If you’re an expat in Malaysia, then you already know about the country’s legendary red tape and inefficient bureaucracy. Suppose you’re thinking of hiring DHL courier services in Malaysia to ship something quickly and easily. In that case, you should also know that it can be quite challenging to find a reputable courier company here. The good news is that with the help of this insider’s guide, you can hire top-notch couriers and get your package shipped out of Malaysia as quickly as possible.

1. Understand How Shipping Works in Malaysia

The Malaysian shipping industry is a very different beast from the shipping industries found in other countries. There are very few courier services that operate in the country, and none of them is a national chain. The vast majority of couriers are local companies with a business presence only in specific cities or regions of the country. This means that you’ll need to deal with multiple entities if you want your item shipped all over Malaysia, or even to another country, by air or sea.

2. Look for a Reputable Courier Service on the Net

Courier services in Malaysia can be found in any major shopping district in Kuala Lumpur or any other urban centre. If you don’t see exactly what you need, you can try searching online, where there are plenty of listings at numerous courier companies with different packages and complaints.

If it’s possible, pick the name of a company that’s been around for a while with a lot of positive reviews. There are some very well-run local couriers listed on business directories such as Daasek or SK Exchange Malaysia. You can also check for a name in your desired area and then contact them directly to see if they will do their best to meet your needs. It’s always helpful to know what specific item you are trying to ship before contacting any company.

3. Avoid Companies That Require Payments in Advance

You would think that one of the main benefits of hiring a courier service would be the ability to pay your bill in advance. However, this can be much more challenging than you think. There are many local companies offering courier services with payment plans. However, the end of the payment period is usually somewhere around three months or even less.

Many companies will require you to pay a substantial chunk of money before your package even leaves their sorting facility or courier station. This means that they may not have enough cash on hand at the end of each quarter to send out your package. This should also be reason enough for you to consider anything but a prepayment-based courier service.

4. Know Which Services You Need

You might be tempted to ask any courier company in Malaysia to do everything for you, but you should keep in mind that there are certain services they can’t provide. There are only a few companies with international service delivery, which means that they can ship your package anywhere in the world. If you plan on sending your goods out of the country and you don’t want to go through any red tape, then there is no better choice than top-notch international courier service. Also understand that it will take more time and money if you try to ship something directly from Malaysia, so this is an option that might not be worth it for everyone.

It’s always a good idea to research the different courier services that are available in Malaysia before starting to plan your shipment. That way, you can make the best choice for all of your deliveries.