Something to consider when shipping laptops by air freight

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The 11th of November was my last day with the company I had been in for 4 years and 10 months. I was on a work from home contract with them since 2010 wherein there was also a clause that I report to the headquarters for a month once a year. I had tendered my resignation so the company did not let me fly there anymore. The admin of the company stipulated that they won't be depositing my October salary until they receive the Macbook Air shipped back to the headquarters in Malaysia. Shipping is chargeable to their own DHL account so naturally they contacted DHL Malaysia and have DHL Malaysia contact the DHL branch in my hometown for the pickup at my home address. The company admin told me to prepare the commercial invoice which I did. When it was shipped to Manila, it was on hold for 3 days because they said customs won't allow DHL to ship the Macbook Air without the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) as it has a built-in battery. What they told us is that the purpose of the MSDS is to certify that the laptop is not hazardous. DHL added that we would have to find a licensed chemist to sign the MSDS. Well, why weren't we told they needed an MSDS since they knew they were picking up a laptop? Every day a shipment is on hold at their storage or whatever it is called is chargeable to the company's DHL account. My sister consulted her friend who has some background in chemical engineering. Her friend told her that the MSDS is given by the manufacturer themselves and that it's not just a random document a licensed chemist can sign, rather it is a data sheet given by an authorized body. Strike Two, DHL commits another blunder in one follow up call telling us that they cannot find the DHL account of my company. Uhm DHL Malaysia did call DHL local branch here to pick up the laptop at my residence and DHL Malaysia was informed by my company of their DHL account number. How stupid an excuse is that??? Either they're lying or their staff is just being stupid. I have dealt with sales orders and shipping goods to other countries in my previous company using DHL and FedEx. I tell you DHL has a track record of delayed shipments and shipments being sent to a different country address. Bad customer service.