Temu starts including VAT and import duties at checkout for South African shoppers

mylesillidge

mylesillidge

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Temu makes big VAT and import duty change in South Africa

Temu has started including VAT and import duties in the prices displayed at checkout for South African customers, aligning with how Amazon.com operates and making shopping on the platform simpler.

Previously, Temu customers had to navigate post-dispatch tax payment links. While Temu did its best to streamline this process with a pre-assessment and prepayment system, it remained suboptimal.
 
mylesillidge said:
Temu makes big VAT and import duty change in South Africa

Temu has started including VAT and import duties in the prices displayed at checkout for South African customers, aligning with how Amazon.com operates and making shopping on the platform simpler.

Previously, Temu customers had to navigate post-dispatch tax payment links. While Temu did its best to streamline this process with a pre-assessment and prepayment system, it remained suboptimal.
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Unsure if it is because they saw what happened to their customers with the fees their preferred shipping partners were asking for doing vat and customs or if they also want in on the action....
 
mylesillidge said:
Temu makes big VAT and import duty change in South Africa

Temu has started including VAT and import duties in the prices displayed at checkout for South African customers, aligning with how Amazon.com operates and making shopping on the platform simpler.

Previously, Temu customers had to navigate post-dispatch tax payment links. While Temu did its best to streamline this process with a pre-assessment and prepayment system, it remained suboptimal.
Click to expand...
Now maybe I will start buying from them.
 
Anyone managed to get a tax invoice that complies with section 20 of the VAT Act out of Temu?
 
I like this. All the family members sending me their mails for couriers trying to see if it's dodgy or legit- cutting out the middle man will be bliss for me.
 
I never shop on Temu. My wife and daughter do. Good experiences so far.

What I have learnt is that many vendors in South Africa buy from Temu and Shein and resell locally at a tremendous mark up. I see it in Takealot and many markets we visit (here and elsewhere around the country).

And if you can wait a wee bit, their variety, experience and pricing is superior to the likes of Mr Price Home (who are utterly horrible).
 
This rule allowed parcels under R500 to be imported with a flat 20% duty and 0% VAT, creating a loophole international sellers could exploit, which gave them a significant advantage.
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Let's be clear, this wasn't a loophole but the intention. SARS wanted a more streamlined process for the multitude of online orders. That it backfired with complaints from local sellers unable to make it in a competitive environment isn't their fault.
 
Creag said:
I never shop on Temu. My wife and daughter do. Good experiences so far.

What I have learnt is that many vendors in South Africa buy from Temu and Shein and resell locally at a tremendous mark up. I see it in Takealot and many markets we visit (here and elsewhere around the country).

And if you can wait a wee bit, their variety, experience and pricing is superior to the likes of Mr Price Home (who are utterly horrible).
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Yip, this is why TAL is trash now. I use local Amazon instead. If I have to resort to Chinese import then I'd rather go direct to Temu.

I do see a case for a business that imports from Temu, holds stock, handles the returns and filters some of the garbage.
I think Temu was trying this at one point but not sure if they got it right.
 
Smiggles said:
No thanks. Still not going to buy Chinese ewaste on there.
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You mean you don't want to be lured in by all their giveaways to keep you spending money on bullshit just to get some freebies so that planes can cart your kak around the world only to end up in a draw and never used?
 
Much better this... Have one order on the way, after nearly 6 months without buying from them. Bought some arts and crafts stuff for my daughters school project. But is there somewhere to show the custom total applied, as I can't seem to find the exact amount being charged. Unless I'm missing this somewhere of course
 
saor said:
You mean you don't want to be lured in by all their giveaways to keep you spending money on bullshit just to get some freebies so that planes can cart your kak around the world only to end up in a draw and never used?
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He's got no disposable income to waste
 
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saor said:
You mean you don't want to be lured in by all their giveaways to keep you spending money on bullshit just to get some freebies so that planes can cart your kak around the world only to end up in a draw and never used?
Click to expand...
*drawer
 
Icemanbrfc said:
Much better this... Have one order on the way, after nearly 6 months without buying from them. Bought some arts and crafts stuff for my daughters school project. But is there somewhere to show the custom total applied, as I can't seem to find the exact amount being charged. Unless I'm missing this somewhere of course
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If it's there I'm missing it too. They could be charging anything.
 
Has raised the price on some items quite a bit. Unless PC fans went through the same issue as other electronics? Cause now I can find them cheaper on Takealot and Amazon
 
I had an order delivered the past week and can confirm no customs were requested. This also speeds up the delivery and eliminates the annoying communication of to pay customs.

It makes the process so much easier. No more guessing what customs will be and what cut these companies take.
 
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