Ordering off Aliexpress? Advice?

Ordered an item from eBay approx R355 incl shipping, item was shipped on 01 March 2026 and I received it yesterday came with Buffalo Logistics, no duties no extra fees.

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RedViking said:
Have you tried using 17track.net and enter your tracking number there. Sometimes you need to manually detect the carrier , but I find that it usually gives more detailed information.
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It was another one where they up-marked the customs. I had them apply the actually valid duties (as best I could) and had them send me the revised invoice. I think they are just being salty.
 
RedViking said:
Anyone had this before? It's with Speedaf, inflated Tax and Duties already paid.
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Looks like it was just a general message. Seems like parcel is out for delivery. This was fairly quick. The inflated taxes and levies leaves a sour taste but still better than not being able to get something I cant find in SA.
 
Gulikit sticks for the ASUS ROG ally x and some new buttons, total around R350 paid R113 done and on its way.
 
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:
10 MOSFETs and 2 MOSFET drivers.

R100 + R20 delivery - go big or go home, huh?

Waiting now ... 😅

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It was not moving after being received by "last mile", so last week Thursday I asked the Aliexpress chatbot. It suggested waiting. It had an option for cancel or expedite, I chose expedite. Suddenly an update.

Getting sooo excited ... about things that should be a non-issue. My precious MOSFETs. :X3:

Screenshot 2026-04-14 at 00-25-13 Universal Parcel Tracking - Global Package Tracking.png
Screenshot 2026-04-14 at 00-24-55 Universal Parcel Tracking - Global Package Tracking.png
Screenshot 2026-04-14 at 00-24-30 Universal Parcel Tracking - Global Package Tracking.png

I used https://parcelsapp.com/en/tracking/ to track it.
 
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:
It was not moving after being received by "last mile", so last week Thursday I asked the Aliexpress chatbot. It suggested waiting. It had an option for cancel or expedite, I chose expedite. Suddenly an update.

Getting sooo excited ... about things that should be a non-issue. My precious MOSFETs. :X3:
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Still Post-Office? So hoped that era was over now. So risky given that they are perpetually days away from being liquidated - depending on which publications you believe. 😔
 
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:
It was not moving after being received by "last mile", so last week Thursday I asked the Aliexpress chatbot. It suggested waiting. It had an option for cancel or expedite, I chose expedite. Suddenly an update.

Getting sooo excited ... about things that should be a non-issue. My precious MOSFETs. :X3:

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I used https://parcelsapp.com/en/tracking/ to track it.
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Use https://trackingnew.postoffice.co.za/ as it shows which branch it ends up at.
 
My last 8 orders since the previous post here have all been delivered with speedaf, thought the the Post Office was eventually dropped entirely but maybe I just got extremely lucky 😅

All in the range of 15-35% paid of the value of what I ordered, most with "free delivery" which includes last mile with TCG, can't complain at all.

I'm yet to do a large / expensive order though, I'd most likely take UPS / DHL depending on the difference from AliStandard, but if it would go the same as the others it shouldn't be a problem.
 
I have recently placed 4 orders with Ali and they were all delivered by courier within 2-3 weeks. Customs payments were also reasonable.
I'll be using Ali a lot more from now on, as their variety is better than Temu
 
Bundu said:
I have recently placed 4 orders with Ali and they were all delivered by courier within 2-3 weeks. Customs payments were also reasonable.
I'll be using Ali a lot more from now on, as their variety is better than Temu
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Also waiting for an order. First one ever (for me) to come via SlowAF.
Customs, if taken at 15% VAT + handling, is actually a bit less than what SAPO would have charged with their current handling fees.

So yes. I am a long-time supporter of AliExpress - they just have proper stuff that you cannot get elsewhere. But I have stopped using them recently because of the SAPO situation. If the courier shipping is going to stay, then I'll be back for more.

(If they can consolidate orders, Temu would die. Hint hint Alibaba. Please give us order consolidation!)
 
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:
Indeed. Thanks.

Yesterday it was not showing there, now it does. Hope lives on! ;)

Tbh, this is my pet peeve, essential low cost things easily available abroad, facing it's biggest local challenge - shipping.
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Summary.

Ordered some ICs. They were packaged in an A6 sized bubble wrap envelope.

Order placed on: Feb 28, 2026
Payment completed on: Feb 28, 2026
Shipment completed on: Mar 2, 2026
Order completed on: Apr 16, 2026
Order value: €4.17
With Shipping: €5.12

Initial tracking using AliExpress links worked until it landed at JHB.
2026-03-18 17:46 Arrived At Destination Country Airport

Then no movement. I found out that SunYou's tracking showed a bit more: https://sypost.net/search
2026-03-21 08:48 Hand Over To Last Mile

SAPO's tracking had no visibility. 9 Apr I reached out to AliExpress, got a bot. I asked it be expedited.

10 Apr it suddenly appeared on SAPO's tracking system.
16 Apr I saw I'd been notified on the tracking system, ~ noon. (I had not received a notification)
16 Apr ~14h00 I picked it up. Fees R43.00

track.jpg

🥳🎉

It still peeves me that something so stupid should be so complex when it reaches South Africa. This order spent more time in South Africa than being shipped half way around the world with war in the ME. It would have literally been faster for me to walk to the airport and collect it, then return home, than to rely on the South African local side of the shipping.
 
Bundu said:
I have recently placed 4 orders with Ali and they were all delivered by courier within 2-3 weeks. Customs payments were also reasonable.
I'll be using Ali a lot more from now on, as their variety is better than Temu
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As of late I have noticed the larger the orders the more chance of them being split delivered and taking longer than normal. Ever since Imile and Meili have stopped taking the bulk orders and reported to SARS, NASA, Donald Trump, Fikile Mbulula and the NEC because they charged an extra R200 the quality and speed has dropped off substantially for me. I don't order as much as I use to.

Let me know who your delivery / 3rd part logistics company is that delivers please :)
 
DarkStarMonday said:
As of late I have noticed the larger the orders the more chance of them being split delivered and taking longer than normal. Ever since Imile and Meili have stopped taking the bulk orders and reported to SARS, NASA, Donald Trump, Fikile Mbulula and the NEC because they charged an extra R200 the quality and speed has dropped off substantially for me. I don't order as much as I use to.

Let me know who your delivery / 3rd part logistics company is that delivers please :)
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the last mile was done with speedaf in all cases
 
Bundu said:
the last mile was done with speedaf in all cases
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Well I’ve ordered from Ali and from Bobshop, pretty much the same.

Want to see which comes first.

I loooooath SpeedAF. I’ve had so many wrong orders and non deliveries from them.
 
DarkStarMonday said:
Well I’ve ordered from Ali and from Bobshop, pretty much the same.

Want to see which comes first.

I loooooath SpeedAF. I’ve had so many wrong orders and non deliveries from them.
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weird! I've always had great service from them - Pretoria/Centurion area
 
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