User Review: Vpost vs. Borderlinx

[coyote]

Concierge service is much more expensive right? So, the rule of thumb should still be, try to buy from a online shop that accepts overseas issued credit card. That will save a lot of money.

newegg, zipzoomfly, mwave.
i also buy second hand from forumers in the states. eg hardofurms, anandtech.



just use concierge. cut and paste link of item, input price and description. can liao don't need to waste time with credit card info shipping address and all that.

 

[FrEeBiEs]

Actually, there were such a wide ranges of laptop offers in Singapore & at such affordable prices, I wonder what prompted you to take such a risk & trouble to buy from US. Not to mention for such a fragile item as a laptop. Anyway, sorry for your lost.

The price difference is very big, so big that i can't really call, singapore prices affordable. I did ship a couple of laptops from vpost and to date, non are in the least damaged, expensive like voodoo laptops, cheap like asus. But this round borderlinx did it. Damaged the internals but leaving the external box intact. The laptop is less fragile then many other things around actually. In addition, little did i know that they can damage the interior items this manner. If it were a card, it would have been a few pieces already. had anything i shipped to singapore to date been given this treatment, none of them will survive. Even the books i got in will be torn into pieces.

Personally, i am heavily suspecting that it is not DHL that did that. If DHL did damage my parcel on the way, i will be less upset. But this round... i am putting borderlinx as the prime suspect. Having items damaged by them, instead, is not expected nor accepted imho.

Anyone of you wanna see the emails we exchanged is welcomed. Just drop me a PM will do.

 

[cannotliao]

trying onenow.com aka CGW now
Shipping 2 items 1.73kg and 2.35kg, CGW rounded off to 2kg and 2.5kg as they charging by subsequent 1/2 kg so the shipping fee for 4.5kg is US$31.25 and base on credit card exchange rate 1.54 now, it will be SGD$48.13

vPost is charging the shipping fee by Per Gram! so if use vPost, they will charge 1.73kg and 2.35kg total 4.08kg
for 4.08kg vpost charges will be SG$47.49 and after 20% UOB discount it will be SG$37.99

borderlinx is charging 4.08kg US$33.87 SGD52.30 there 1 borderlinx USD$5 discount code now so after discount will be SGD$44.46

CGW SGD$48.13
vPost SGD$37.99
boarderlinx SGD$44.46

CGW using DHL but the CSO told me for standard shipping the item will arrive in 4~6days, i will wait and see it take how many day for them to arrive. 1 thing good point about CGW is their insurance is cheap, 0.03% of total amount.

since borderlinx increased price, CGW is not much cheaper. vpost will be the cheapest after UOB discount.

think i will stick vpost for future shipment since their 5~8days shipping time is still acceptable for me. if the shipping fee is lower, i dont mind the few days extra longer waiting time.
vpost downside is their insurance is damn expensive.

 

[FrEeBiEs]

Indeed. Vpost insurance is very expensive.

But if consider insurance plus shipping, vpost may no longer be the cheapest liao. Borderlinx could be the cheapest still, provided the item is paid using a citibank credit card.

 

[RePlaY]

So far my experiences with VPOST has been quite good.. However they can be bit slow in updating the package status. Other than that no major issues though. Never tried Borderlinx before but I guess I'll stick with VPOST for now.

 

[FrEeBiEs]

Well... I guess i got panicky last month after i read negative reviews about vpost. However, my recent few transactions are alrite with them. Borderlinx will open the parcel on your behalf, good and bad. Good as in, can raise a insurance claim against the courier if the item is damaged upon arrival. Bad as in, you never know if the item came to you brand new or sealed. Another possibly bad thing is the issue i met. Damaged on your behalf. Hope its an isolated case.

I just had another parcel that reached vpost. Maybe due to economic crisis, less shoppers, but this round, is really fast. My account is updated even before USPS updated theirs. Its still in processed stage @ USPS tracking page. Usually i see that the courier indicates that it has reached, and try chasing them. This round it seems alrite. Experience tells me that it takes a while to have it processed and ready to pay status, but hopefully this round its as fast as well.

 

[cannotliao]

i also dislike borderlinx and CGW open up the items for inspection.
1 thing vpost best is they dont open the package. every thing 'fresh'.

 

[lindsay]

Thanks for all the input from members. I find these information very helpful. I just checked borderlinx online and use their shipping calculator. May I know if anyone can advice on the footnote where it say

"Charges are shown in US dollars and are subject to change to accommodate fuel surcharges and general changes in carrier rates.
"

I wonder how much surchages & other rates at the end of the day. Assuming I try to buy something $50 that weight around 1kg and it was calculated to be USD64.21. So roughly how much surchages & carrier rates on top of these calculated amount which was currently not reflected?

 

[ennnnnnnn]

borderlinx!

i've used borderlinx a few times, from 1 item to 16 items. i like it that you can hold your items up to a month at their facility.

i've used vpost once or twice, didn't really have a bad impression, but delivery seems to take awhile.

in a nutshell, i'm all for borderlinx. it's easy and convenient, and being able to consolidate items really helps!

cheers!

shawn

 

[cannotliao]

people using borderlinx can try the USD$5 discount codes

45178 not sure valid till when
66788 valid till April

both 1 time use only

these are discount codes i saw people sharing in the internet forums.

 

[coyote]

Oops. Actually forgotten that I've jotted down my own experience on 'Buying from US online stores'. It's sorta a guide or reminder for myself should I need to buy from US again in future.

See here.

http://coyotesg.blogspot.com/2008/07/first-purchase-from-us-online-store.html

 

[keithzhoulw]

currently using borderlinx , all the matching at vpost just irriate the hell out of me

 

[cannotliao]

i rather enduring with the matching then they open up my package for inspection and invoicing.

 

[keithzhoulw]

i rather enduring with the matching then they open up my package for inspection and invoicing.

if you have nothing to hide why be scare

 

[cannotliao]

if you have nothing to hide why be scare

just a personal liking. if possible i prefer to see my packages come as in the original, un-tamper status from seller. dont like the way DHL open the package then squeeze and repack them again.
dont understand why vpost not scare shipper hiding but DHL must open up and do inspection? they got different way of doing customs clearance?

 

[keithzhoulw]

just a personal liking. if possible i prefer to see my packages come as in the original, un-tamper status from seller. dont like the way DHL open the package then squeeze and repack them again.
dont understand why vpost not scare shipper hiding but DHL must open up and do inspection? they got different way of doing customs clearance?

its different prefenence. for me i dont mind they open up as long as the goods are not damaged in the process

 

[bpchia]

Bad experience with vpost for last few consignments, always late in delivery, or promised a redelivery but did not materialise. My first consignment was late for 15 days, my 2nd missed the prearranged delivery date. Quite disgraceful.

Use Vpost/Speedpost/Singpost only as last resort.

 

[keithzhoulw]

so far have tried v post n borderlinx . prefer borderlinx overall for its fast delivery and friendly customer service

 

[freeman0806]

Ranking : Borderlinx > CGW > Vpost

Reason : BDX takes 3 days , CGW 4 days , Vpost as long as they like .

Insurance : BDX free and procedure easy , CGW inexpensive or free for DBS , Vpost damn ex....

 

[maumu]

Hey folks, what is meant by the 5% payformefee for CGW? If the item is $1000 I have to pay $50 as the payformefee?