Malpractice 1
Changing Size/Weight After Pickup: Made-Up Trouble (Cost Fraud)
How they do it:
Some shady freight forwarders get your cargo, then intentionally make the size (length, width, height) bigger or the weight heavier on paper. Because air freight charges are based on whichever is higher – the actual weight or the size weight (called chargeable weight) – making the size bigger artificially increases the size weight. This makes the shipping cost jump up a lot. Some even completely invent "measurement data" that isn't real at all.
Why they do it:
It's the easiest way to cheat for extra profit. By lying about the size or weight (the basis for the charge), they add a big chunk of money to the basic shipping fee. Clients often get a shock when they see the bill.
The Shipper's Problem:
By the time you find out, the cargo is already in their warehouse or even loaded onto the plane. You're stuck! Questioning them takes time and proof (like your photos/videos from packing, your weighing records), but your shipment can't wait. Most of the time, to get your goods moving, you have no choice but to pay the inflated fee.
The Cost Hit:
Air freight is expensive already. If your size/weight gets inflated by 10%-30% or more, it eats directly into your profits. If this happens often, your whole shipping budget gets blown.
Malpractice 2
Overpromising & Underdelivering (Service Fraud)
How they reel you in:
Some freight forwarder salespeople, desperate to get your business, make big promises they can't possibly keep:
Crazy-fast delivery: "Guaranteed 3-day delivery!" or "Door-to-door in 5 days!"
100% customs guarantee: "We clear anything!" or "No customs issues!"
Too-good-to-be-true prices: Offering rates way lower than everyone else.
Full service" claims: Promising "door-to-door," "real-time tracking," or "hassle-free support" – without having the actual resources.
What really happens:
Delays, delays, delays: Flights get held up, warehouses are jammed, transfers go wrong, customs gets stuck.
Customs nightmares: Goods get held, you're asked for more papers, or worse – stuff gets sent back or destroyed.
Tracking blackout: Once shipped, your goods vanish into a black hole. No updates, just stress.
Promises broken: "Door-to-door" becomes "airport-to-airport." "Full tracking" might only show when it took off and landed – nothing in between.
The Client's Nightmare:
After you hand over your goods, you're stuck. Delays mess up your production schedule. Switching forwarders mid-shipment is expensive and often impossible (your stuff is already moving). You feel trapped, forced to accept terrible service and endless excuses while your shipment is held hostage.
Malpractice 3
Surprise Fees & Price Hikes After Pickup (Cost Gouging & Bait-and-Switch)
How they pull it:
1. Mid-shipment price hikes: After your goods are in their warehouse, they suddenly demand extra money to ship it. Excuses? "Flight space is tight," "fuel surcharge went up," "your cargo is special." Pay up, or your goods don't fly.
2. Hidden fees at destination: When your goods arrive overseas, you get hit with a list of unexpected charges to get them released:
Warehouse storage fees, handling fees, paperwork fees.
Inflated customs agent fees, inspection fees, fines (sometimes caused by their mistakes).
Made-up fees like "management fee," "service fee," or "release fee."
The Attitude Flip:
Before pickup: The salesperson is super nice and helpful.
After pickup: They turn cold and pushy. They might even threaten to "auction off or destroy your goods" if you don't pay immediately.
What it really is:
This is a classic bait-and-switch trap. They hook you with a lowball quote, then jack up the price once they have your goods. Knowing you're desperate to get your cargo and avoid bigger losses (like storage fees piling up), they basically blackmail you into paying these unfair charges.
The Damage:
Beyond the direct financial hit, this can wreck your supply chain, destroy trust with your customers, and seriously damage your business reputation.
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