A friend and I imported 10 bike wheels and 2 hubs. Usually our imports arrive by DHL or UPS to our premises, all expenses paid. On this occasion they were long overdue and we had to go in search of them. We eventually located them at Vanguard Logistics who said that they'd had them for quite some time, 'Did we not get their notification'.
Mr. Meredith then said that there were fees to be paid before we could take the wheels and he would only accept cash. This came to $275, blatant extortion, especially as he then said that we still couldn't take the wheels until they had customs clearance. this was a lie which we learned from customs later.
Mr. Meredith then directed us to a customs broker who told us this would cost about another $200. This was more than the goods would cost to replace so we declined his offer. I asked him why Mr. Meredith would only take cash for the fees. He replied ' Because when you realised you'd been ripped off you would stop the cheque.
At this I realised we were victims of the old Australian scam and sure enough Mr. Meredith did try to lay claim to the wheels. I have advised him that the wheels belong to my friend and myself until such time as a court decides other-wise. We are proceding to court. In the mean-time there is no doubt that Vanguard Logistics has within it a very nefandous element and people should keep well away from it. After all who needs Vanguard when we have DHL, cheaper, faster and with integrity and caring enough to phone me to make sure a micro switch had arrived safely from China. More of this report to come.
Geoff.
Perth Western Australia
Australia
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