My recent unpleasant experience with SWIFT shipping company
I recently shipped about 6 cubic meters of cargo from Doha to the Savannah GA, USA. I decided to go with SWIFT because they gave me the lowest quote. I would not recommend anyone to use their services
1) My cargo was rooted through Los Angeles ?!? which caused at least 1 month delay. Total duration of the shipment was 3 months.
2) When my cargo was finally delivered, on the top of the usual port handling charges (about$150) from Savannah port, I got charged additional $800 in charges from the Los Angeles port ($130/cubic meter).
SWIFT declined to refund the money claiming"that all their US shipments are rooted through Los Angeles and the charges are "usual."
They surely did not disclose these "usual" charges in their quote.
So if you ever get a quote from SWIFT to ship to the US, add $130/cubic meter to get the correct number, even if you ship to the East Coast and brace for a lengthy wait.
In my opinion you are better off going with some more honest shipping company, who honors their quotes.
These shipping companies are aware that once a person goes on exit, there is nothing much he can do. As such they find the field open which allows them to play around the way they want to. As such, it's the customers that are left to suffer in the end. Thanks for the heads up as this would act as warning to others not to deal with this company.
At least you got your shipment, I heard stories that some people did not even receive theirs from Doha and completely lost somewhere. These shipping companies even don't pick up the phone after few follow ups.
Thanks for the heads up .. I'll cross SWIFT off my list ..