A question about importing

[saburation]

I would like to find out if anyone has had any experience with importing items from China/Hong Kong etc. Their are a lot of sites like DH Gate etc. They offer free shipping from the their post office to the South African Post Office or via courier service.

What I would like to find out is if I buy an item from them and it's sent via their post office to South African Post Office does it get sent directly to the closest post office or to my physical address? Do I need to register for anything or pay anything and if so, do I pay these charges at the Post office or do I need to go to the customs office?

I am totally clueless about this. I have Googled for hours and have not found any answers about this.

I am aware their are a lot of scam artists etc and things can get lost/stolen from the Post Office.

Thanks in advance.

 

[xrapidx]

POST OFFICE
Depends on the size and contents...

1.) if you need to pay customs, it goes to the post office
2.) if its small and no customs is due, it'll come to your physical address
3.) If its large and no customs is due, it goes to the post office.

You pay customs at the post office, some take credit cards, some not.

COURIER

Depending on the courier, they'll phone you when it arrives and tell you how much you owe, you either EFT it, or COD - they then deliver to you.

 

[saburation]

Great, Thanks for the info.