getting UK goodies to a friend in KL

[emkeenright]

Hello!

I hope someone can give me some insight regarding this matter. I have a very good friend, originally from the UK, who is in KL for an indeterminate amount of time. He gets home for Christmas and such, but not often.

I am in the States and want to send him a care package of sorts. However, the cost of ordering stuff online and having it sent to him is astronomical.

What would be the best, most cost effective way to send him some goodies? If it would be best to just gather some stuff here and mail it from the States, I can do that. I just thought I'd try to find out what all the options are.

Thanks for any and all assistance!
Erin

[Kay]

As you say, I expect the postage costs would be horrendous to send a parcel from the US, and then you don't know what their customs are likely to do with it.

Malaysia is very modern and cosmopolitan, though. There's not much that's not available there, especially in KL. It might be a better use of your money just to send him the money to buy something for himself.

You could try asking on a forum dedicated to Malaysia or one that's based in Malaysia. They might be better able to help you. Good luck!

[Kay]

PS: I just noticed that you said "UK goodies" - really, it's hard to think of anything that you can't get in KL - all the usual British favourites (except Twiglets and Cadbury's Flakes). You can get just about everything else.

Marmite, Bird's custard powder, Bisto, etc, etc, etc. I wouldn't recommend spending money on sending over British goods. Remember that Malaysia was a British colony until 1957 and the British influence is still strong.

[emkeenright]

Thank you for the info...I really do appreciate it. Maybe food/snacks are not the way to go...

Last year for Christmas, I sent him a Paddington Bear, dressed in full Scottish garb. That's where he's from. The bear wasn't that expensive but shipping it to KL was super expensive.

Is there a British-type store where I might be able to purchase a gift card and have that sent to him? To me, it's a little more thoughtful than just money and he can still purchase what he chooses.

Many thanks,
Erin

[Kay]

Hi again, Erin

There's a good Marks & Spencer in KL in the mall near the KLCC. (We were there in December.) It has a wide range of products, such as clothes and toiletries, and the store has a little speciality food section at the back where you can buy things like oatcakes. (I'm Scottish too and I love oatcakes!) They also have tea, coffee, wine, chocolate etc.

I don't know how you could buy a gift card Malaysian ringit in the US. I think the best bet might be to contact customer service at M&S and see if there's anything they can do to help you.

Please let us know how you get on as this info could be useful for other people too. Thanks.

[Kay]

I think that M&S would give him a wider choice of things to buy, but it's just occurred to me that there's also Boots and the Body Shop, so if the M&S idea didn't work, you could try them.

There's an IKEA in KL too. (I've never been.) That might be a possibility for household-type of gifts.

I think the gift voucher idea is definitely the way to go. It's just a case of finding a store who'll do it for you.