Khaled Refused to Pay Freight for His Saudi Shipment – I Suggested Paying Half and Took...

Khaled Refused to Pay Freight for His Saudi Shipment – I Suggested Paying Half and Took the Risk of Door Delivery

I remember when I first started as a freight forwarder China to Saudi Arabia, I handled an order shipping from Shenzhen to Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia. At that time, the client, Khaled, didn't make it clear whether the shipment was urgent or not. He only emphasized that he wanted the cheapest option. Being new to the business, I didn't ask enough questions. In the end, I chose MSC, a shipping line. There are two types of ships: liners and non-liners. Liners stick to schedules, with reliable departure, closing, and arrival times. Non-liners, however, have flexible schedules and are more prone to delays, including slow container pickups at the destination. Due to my lack of experience and Khaled not specifying, I chose the non-liner option.

After about ten days, Khaled suddenly called and asked, “Shouldn't the goods have arrived by now?” I was a bit stunned and replied that they hadn't. Upon hearing this, he became anxious and raised his voice, “These goods are urgent! They must arrive by the 20th for a meeting with my client. Why is the ship so slow? You'll be responsible if the deadline is missed!”

I was at a loss because the ship was already at sea, and there was no way to change it. I panicked and had to ask my manager for help. After understanding the situation, he worked on finding a solution. When the ship finally reached Yanbu Port, we immediately arranged for the fastest trucking service to transport the goods, avoiding further delays.

Once the goods arrived at the port, Khaled was supposed to pay the freight before pickup, as per the contract. However, he said, “You caused the delay, and I haven't even seen the goods. How do I know if they're in good condition? I won't pay until the goods are inspected at my factory!”

I understood that the quality of the goods was the factory's responsibility, and as a freight forwarder China to Saudi Arabia, we were only handling the transportation. Khaled was venting his frustration. To ensure the goods reached his factory quickly, I agreed that he could pay half the freight, and I'd immediately arrange for the truck to deliver the goods.

Over time, I learned that fully understanding the client's needs and deadlines is crucial. The client's priorities must always come first. Freight companies vary widely in service quality. So when a client asks for a quote, I now make sure to understand their needs thoroughly and then offer a solution based on that. We often say “meet the client's urgency,” but this only works if we first understand their needs well. Otherwise, even if the client accepts the price, poor service afterward will drive them away for good.

On the other hand, I've encountered various client demands. In Khaled's case, he felt we should compensate for our mistake, which is why he refused to pay the full freight. Every client sees things from their perspective, and they all believe they're right. I can understand both sides. As a responsible freight forwarder China to Saudi Arabia, our consistent approach is to minimize costs for the client and ensure their goods are delivered to their factory, not left sitting at the port. We also work with overseas agents who can help by collecting the goods and storing them in our warehouse. This at least avoids container rental fees since we return the container to the shipping line. And the storage fees at our own warehouse are much lower than at the port.

You'll meet all kinds of clients, and the same goes for freight forwarding companies. I've heard extreme cases of small freight forwarders running away with clients' money. They lure clients in with incredibly low prices, collect the goods, but don't pay the shipping line or upstream companies, and then disappear with the funds. When the client finally tries to get their shipment, they have to pay double the freight.

So how do you avoid falling victim to fraudulent freight forwarders China to Saudi Arabia? If you're not familiar with a logistics company, you can ask which associations they are members of. A company that belongs to several well-known logistics associations is usually more reliable. Joining these associations requires meeting certain qualifications and scale requirements. Sunny Worldwide Logistics is a member of 13 freight forwarding associations, including the World Cargo Alliance (WCA), where we are a senior member (membership number: 87909). We have strong international logistics capabilities, something very few freight forwarders in China can match. This is why industry giants like Walmart, Costco, Huawei, and over 100 other major companies trust us as their logistics partner.

If you'd like to know more about my experiences, check out my diary where I share more stories about international freight and the heartwarming moments we've had with clients. Feel free to reach out to me anytime if you need help!