

 

I recently went to a DHL courier in Bangkok to send an envelope that contained a small USB HASP key for a computer and nothing else, not even an expnantory note as the receiver knew it was coming. At first the DHL service girl wrote out the labels and stuck my envelope in a DHL envelope with the contents marked as DOCUMENT and said it would cost 850THB. I then pointed out that the contents were not a document but a USB device (a very small HASP key infact)  as she hadn't checked or asked before hand. She said sorry for mistake, relabeled it as USB form document and said the price was now 1700THB! To which I said wtfk mate or words to that effect to the rather nice lady? 

 

I didn't want any issues at overseas customs with wrongly labelled contents and had simply asked if she should call it document and why the price had suddenly doubled when she changed it from document to USB contents. She said the starting weight was 1kg for non documents even for my envelope with USB weighing less than 200g. I asked if I could call it document in future when sending a USB device and she said yes. I simply walked away in disgust at her misinformation to me and left it at 1700THB. I expense it anyway so got the money back, but seriously was I being ripped off or what?

[impulse]

Yes you were being ripped off.  Welcome to life as a world traveler.  Get used to it.  

 

In fairness to DHL, they may have a very different workload with customs if they can't declare something a "document" with no commercial value.  It then becomes subject to possible inspection to determine what it is, which HS code, and whether the value you've declared is the true value, and whether to impose any duties or other taxes.  

 

You may have declared it to be a USB stick, and then enclosed a $15,000 diamond ring.  Or $500 worth of cocaine.  Happens all the time.