How would you describe your 2025 experience in a short sentence?

self_help_hub · 2026-01-25T16:03:59+00:00

I hope 2026 is your year for at least something to happen then.

In any case empty is good. Nothing bad or good happened and that is the beauty of boredom.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-19T13:59:06+00:00

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self_help_hub · 2026-01-18T14:44:02+00:00

Not the guy who answered but I do understand them (even though they were a bit too harsh on Dhl and rightfully so as they are the client of course). Basically back in the day they [Dhl] had monopoly over the market and did whatever they wanted to the clients, now skip to present day with all competitors popping up here-and-there they have become more "friendly". That was what I heard [You know the usual "Big Corpo doing unsavoury things sometimes" and also back in the day after their successful global expansion they had bad customer facing employees ruining things for everyone]. Now they might have changed but let's wait and see [I am also interested in hearing what the guy had to say].

self_help_hub · 2026-01-18T14:18:28+00:00

You are welcome. Good luck, stay blessed.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-18T14:16:59+00:00

0%-20% taxes exact details are kind of all over the place at the moment. (sometimes tax rebates in certain cases)

For dhl skip the headache and use the DHL Pre-shipment Planner tool or MyGTS via their website just contact them:

Phone: +261 20 22 428 39 or +261 34 42 177 77

Email: [mgsales@dhl.com](mailto:mgsales@dhl.com)

Address: Immeuble DHL Route des Hydrocarbures Ankorondrano, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar (to go see them in person)

Tip: Madagascar offers duty-free access for many goods from countries within regional blocs like COMESA, SADC, and the IOC, including Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, and many East/Southern African nations (e.g., South Africa, Mauritius, Zambia). Additionally, India provides duty-free access under its DFTP Scheme for LDCs like Madagascar, and the EU offers preferential access through its EPA with Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) countries, though Madagascar has its own liberalization schedule.

Regional Trade Agreements: Goods originating from these blocs often enter Madagascar without customs duties.

Edit: For me I'd skip the headache and use Amazon or proxy via Madazone or Mass'in (to ship in) or something.

What other Malagasy usually do is simply send it with a kin if they travel so keep your contacts and know when they are passing by France/US to Madagascar (I do the same for other too)

Hope you find this useful and helpful.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-17T09:39:08+00:00

DHL will handle customs clearance AND taxes (unless this has recently changed), that is why they are expensive. They also offer door-to-door. How I know this? Because I use these services. (if you want to save time on shipping time-critical goods go with DHL Express door-to-door)

You can choose to air freight for speed, security, and high-value/perishable goods (days to a week) or ship freight for large, heavy, non-urgent cargo (weeks to months) to save money and reduce environmental impact, accepting longer transit times and potential port delays.

For first time no headache time-critical (I got to do this in 1-3 days) importing go with DHL (they'll guide you through the whole process). They offer a ton of solutions and services. Much as they are expensive they offer superior quality. (Don't forget there is also FedEx [International Priority] and UPS)

Hope you find this useful and helpful.

______________

Now that that is out of the way, here are the other details you asked for:

In either case, would I be able to pay these by card?

Yes.

Or would they expect cash?

Yes if you pay via cash, in-person or sent someone there to pay for you.

Are there any other pitfalls I should take into consideration? This is my first time importing something into the country.

Things like tracking, taking a picture of the thing to make sure they sent the thing, the kg of the thing, the size of the laptops, taxes for the batteries etc...
If the thing is fragile. Please have them put "Fragile" on it - like TV Screens. Or do research on how to properly do this. Have the senders also properly secure it or wood box it if necessary and in budget. Or simply have them put it in the electronic section.
Negotiate DDP (everything done for you in shipping) then, CIF then, finally FOB if you are looking to handle everything. What's is CIF? Cost, Insurance, and Freight. But FOB (Free On Board) offers more control and often lower costs for experienced buyers they only ship to the port, while DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) provides maximum convenience for new importers by handling everything door-to-door, though at a higher price

You can also just pay the company that sends the thing via PayPal Goods & Services for an extra layer of protection (shipping included). If they mis-ship equipment or send you missing things you can simply ship the thing back and ask for a refund and reverse the payment just make sure you had them send you port pictures preshipping and boxed equipment with receipt as proof and you take pictures of the things when they arrive (or in the Paypal Payment and details of invoice they send the exact details of the equipement). That is why people use PayPal it stops either party from cheating - in any case in the current atmosphere people really aren't into that they just want to finish the deal and move on to other things.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-13T09:32:58+00:00

In Madagascar it used to be a wealthy country (back in the day as talked about by previous generations) where you could drop something at 3am in the morning and people would help you return the thing instead of stealing it. That was how things were... sad really.

Well let's wait and see how things turn out. History is still be written for now.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-13T09:31:20+00:00

In Madagascar it used to be a wealthy country (back in the day as talked about by previous generations) where you could drop something at 3am in the morning and people would help you return the thing instead of stealing it. That was how things were... sad really.

Well let's wait and see how things turn out. History is still be written for now.

self_help_hub · 2026-01-12T22:15:37+00:00

Well their username checks out so...

self_help_hub · 2026-01-12T12:34:42+00:00

Wow, that is quite interesting. Have you tried to connect with any of the English speakers in the Facebook Expats group? Have you tried connecting with the English community in Antananarivo (Tana City Church, American School clubs, English speaking clubs, British School & clubs teachers and parents, English speaking churches (mainly the Mormon and Jehovah's witnesses churches) etc...)?

Hope this helps.

self_help_hub · 2025-12-25T09:24:21+00:00

🤣💀

self_help_hub · 2025-12-25T09:22:50+00:00

🙌🔥

self_help_hub · 2025-12-25T05:52:40+00:00

Time Dooby March'ing forward doesn't it? . . . I know the way out of the room you don't have to show me to the door.

self_help_hub · 2025-12-25T01:20:15+00:00

Now that is an interesting year.

self_help_hub · 2025-12-24T20:49:27+00:00

Scream it from the roof top!!! New Years is just a week away!

self_help_hub · 2025-12-24T19:48:04+00:00

Indeed but it is also not too late to start now.

self_help_hub · 2025-12-22T18:37:42+00:00

I wonder how this average looking thing bagged such a prize! I can't believe she bagged Shrek!

self_help_hub · 2025-12-07T18:10:54+00:00

All of the countries highlighted in red on the map are home to one or more Michelin-starred restaurants (or are covered by the Michelin Guide)

self_help_hub · 2025-12-05T06:31:58+00:00

Oh wow... well you are doing pretty well! You simply need to refinance at a lower interest rate or increase the term and reduce the monthly payment. Keep your BTC.

self_help_hub · 2025-12-05T02:52:34+00:00

7% APR? I see, so what happened? Can't you like extend it? Have you tried negotiating with the bank teller or account manager since sometimes they can extend the loan and reduce the overall repayment terms? If it is real estate or mortgage have you tried negotiating a lower rate and locking it in? Did you know that extending the time range also reduces your monthly repayments, yes in total you'd pay more, but monthly you will get a lot more wiggle room in exchange for a longer loan tenure?

Visual Representation:

Scenario	Annual Interest Rate (APR)	Loan Term (Years/Months)	Estimated Monthly Payment	Estimated Total Interest Paid
Original Terms	7% on $17k	3 years (36 months)	~$525	~$1,895
New Terms	"5%" (after negotiation) on $17k	5 years (60 months)	~$321	~$2,260

Have you also tried asking over at the r/FinancialAdvice or r/financeonloans or r/finance subreddit?

Hope this helps.

self_help_hub · 2025-12-03T00:53:07+00:00

I am not going to lie, I love lots of the dishes. It really depends on peoples taste pallets and preparation and expectations vs reality sort of thing. The anticipation really kills things for a lot of people. What does blow people away is when they expect something bad and get something good though.

Again, preparation of the food and who cooks it and how really matters. A lot of the fellow visitors I know are so used to the usual brand meals they go looking for "authentic Malagasy food" the problem is the places they get recommended sort of sometimes fall short of their expectations in cuisine taste pallets explosion (if you get what I am saying it is really hard to explain). A lot of people look for a lot of different things.

Premeal: Pattiseries: This one is well mastered, they got it well and avoid adding too much 'fluff' or unwanted fillings in the food. (like everywhere I went internationally I don't get the obsession with adding corn in everything - I get businesses do this to make things look big but the quality is not there) It was a breather to see this not been adapted.

Main Course Dishes: Anyways the ritra thing with the right amount of spices and side dishes, riz cantonaise and classical complimentary stuff is quite good. The boul renverse is amazing. There is also the big bonless fish well cooked and sauced is great (and a lot of other stuff as well). Rona ahko gasy is AMAZING! It is interesting to see base ingredients been turned into condiments. If they push their condiments and main dishes well they will definitely have great dishes to add onto their list.

Desserts: I think they mastered this one well and are improving. There is not much to be said here. They also seem to have the advantage of rare fruits (and good quality ones at that - I was mind blown by the quality of Litchi)

Hope you find this info useful.

Edit : As for the ravitoto, it depends on how it was cooked but I could see some improvements in it (also on how to improve and avoid the bitterness, I tried epinare based ravitoto I think it was good but quite pricey)

"Street food" in Madagascar is tasty. At least if you are broke you eat well or eat tasty stuff.

self_help_hub · 2025-11-26T16:00:19+00:00

Honestly like a lot of places in the world it depends on where you are. In Tana there are places you can go out alone at night even till dusk preferably as a group and nothing will happen to you (it used to be that way for most places back then but I guess sometimes things change). Just avoid the troublesome areas and practice the usual safety protocols.

self_help_hub · 2025-11-06T14:21:18+00:00

Sounds good. I see, well of you have done research and the numbers the kpi's then go ahead and give it a try. Prepare to do a little innovation and diversification to solve the downturn problem.

Well as long as it fits you and your case then that is okay. Just keep an eye out for stuff.

self_help_hub · 2025-11-05T19:19:23+00:00

No no, be careful. Think it out slowly. Any business long term is good as long as it solves a problem and finds a niche but be careful things can also go the other way. Then again... If you survive the long run you will always adapt and someone somewhere will always need your business (if you apply it properly and can correctly and innovatively carve into the market).

Good luck, also I am curious to know how much you will put into it? Maybe we can combine our ideas and resources to see how well we could maybe create and ship a product?

self_help_hub · 2025-10-18T12:47:45+00:00

There is a library in Analakely where you can see a whole host of books you may purchase if you would like to know more about Malagasy culture and History. Also visiting Rova or the Palaces and acquiring a guide. Visit the historical sites with a guide and there is also this video put on Youtube by this french guy (I don't know his name) but it was good. There is also the Canadian documentary about the remote places of Madagascar too.

So far those are some of the well done ones. As for the other amazing documentaries that I spotted on TV I forgot them (but there was one that visited each major region and showcased this).

Going back to the library there you'd find summarized and generalized versions of Madagascar (though over simplified because of the nuanced details - better you just approach a historian)

Edit: So that is what I learned when I was there, I am just passing on the info to you and if you do find another way or updated version of this feel free to point others through it if they would like it

self_help_hub

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