Amazon import test vs buying local from Takealot - Xiaomi Redmi 9A

Honestly, while this was an interesting exercise, I've always found that low value items are generally cheaper locally, its when things get into the "high value" realm that Amazon can be significantly cheaper even with the import fees added on.
 
Also, try delivering to some place like George, Port Elizabeth or East London. It doesn't take a day. Hell, doesn't even take 2!!!
This is a one-sided article if you're living in JHB and they have stock there.
You also don't say whether or not you bought from an Amazon subsidiary or via Amazon stocking the items themselves. Or whether or not you took normal shipping, expedited shipping, or if they sent it via the Post Office (which is what happens when someone as a subsidiary selling through Amazon can do).
ALSO...no mention on whether or not the item was in stock in the country you ordered in on Amazon, or came from another country. I have had this and it affects the delivery times.

And finally...international shipments are slow at the moment. None of this was included in the article.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Honestly, while this was an interesting exercise, I've always found that low value items are generally cheaper locally, its when things get into the "high value" realm that Amazon can be significantly cheaper even with the import fees added on.
Click to expand...
Guess they weren't paid enough for this advertisement by takealot to flash the big bucks on something more expensive..
 
JohnStarr said:
Also, try delivering to some place like George, Port Elizabeth or East London. It doesn't take a day. Hell, doesn't even take 2!!!
This is a one-sided article if you're living in JHB and they have stock there.
You also don't say whether or not you bought from an Amazon subsidiary or via Amazon stocking the items themselves. Or whether or not you took normal shipping, expedited shipping, or if they sent it via the Post Office (which is what happens when someone as a subsidiary selling through Amazon can do).
ALSO...no mention on whether or not the item was in stock in the country you ordered in on Amazon, or came from another country. I have had this and it affects the delivery times.

And finally...international shipments are slow at the moment. None of this was included in the article.
Click to expand...
Rural peasant detected.
 
JohnStarr said:
Also, try delivering to some place like George, Port Elizabeth or East London. It doesn't take a day. Hell, doesn't even take 2!!!
This is a one-sided article if you're living in JHB and they have stock there.
You also don't say whether or not you bought from an Amazon subsidiary or via Amazon stocking the items themselves. Or whether or not you took normal shipping, expedited shipping, or if they sent it via the Post Office (which is what happens when someone as a subsidiary selling through Amazon can do).
ALSO...no mention on whether or not the item was in stock in the country you ordered in on Amazon, or came from another country. I have had this and it affects the delivery times.

And finally...international shipments are slow at the moment. None of this was included in the article.
Click to expand...
"Amazon took exactly 21 days to deliver, of which about a week was spent waiting for the phone to ship."

Answers that question...

Whoever wrote the article does not buy from Amazon often...

Pretty sure they bought it from Aimportar USA and it was fulfilled by Amazon...
 
AstroTurf said:
"Amazon took exactly 21 days to deliver, of which about a week was spent waiting for the phone to ship."

Answers that question...

Whoever wrote the article does not buy from Amazon often...

Pretty sure they bought it from Aimportar USA and it was fulfilled by Amazon...
Click to expand...
That's not unexpected lately in my experience, it's normal for items to sit at least 3 - 4 days in the "ordered" state before it actually ships.
 
silly question from me, when you buy on Amazon, doesnt your CC get charged in USD or EUR and could potentially be blocked?
I mean isnt it more expensive than buying local? that does not have these restrictions.

or am I off my rocker and it always charges you local, like it was local like Takealot.
 
eg2505 said:
silly question from me, when you buy on Amazon, doesnt your CC get charged in USD or EUR and could potentially be blocked?
I mean isnt it more expensive than buying local? that does not have these restrictions.

or am I off my rocker and it always charges you local, like it was local like Takealot.
Click to expand...

As always you're off your rocker...
Your CC gets charged in Rands at the prevailing exchange rate with an additional bit of a "transaction fee" attached.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Your CC gets charged in Rands at the prevailing exchange rate with an additional bit of a "transaction fee" attached.
Click to expand...
so it can be quite an expensive proposition, especially if like now its exchange rate is quite high.
but if you do it many times, can your card get cancelled? as your transacting overseas and that needs the bank to be notified.

just want to get this straight.
 
eg2505 said:
so it can be quite an expensive proposition, especially if like now its exchange rate is quite high.
but if you do it many times, can your card get cancelled? as your transacting overseas and that needs the bank to be notified.

just want to get this straight.
Click to expand...

Its a swings and roundabouts on the price aspect, depending on the local entities pegged exchange rate conversion when they set the price. And our exchange rate is actually at a relatively reasonable level at the moment.

Why would your card get blocked if you do it many times? Its a stock standard online purchase and Amazon handle all the taxes and fees for you. Its not like you're doing anything dodgy.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Why would your card get blocked if you do it many times? Its a stock standard online purchase and Amazon handle all the taxes and fees for you. Its not like you're doing anything dodgy.
Click to expand...
again, I heard that if you transact overseas with your CC a lot, there is a potential for your card to get blocked, as its seen as an overseas purchase.
I heard many stories of people trying to withdraw funds in an ATM in Thailand, and they get blocked, having to phone home to get their flight tickets paid.

I know I sound quite insane, but legit question, does Amazon and our local banks do this sort of thing, like blocking your card for things they deem outside SA?
like Amazon purchases and the like.

I mean they do it with Crypto, so is it a stretch for them to block you for purchasing through Amazon.
 
JohnStarr said:
Port Elizabeth you knob, but OK.
Click to expand...
The issue is not getting the parcel from the Takealot CPT/JHB warehouse to PE. It's getting it from the PE depot to your delivery address that seems to be the problem.

If I take an in-stock item on Takealot and order it today to be delivered to my address, I might get it next week Monday if I am lucky. Friday the same week, as a best-case scenario.

If I order that same item and send it to the nearest pick-up point, the estimated date would also be next week Monday but it will actually be here by tomorrow or Thursday.

The courier teams within PE seem very overworked and understaffed, so opting to collect is much quicker 9/10 times.
 
eg2505 said:
again, I heard that if you transact overseas with your CC a lot, there is a potential for your card to get blocked, as its seen as an overseas purchase.
I heard many stories of people trying to withdraw funds in an ATM in Thailand, and they get blocked, having to phone home to get their flight tickets paid.

I know I sound quite insane, but legit question, does Amazon and our local banks do this sort of thing, like blocking your card for things they deem outside SA?
like Amazon purchases and the like.

I mean they do it with Crypto, so is it a stretch for them to block you for purchasing through Amazon.
Click to expand...

Jees dude... like seriously?

Withdrawing from an ATM in Thailand is a very different concept to purchasing online from Amazon ffs. Its an online purchase. You may get contacted by your cards Fraud department if they flag the transaction as suspect in terms of its value or something of that sort, but its a very different kettle of fish to actually trying to withdraw funds in a different country.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Jees dude... like seriously?

Withdrawing from an ATM in Thailand is a very different concept to purchasing online from Amazon ffs. Its an online purchase. You may get contacted by your cards Fraud department if they flag the transaction as suspect in terms of its value or something of that sort, but its a very different kettle of fish to actually trying to withdraw funds in a different country.
Click to expand...
maybe not on one transaction, but on numerous ones, maybe its possible.
or maybe its my paranoid fantasy as it always is.
 
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