Amazon cuts shipping to South Africa

Alleged fraud shuts down cheap shipping options

Shipping Amazon products to South Africa just became a whole lot more expensive.

According to the most recent shipping guidelines on Amazon.com South Africa is now the only country in Africa not able to receive standard or expedited shipping.

The only option now for South African residents is to receive the goods via priority courier shipping, which is prohibitively costly. The shipping costs on a DVD, for example, would amount to more than R400.

Justin Drennan of Wantitall.co.za, a locally-based online retailer, says that "widespread fraud and theft" has forced Amazon.com to stop sending shipment to South Africa through the SA Post Office.

"Things are a bit sketchy right now, however it seems that due to fraud they have removed the option for a 'standard' shipping rate to South Africa, meaning you will need to ship with DHL priority services.

"SA is the only African country that cannot choose either of the cheaper options anymore, and the only other country that cannot choose the cheapest 'standard' delivery is Nigeria," says Drennan.

Amazon shipping discussion

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