dear internet,
this happened recently:
1) When I was relocating internationally in a huge stressful hurry, I got a DHL man to come by to weigh and pack up my stuff. Not only did it cost a heart-stopping amount, which meant I literally had to leave out 2/3 of my belongings, the scruffy, wierd DHL guy began to rifle through my clothes. I had to watch as he plunged his hands through my clothes and underwear, under the guise of "making sure there are no prohibited goods in here". Even worse, he then proceeded to go through all my personal photos. It made me very uncomfortable to say the least. I felt violated and upset.
2) He then weighed the boxes, which came to a hefty sum. But I was in a hurry, so I just agreed to it. He then proceeded to try to cut me some sort of deal. He kept rambling on about, well, what if we do this separate thing with the suitcase, it might save you (a certain amount) or so, or some such. Being a bit frantic and busy, I ignored him. He also called me later, in the evening, to talk about the deal again. This time I lost my patience and asked him why he was making a simple matter so unnecessarily complicated. He then apologised and hung up, assuring me the things would be sent.
3) That was a MONTH ago. Two of the parcels have arrived, but today DHL informs me that they have definitively LOST my suitcase -- you know, the one containing all my remaining clothes. Unable to ship the rest of my clothes/belongings, I had put them in a cardboard box and left them for anyone who wanted them in the stairwell of my apartment complex. DHL is promising some kind of compensation.
This is all extremely frustrating and suspect. I have no idea if this stupid man was the cause of my troubles.
What the hell happened?
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did you file a complaint about the shipping agent? i do know that because you were shipping dhl and therefore through the mail they do have customs regulations to follow, but if you feel it was unnecessary you have a right to complain to management. the photos, while under the guise of looking for porn, is also personal.
lesson learned obviously to find a different moving company next time. international moving doesnt have to be that painful. but you should make sure to file a formal complaint not just about the lost belongings, but about the creepy guy. if no one ever complains, he just gets to keep doing his thing...
You've been had, mate. I did international relocation via DHL, four suitcases, two boxes. No plunging of hands, at least not in front of me. Not even at customs, at the other end, and arrived one week later, all safe and sound. I think you just mark it 'Personal items' and they are not allowed to quibble. This is DHL, they must have X-ray machines. It all looks very dodgy indeed and I ditto laner, complain, to DHL, to all the powers that be. Hugely possible that you never get your suitcase back (sorry) but at least they have to clean up their act, give you good comepensation (one for each day the suitcase didn't arrive after it was supposed to and another for the contents of the suitcase.
Mind you, it also depends on where you are in the world. I did London - India, all was sweet. India back to London? Forget it. All hell broke loose, it wasn't sent by DHL, arrived after three months and much shouting and anger on my part and listening to crap from shipping agent, and all the electrical goods were stolen, as were lots of expensive items of clothing. If you live in the UK, you should go for a BAR-certified removal company, so that you have retribution if required.
well, i guess it's more or less as i suspected. i went from china to france. it's taken one month so far for the 2 parcels to arrive and as for the suitcase... well, they say they're going to look for it again.
i really can't believe it can be ok for some dude to personally rummage through your suitcase (opening it again after i'd spent a while sitting on it and squashing it to get it closed). although things in china don't always happen the way they do elsewhere. the dude did take out a bunch of vitamin pill bottles which he said couldn't be shipped.
so yeah, i'm pulling all the strings i can to get them to pay up. i don't think they promised to ship within a certain deadline so i'm not sure if i can demand a per-day penalty. but i sure as hell can give them a good kicking..