Avoid using aramex at all costs!!. Review on Aramex

Today I'm going to share with you my experience with aramex ( http://www.aramex.com) parcel express courier. First of all let me begin by saying that I've been using their services for almost 2 years now (the Shop n Ship service), and this is not my first time using their express service for shipping to USA. However, I would like to inform you with a situation that recently occured to me.

On Saturday June 13, 2009 I called aramex to arrange a pick-up service for shipping to USA as usual (this was not my first time using their express service), so I had to wait 2 hours for the driver to arrive. Let me first tell you what happened before the driver arrived.

In the morning when I called aramex to arrange a pick-up they informed me that for the first 0.5KG the price is 20KD, and for any additional 0.5KG the price is 3.5KD. They also told me that the driver will have the weight scale with him once he arrives so he can weight it in front of me. I said ok, hang up the phone, and waited for the driver to arrive.

Now when the driver arrived, I was shocked to notice that the driver did not have the scale weight with him to weight it in front of me so I said ok, gave him my laptop, paid 20KD for 1st 0.5KG and then he sent the package (laptop) to the office so they can weight it and then pick up the rest of the money later.

Later on, I recieved a call from the driver and was shocked to know that my package (laptop) weighted 5.98KG (price = 58.5KD). Knowing that I had no choice but to pay the rest of the money to the driver since this package was so urgent that it could not wait I did comply and pay all the money they requested (although I believe I was over-charged).

I paid the 58.5KD so my laptop got shipped to USA on the same day using this air way bill: 3180370406 (please feel free to track it youself to see their services at https://aramex.com). After 4 days my laptop arrived to USA. However, if you track the package, you will notice that they left it on the front door (without delivery signature) so if my laptop somehow got stolen, the only one to blame here is myself since aramex does not offer insurance service on express parcels.

When the package finally arrived back to Kuwait (Kuwait - USA - Kuwait) I was charged only 18KD and not 58.5KD (airway bill = 9036904903) When I asked why I was charged 58.5KD for outbound and only 18KD for inbound, they told me that for outbound (express parcels) they also charge on volumnretic weight (or however you spell it) however, for packages from USA - Kuwait, they are only charged based on their ACTUALY WEIGHT (which was 7.55lbs) Note: I was never told volumneretic weight charges apply on the phone!!!

They refused to refund me stating: "As expressed earlier, we wish you the best with any service provider you choose to ship your items through. Furthermore at this time, you are still not eligible for a compensation or refund for the express shipment under Aramex airway bill 3180370406. In the meantime, Aramex continuously strives to improve upon all aspects of its services offered to those customers who prefer to continue using them."

I think DHL is a better service, now when I used DHL with airwaybill: 2836964793 which can be tracked via https://dhl.com/kw my packaged arrived within 72 hours and not 4 days!!!!

Bottom line: AVOID ARAMEX AT ALL COSTS