Anyone order hardware from AliExpress recently?

Napalm2880

Napalm2880

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I need a replacement fan for my laptop. AliExpress has two options, "Free shipping" and paid shipping using "AliExpress standard" shipping.

Are these delivered by SAPO? Or should I rather be using Postbox courier / Aramex?
 
Based on my orders, Aliexpress standard shipping uses a company called iMile. My package arrived in ZA 7 days after i ordered it, but they charge quite a fee for customs clearance.
 
Totempole said:
How badly?

Like in terms of percentage? I ordered some items totalling R234 from them.

I was expecting to pay R40 at SAPO after it arrived in 2 months.
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Sapo was actually pretty quick near the end, 3 weeks to arrive and the Post Office would sms you when it was ready to collect.
I suppose they had so little volume to manage that the little they did have sped through quite quickly
 
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Reactions: B-1
airborne said:
Sapo was actually pretty quick near the end, 3 weeks to arrive and the Post Office would sms you when it was ready to collect.
I suppose they had so little volume to manage that the little they did have sped through quite quickly
Click to expand...

You're right now that I think of it.

I placed an order with them earlier this year which came by post. I got it in about 50 days. To be fair though, it's because SAPO never contacted me despite my cell number being printed on the label. I had to show them the tracking info and inquire about it.

I feel like this iMile Courier service might be a bit of a scam though. I suspect they bill you both customs duties as well as an additional delivery cost.

From what I've read, the total fees are usually 70-90% of the declared value of the order, for smaller orders at least.
 
Totempole said:
You're right now that I think of it.

I placed an order with them earlier this year which came by post. I got it in about 50 days. To be fair though, it's because SAPO never contacted me despite my cell number being printed on the label. I had to show them the tracking info and inquire about it.

I feel like this iMile Courier service might be a bit of a scam though. I suspect they bill you both customs duties as well as an additional delivery cost.

From what I've read, the total fees are usually 70-90% of the declared value of the order, for smaller orders at least.
Click to expand...
For those costs, might as well buy local if the product is available locally or order from Amazon US if available there and ships here..
 
WAslayer said:
For those costs, might as well buy local if the product is available locally or order from Amazon US if available there and ships here..
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I'll have to wait and see, hopefully it won't be as bad as I'm expecting. I'd gladly pay R100 in fees to get my +-R200 worth of items, but anything more than that is extortionate.
 
airborne said:
They don't appear to use Sapo any longer, free shipping now also comes via courier
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Not 100% yet though. I've ordered 5 or 6 times in the last 3 months and one of my packages was stuck at the airport for about 2 weeks before I got an SMS from my local Post office to come collect and pay Customs. The rest was all through various couriers
 
Totempole said:
You're right now that I think of it.

I placed an order with them earlier this year which came by post. I got it in about 50 days. To be fair though, it's because SAPO never contacted me despite my cell number being printed on the label. I had to show them the tracking info and inquire about it.

I feel like this iMile Courier service might be a bit of a scam though. I suspect they bill you both customs duties as well as an additional delivery cost.

From what I've read, the total fees are usually 70-90% of the declared value of the order, for smaller orders at least.
Click to expand...
These couriers charge a fixed disbursement fee which is around R60 + duties/vat so you can end up paying proportionally high import costs if it’s a low value item but to be fair not much more than the Post Office. The advantage with the post office though was sometimes they didn't seem to charge duties, you just paid the collection fee and vat if I recall correctly.
 
Interesting, I might resume buying junk from Aliexpress if they use couriers now. Please update if you guys get tracking numbers.
 
B-1 said:
Interesting, I might resume buying junk from Aliexpress if they use couriers now. Please update if you guys get tracking numbers.
Click to expand...
Same lol
Need some cosmetic parts for my car
 
B-1 said:
Interesting, I might resume buying junk from Aliexpress if they use couriers now. Please update if you guys get tracking numbers.
Click to expand...
My order is coming via courier, shipping was free on a R100 item and I was expect Sapo
 
Spontaneous spinach said:
No movement tracking since the 15th
AliExpress tracking states:
Your package arrived at local airport

Parcel App:
Arrived at linehaul office
Click to expand...
Please update if you hear anything further regarding your order. I think whatever happens, you'll be about 3 days ahead of me. I ordered my items on 14 July.
 
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