Price hike of international postage by Pos Malaysia Berhad

I just back from outstation and went to Post Office today to do my normal delivery.

Staff of Post Office pass me a booklet ( pic below). I ask in Malay "Price increase?" and they said "yes, since yesterday ( 15 May 2013 )

With the popular of email, sms and whatapps etc. Volume of normal mail has drop gradually. However, with the popularity of people buying online. The only growth area of Pos Malaysia Berhad is parcel for ecommerce.

Generally, those parcel mail to overseas as Malaysian still do not have habit of buy online.

Thus, ecommerce operator are partner or stakeholder of Pos Malaysia Berhad.  However, with a price increase. don't you think Pos Malaysia Berhad milking Ecommerce operator, it partner and stakeholder  too early?

Malaysia have a reputation of provide low cost of goods globally. Pos Malaysia Berhad suppose to reduce price to increase volume to enlarge the cake rather than kill the goose that lay the eggs too early.

Ecommerce operator are challanging with US's QE1, QE 2 by US and appreciation of Ringgit currency. This has eaten margin of Ecommerce operator significantly.

It doesn't help when Bank Negara fail to control exchange rate charge by Paypal Paypal have increase it exchange rate last year. Paypal exchange rate are significantly higher than commercial bank and Licensed Money Changer. This further eaten margin of Ecommerce operator. Other than price increase of Ecommerce Mall operator like eBay. A company who control Paypal.

With the price increase of Pos Malaysia Berhad. Will this be the last straw who kill the industry and dampen the effort of Malaysia to move from manufacturing economic to become a Ecommerce hub and Economic Transformation Program (ETP) EPP121 Growing a virtual Mall is yet to be see. I really feel that price increase is not the way to acheived NKEA : Communication,Content and Infrastructure : Business Opportunity 3 : Courier, post and Broadcast.

Update 1 : The Star : Revised postal rates just too high
Update 2 : The Star : High postal rates severely affecting business
Update 3 : ebay forum : Pos Malaysia certainly sky rocket their international shipping fee.
Update 4 : Itu dia : Malaysia news sharing : Pos Malaysia 调涨国际包裹邮费 400%
Update 5 : Malaysiakini : Pos Malaysia ups overseas parcel rate, irks netizens
 Update 6 :  web2ship eparcel offer more prefential rate to US and will give reader of this blog 5 free shipments for trial OR total rebate of Max RM50 until end of this month for our eparcel service as long as you use our eBay integration. Promotion code : Arbirage . Disclaimer : Arbiage Sdn Bhd (927246W) never used such services before and reader should used it services at your own risk Arbirage Sdn Bhd (927246W) just informed reader of such offer and should not see as endorsed their services.
Update 7: Lowyat forum : Pos Malaysia Ridiculous Price Hike After May 17!, Price Hike of RM 40++!!!
Update  8: Malaysians must know the truth : Pos Malaysia ups overseas parcel rate, irks netizens
Update 9 :  faithluv2eatntravel : Price Revised for International Shipment from Yours Truly....POS MALAYSIA
Update 10 : Majlah Review Malaysia : POS Malaysia: Kos hantar bungkusan ke luar negara naik 400 peratus
Update 11 : Malaysiakini : HLIB: Many challenges ahead for Pos Malaysia
Update 12 :
Update 13 : Malaysiakini : 国际包裹邮费暴增四倍大马邮政激怒网上业者
Update 14 : The Star: Don’t kill the golden goose, Pos Malaysia
Update 15 : kelvinator21.blogspot.co.uk : 2013 POS MALAYSIA HAS INSANELY INCREASES INTERNATIONAL AIR PARCEL FOR WORLDWIDE DELIVERY THAT TAKES EFFECT IN MAY 2013 - 17.MAY.2013
Update 16 : blog.shipping-quote.net : Pos Malaysia shipping rates update / new Small Packet May 2013
Update 17 :blog.shipping-quote.net : Pos Malaysia and the ’400%’ price rise 
Update 18 : 南洋商报 : 居民投诉82元变279元 寄澳洲包裹两周涨300％？
Update 19 : Caj Pos Malaysia naik 8 kali ganda?
Update 20 : 星洲日報 : 郵政公司：國際郵費漲更快遞送
Update 21 : 南洋商报 : 邮费调涨一倍 海外网购料受冲击
Update 22 : 中國報 : 國內保持不變 國際郵件包裹郵費調漲
Update 23 : 忠政快讯- 大马邮政公司自5月15日开始调涨国际包裹邮费，激怒从事 ...
Update 24 : The Star : Postal rates still way too high
Update  25 : Asean Trading Link : Singapore Post Limited benefited from recent price hike of Post Malaysia Berhad
Update 26 : Lowyat forum : Pos Malaysia Is Killing All the Online Seller !, Postage 2013 May Increase 400%
Update 27 : Wangcyber :  Adoiii! Mahal giler caj baru Pos Malaysia! Matilah kita
Update 28 : Facebook Boycott Pos Malaysia Page https://www.facebook.com/BoycottPosMalaysia
Update 29 : cari forum : 国际包裹邮费暴增四倍 KNS
Update 30 : Cari forum : 大馬郵政公司有无漲價?
Update 31 : i3investor : Culprit of Malaysia Balance of trade surplus drop
Update 32 : The Star : Postal rates affecting small businesses
Update 33 : Asean Trading Link : One year after Pos Malaysia international postage rate price hike

  

New Packaging for Kanebo Freshel White C Whitening Lotion 200ml

Please be informed that Kanebo Freshel White C Whitening Lotion 200ml has new packaging of blue colour form it old white colour packaging.

Old packaging have 3 type:

Acne - For Acne
Light (L) - For Oily skin
Moisture (M) -For Dry skin

New packaging have 2 type only

Light (L) - For Oily skin
Moisture (M) -For Dry skin

Acne no longer in the market.

Price have increased by 5% for new packaging.

Our store will offer new packaging of old price until the end of the month. Please do not miss the chance of trying new packaing with old price.



Ginvera, Bio-essence joint India's Wipro Group

Wipro Ltd has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the L.D. Waxsons Group, a Singapore-based fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company for US$144mil (RM436.68mil) in cash.

Wipro Ltd is an information technology (IT) consulting and outsourcing service company located in India.  It was initially set up as a manufacturer of vegetable ghee, vanaspati and refined oils in Amalner, Dist:Jalgaon, Maharashtra under the trade names of Kisan, Sunflower and Camel.^[8] The company logo still contains a sunflower to reflect products of the original business.

In 1966, after Mohamed Premji’s death, his son Azim Premji returned home from Stanford University and took over Wipro as its chairman at the age of 21 and turn the company into IT consulting and outsourcing services company.

Wipro Ltd have acquired Unza in Malaysia from Berjaya Group few years ago to become Wipro Unza have venture into household product.

L.D. Waxson Group, headquartered in Singapore, has a wide portfolio of brands, including leading skin care brands Bio-essence, Ginvera and Syahirah, as well as healthcare brand Ebene.

The company has manufacturing facilities in China and Malaysia and a strong footprint in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

“This transaction helps us consolidate our successful facial skincare business in Malaysia to a stronger leadership position, and moves us to market leadership in Singapore as well.”

Commenting on the acquisition L.D. Waxson Group chairman Dr Tor Lam Huat said: “We are happy to join Wipro, a company that shares our passion in developing brands, driven by consumer insight and innovative marketing and have seen their success in this region.

“Bio-essence’s success is driven by providing skincare products that truly perform, with visible results for consumers. We are confident that with Wipro’s marketing expertise and extensive distribution network, together we will be able take Bio-essence, Ginvera, Syahirah and other brands to new heights.”

“This acquisition propels us into a leading position in the fast-growing skin care market in South-East Asia and makes us stronger in the pharmacy channel in Malaysia and Singapore. We can leverage the strengths of the combined entities for driving efficiencies in our operations, and accelerate the growth of all our focus brands.” said Wipro Unza CFO (South East Asia, Middle East and Africa) Deepak Chandran.

Tiger Balm and Lady Gaga

Mention the brand "Tiger Balm" and an overpowering scent of camphor - or your grandmother - may come to mind.

Those little glass jars are now hot in Hollywood, and celebrities are waxing lyrical about the unassuming white ointment.

Tiger Balm has found fans in celebrities such as actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who told American magazine US Weekly in March that the product was "a topical cure-all balm for muscle aches and pains".

Pop singer Lady Gaga also tweeted a picture of the product in January last year, while she was on her United States tour.

She listed it as a "backstage must-have", along with the painkiller Advil.

Owned by Singapore company Haw Par Corporation, Tiger Balm began to actively introduce product-line extensions in the 1990s to suit the lifestyles of younger consumers.

The brand also expanded its range of products to include items such as the Tiger Balm Neck & Shoulder Rub in 2005, and launched its first sub-brand, Tiger Balm Active, last year.

The sub-brand caters to young fitness-conscious individuals, and includes products such as the Active Muscle Gel and Muscle Rub. Hear that, Lady Gaga?

"To reach out to younger target-market groups, we have tapped into consumer trends and insights to understand their lifestyle needs," said Mr A. K. Han, the executive director of Haw Par Corporation.
Today, Tiger Balm products are available in more than 100 countries worldwide, such as Norway and New Zealand.

Another family favourite - Axe Brand - has also been making its mark overseas.

Produced by Leung Kai Fook Medical Company, the brand is most famous for its medicated oil.
It is distributed in 40 countries, including Panama, Australia and Greece.

Mr Leong Mun Sum, the managing director of the company, emphasised that Axe Brand products are suitable for people of all ages, despite the stereotype that they are used only by the older generation.
"Young people spend a lot of time using the computer. This can result in headaches, stress, neck and back pain, and Axe Oil comes in very handy for relief," he said.

Secondary-school student Kristofer Wong, 15, is one such Axe Oil user.

He uses it whenever he suffers from headaches, stomachaches and nasal congestion, simply because "it works".

He started using the oil as a child when his domestic helper told him that it was a remedy for headaches and other ailments.

Although Leung Kai Fook Medical Company declined to reveal sales figures, Mr Leong said that the company is "doing very well" financially.

The company has been tying up with related medicine and health-care businesses, and it aims to continue marketing Axe Brand products as souvenirs for tourists and as an ointment to relieve aches caused by using the computer.

Health-care and wellness company Eu Yan Sang has also enjoyed increased revenue from overseas markets.

Specialising in traditional Chinese medicine, the company reported record sales of $289.9 million in its latest financial year this year.

More than 100 years after the first Yan Sang shop opened in Malaysia, Eu Yan Sang now boasts an extensive distribution network, comprising 299 retail outlets in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, China and Australia.

Of course, Tiger beer springs readily to mind when it comes to Singapore brands that have found favour internationally.

A flagship brand of Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), Tiger beer has won more than 40 international awards and accolades, and is sold in some 60 countries worldwide, including Canada, Spain and Britain.

Shareholders of Fraser & Neave last week voted in favour of selling APB - of which it has a 40 per cent stake - to Heineken in a US$6.3-billion (S$7.7-billion) deal.

But Tiger beer's fan base remains unfazed, in part because of the beer's strong branding.

For instance, the beer has garnered fans overseas, thanks to heavy promotion, ranging from the use of sexy ads (some were so sexy they were banned in Britain) to its Tiger Translate events, which see the brand tying up with hip artists on design projects.

The events have run in the US, Australia, Britain, China, Cambodia and, of course, Singapore, besides other countries, and have even caught the eye of newspapers like Britain's The Guardian.
The beer itself wins fans, thanks to its taste, and gets tourists interested in our little red dot.
The European-style lager has found fans from as far as Norwich, England.

Mr Kevin Allen, 51, is a managing director of a company that distributes products such as aquariums.
He had his first taste of Tiger beer at a Thai restaurant near his home in Norwich six years ago.
He indulges in the beer occasionally and enjoys its "natural fresh taste".

When he realised Tiger beer was a Singapore brand, he said: "That's another good reason to visit Singapore."

Except from Asia One

年关将近 暴利逾三成 中国水客涌香港办年货

（香港21日讯）中国水货大军连日到香港，除了狂扫奶粉导致断市，更有北区药房每天“热卖”逾200瓶洗发露。

香港《明报》追踪港货在深圳去向，发现香港药房每罐售280港元（约109令吉）的奶粉，在中国价高三成，卖300元人民币，（约145令吉），且有“海鲜价”，愈近年关卖得愈贵。

深圳“实惠港货店” 内有多种不同品牌奶粉。另有洗发露、牙膏、面部护理等用品， 都是由香港“走水货” 入口。

业界：限买无用

至于热卖贺年礼品金莎巧克力，在深圳港货店售价更高过香港近六成，24粒装礼盒售88元人民币（约42.7令吉），即每颗卖4.6港元（约1.8令吉）。

港九药房总商会理事长刘爱国称，水货客“整队兵”到香港，无论如何限买奶粉数量都无用，目前美素佳儿奶粉正缺货，其余尿片及日用品去货量增加，但未见缺货。

《明报》记者上周五到深圳观察这些“港货店”，在龙岗布吉德兴花园附近，短短一条街就有两间港货店。

记者扮顾客到“实惠港货店”查询，约300尺的小店五脏俱全，护理、药品、零食等杂货都来自香港。

买奶粉须预订

该家店铺开业4年，店主李小姐说，现时以美素佳儿、美赞臣的奶粉最抢手，顾客须来电预订，每罐分别售275元人民币（约133.5令吉）及265元（约128.7令吉），较香港药房零售每罐约280港元（约109令吉）贵近两成至两成半。她又称两品牌的奶粉在港常断市，要到旺角才能买货，加上近期边境检查较严，故售价每日变，也会愈来愈贵。

另一位于罗湖区的“正品港货店”，负责人声称美素佳儿奶粉每罐要270元（约131令吉），上周四仍售290元的美赞臣（约140.8令吉），至周五已售300元（约145.6令吉）。愈接近农历新年奶粉价会愈升，之后才可能回落。

药房日售200支洗头水

临近岁晚，香港不少北区药房生意大旺，有上水药房老板透露，除了奶粉断市，每日可卖出逾200瓶洗头水，自由行及水货客都来扫货。

除了婴幼儿用品，中国的“港货店”内另有出售洗发露、面部护理、药品、零食及纸包饮料等杂货，如1000毫升的飘柔洗发露售价55元人民币（约26.7令吉），较港贵近四成；24粒装金莎礼盒则售88元人民币（约42.7令吉），较在港售约70港元（约27令吉）贵近六成。

港货在中国有价有市，有深圳妈妈坦言就算同一品牌，由香港直接进口的货品质素也较有保证，故由儿子出生到现时逾6个月大，一直光顾附近港货店购买美赞臣奶粉，货源尚算充足，较亲自到港入货方便。

不过，居于布吉的黄太称，会托家人到港买奶粉、个人护理等日用品，感觉较安心。

（香港21日讯）中国水货大军连日到香港，除了狂扫奶粉导致断市，更有北区药房每天“热卖”逾200瓶洗发露。

香港《明报》追踪港货在深圳去向，发现香港药房每罐售280港元（约109令吉）的奶粉，在中国价高三成，卖300元人民币，（约145令吉），且有“海鲜价”，愈近年关卖得愈贵。

业界：限买无用

至于热卖贺年礼品金莎巧克力，在深圳港货店售价更高过香港近六成，24粒装礼盒售88元人民币（约42.7令吉），即每颗卖4.6港元（约1.8令吉）。

港九药房总商会理事长刘爱国称，水货客“整队兵”到香港，无论如何限买奶粉数量都无用，目前美素佳儿奶粉正缺货，其余尿片及日用品去货量增加，但未见缺货。

《明报》记者上周五到深圳观察这些“港货店”，在龙岗布吉德兴花园附近，短短一条街就有两间港货店。

记者扮顾客到“实惠港货店”查询，约300尺的小店五脏俱全，护理、药品、零食等杂货都来自香港。

买奶粉须预订

该家店铺开业4年，店主李小姐说，现时以美素佳儿、美赞臣的奶粉最抢手，顾客须来电预订，每罐分别售275元人民币（约133.5令吉）及265元（约128.7令吉），较香港药房零售每罐约280港元（约109令吉）贵近两成至两成半。她又称两品牌的奶粉在港常断市，要到旺角才能买货，加上近期边境检查较严，故售价每日变，也会愈来愈贵。

另一位于罗湖区的“正品港货店”，负责人声称美素佳儿奶粉每罐要270元（约131令吉），上周四仍售290元的美赞臣（约140.8令吉），至周五已售300元（约145.6令吉）。愈接近农历新年奶粉价会愈升，之后才可能回落。

药房日售200支洗头水

临近岁晚，香港不少北区药房生意大旺，有上水药房老板透露，除了奶粉断市，每日可卖出逾200瓶洗头水，自由行及水货客都来扫货。

除了婴幼儿用品，中国的“港货店”内另有出售洗发露、面部护理、药品、零食及纸包饮料等杂货，如1000毫升的飘柔洗发露售价55元人民币（约26.7令吉），较港贵近四成；24粒装金莎礼盒则售88元人民币（约42.7令吉），较在港售约70港元（约27令吉）贵近六成。

港货在中国有价有市，有深圳妈妈坦言就算同一品牌，由香港直接进口的货品质素也较有保证，故由儿子出生到现时逾6个月大，一直光顾附近港货店购买美赞臣奶粉，货源尚算充足，较亲自到港入货方便。

不过，居于布吉的黄太称，会托家人到港买奶粉、个人护理等日用品，感觉较安心。

 Excerpt from 南洋商报

Hong Kong runs dry on formula milk

Got milk? Yes, the Hong Kong government assures parents as it moves to crack down on mainland parallel traders who snap up baby formula milk here to resell for high profit in China.

Their buying spree sparked a shortage in recent weeks of some brands of milk powder – popular ones here are Friso, Abbott and Mead Johnson – as parents both in Hong Kong and the mainland rush to stock up ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays.

The brouhaha over formula milk is the latest in a series of spats between irate Hong Kongers and enterprising parallel traders exploiting a legal loophole.

By physically transporting products – ranging from geoduck clams to smartphones – via trolleys to neighbouring Shenzhen, the traders avoid paying the usual tariffs on imported goods.

The government has said that plugging this loophole would penalise genuine tourists.

But to thwart parallel traders, Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing Man said on Friday that the law will be amended to allow anyone leaving Hong Kong to take only two cans – or up to 1.8kg – of milk powder with them.

The new limit, Dr Ko said, will strike a balance between placing limits on parallel traders and meeting the needs of travelling parents.

It will require amending the Import and Export Ordinance, which could be completed this month, he added.

Meanwhile, MTR Corp, which operates trains connecting Hong Kong to the border with mainland China, will cut the maximum luggage weight allowance from 32kg to 23kg for a three-month trial, said Anthony Cheung, Secretary for Transport and Housing.

The weight limit will also restrict the amount of products that can be trundled into Shenzhen.

A hotline for parents to place advance orders is also being set up.

Baby formula milk is an especially attractive commodity as it can be resold at high profit margins.

Mainland parents are willing to pay more for formula milk from Hong Kong after a series of food scandals such as that in 2008 when six babies died from drinking melamine-tainted milk.

But soon, anyone entering the mainland will be entitled – besides the duty-free allowance of 200 cigarettes and one bottle of spirits – to just two cans of milk.

The run on milk powder here had led to empty shelves in supermarkets, especially those in the New Territories near the border with mainland China.

Some irate Hong Kongers even sought to appeal for “international aid” from United States President Barack Obama against mainland “smugglers”, in a petition on the White House website.

Titled “Baby Hunger Outbreak In Hong Kong, International Aid Requested”, the petition said: “We request for international support and assistance as babies in Hong Kong will face malnutrition very soon.”

It bears the signatures of some 14,000 people. But the number has to reach 100,000 within a month to trigger a response from the Obama administration.

If so, this would cause much embarrassment to Beijing and the Hong Kong government, and on Friday, the latter acted quickly to defuse the potential fiasco.

The restriction on milk exports, which will affect parents flying out of Hong Kong to, say, Canada, may be a sledgehammer approach, but to anxious parents, it could not have come any sooner.

Fennie Lin, 39, a marketing director, was relieved that steps had been taken to address a problem that she said has festered over the past couple of years but which has worsened in recent weeks.

The mother-of-three, including a seven-month-old baby, said that one out of every three trips to her neighbourhood supermarket at the Mid-levels for milk ended with her leaving empty-handed.

“I totally agree with the measures,” she said.

“Already, I am diversifying the brands we use, but still, there’s not enough. It’s ridiculous.” — The Straits Times/Asia News Network

Excerpt from The Star