Aramex global shopper

[lived666]

Is it just me or is Aramex slow AF after an incoming parcel leaves customs?

Item was shipped from the US and arrived. Item cleared customs on the 25th of November. After that - no movement at all.

Just because it shows cleared customs and JHB on route to the destination, does not mean with Aramex that its here. I had someone sadly ship with Aramex and it showed on the 28th as cleared customs and Johannesburg on route to destination, so I called them yesterday and surprise surprise, it's still at JFK. at least though it won't get delayed in customs, it will just wait until Aramex feel like moving the parcel - but its not a rush order, so it will arrive when it arrives...hopefully though before Xmas.

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

I add this (or variations of this) to any business purchases I make.
It's not so important for eBay purchases from the UK and USA, but China needs this instruction always as they like sending invoices with the parcel for a cheaper amount than you paid.


我的地址是：(Name and customer #), 4006318388，上海市闵行区沪青平路248弄15号1号，201105
上海的地址是Aramex Sinotrans，他们没有手机。其他快递公司对他们了如指掌。
办公室电话号码是+86 4006318388。
申通快递，中通快递和圆通快递成功送达了这个地址。 请不要在包裹中放置任何发票。
请注意，收件人不会向快递公司支付任何费用。

My address is: (Name and customer #), 4006318388, No. 1, No. 15, Lane 248, Huqingping Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201105
The address in Shanghai is Aramex Sinotrans, they do not have a mobile phone. Other courier companies know them well.
The office phone number is +86 4006318388.
Shentong Express, Zhongtong Express and Yuantong Express successfully delivered this address. Please do not place any invoices in the package.
Please note that the recipient will not pay any fees to the courier company.

 

[notinterested]

So my first ags order went pretty smoothly overall. Delivered to New York last Tuesday and received today. Not that long especially considering it was over black friday and they must have been busy as hell.

 

[jun_tao]

Hi guys. Quick one, does anyone know if these forwarding addresses accept deliveries on weekends?

Using this for the first time, and shipping it to the HK address, but the tracking info on my parcel says “delivery unsuccessful”.

Thanks.

 

[Tinuva]

Hi guys. Quick one, does anyone know if these forwarding addresses accept deliveries on weekends?

Using this for the first time, and shipping it to the HK address, but the tracking info on my parcel says “delivery unsuccessful”.

Thanks.

Usually during office hours from what I understand. Just wait till they retry on Monday.

 

[Pho3nix]

Update : Package still in Singapore, not Dubai. Singapore office not responding to queries

Update : Package in JHB. 2 and a half weeks later but still not in hand...

 

[peeryus]

Hi all. Has anyone managed to add the China or Hong Kong address on the eBay app? I keep getting an error message saying the address could not be added.

 

[jun_tao]

Morning,

So my package arrived on the 9th at the HK forwarding address according to the shippings tracking number.
How long does it normally take for AGS to notify you that they have the parcel?

Thanks guys.

 

[Tinuva]

Yeah its just question of $ on invoice vs R on my bank statement, so will see, oh and for some reason invoice is 25 Nov and bank statement transaction is 26 Nov, but the 25th transactions are included.

This package is out for delivery today. While the package had to go through customs, I didn't have to pay the R50 processing fee as expected. Literally only R100 for the shipping to AGS and that was all. Very happy it went through with R0 import tax

 

[mr_norris]

Just a bit of a report back on trying to get around paying import duties for a replacement item - it's on the rocks, but I think if you do things carefully, it's possible.

I had used SAPO to ship the item back to the states, and the replacement is coming via Aramex. I contacted Aramex when the mail came through for me to submit all the details for the package and was informed that I just need to send them all the supporting documents.

They apparently need "export documents" from SAPO to back up my claim that I sent the original item back. All I have is the slip with the tracking number that I got from them when sending it. That isn't good enough. I went to a branch and asked for help, they directed me to a tracking site and said it would be sufficient. I was also given a number to call for help if I got stuck. I called said number twice today and managed to get through to someone eventually, and got the same speech - they can tell me where the parcel is (which is BS, because I know it's delivered, but their system says en route) but they can't give me any documents. This didn't go down well with Aramex.

Now, I suspect that I spoke to someone who didn't understand me. Perhaps with enough sweet talk, I could have gotten something. I don't know.

The bottom line is, without these supporting documents, duties are heading my way. I have now accepted that I will be paying a couple of hundred in school fees. It saddens me, but such is life. The last glimmer of hope is the Aramex lady is going higher up to see what she can do, but I don't think she'll be able to do much.

I only used SAPO because I have used them before for international shipping, and the costs are reasonable. If there is a next time, and I expect to get a replacement item, I will try figure out a way to use something more reputable, that can provide these documents if need be.

Don't be like me LOL.

Just an outcome on the above.

I gave one last shot at begging and the lady helping me out escalated the matter to someone higher. After lots of discussion their side, they managed to work something out for me, so I didn't have to pay import duties again. Yay

The delay I moaned about in an earlier post was because of not paying import duties. I think my situation must have confused customs.

Got my package now, and I'm happy. It was a learning experience.

 

[mr_norris]

Morning,

So my package arrived on the 9th at the HK forwarding address according to the shippings tracking number.
How long does it normally take for AGS to notify you that they have the parcel?

Thanks guys.

I think it took a day or two for my one to show up. I have noticed that if the sender hasn't put the address on right, it confuses AGS. I would follow up after 48 hours.

 

[d.casper.b]

Just an outcome on the above.

I gave one last shot at begging and the lady helping me out escalated the matter to someone higher. After lots of discussion their side, they managed to work something out for me, so I didn't have to pay import duties again. Yay

The delay I moaned about in an earlier post was because of not paying import duties. I think my situation must have confused customs.

Got my package now, and I'm happy. It was a learning experience.

I've sent multiple items back in the past for repair/replacement:
I sent all via SAPO. The first item I sent to Tawain and asked them to send it back via EMS (big mistake, not good at all). Eventually had to call them etc and they were looking for an invoice, but I explained the situation and got the customs documentation from DHL who did the initial delivery, and then they delivered the next day.

Another time I sent an item to the States for replacement and got the replacement sent back via Aramex - but didn't bother about it being a return - luckily no charges, I didn't have the customs documentation this time around, since the item was originally shipped via AGS, and you can't easily get much from them.

Another occasion I sent to Taiwan and was worried about charges once the item was repaired and returned. So I spoke to Aramex and they told me they do not handle such cases with AGS. So I resorted to postbox-courier and Gary was super useful - this was his response about a return:
"On warranty replacements/returns we can use a specific procedure to avoid duplicate payments of VAT/Duty. Strictly speaking they should be exported under a DA65 which tells customs they will be reimported in due course. If they DA65 is not in place we’ll just need to gather as much evidence as possible to satisfy customs. "
Although when sending via SAPO it's impossible to do anything about it. I had it returned via postbox-courier and all went well, again I just submitted the customs documentation I got from DHL but I'm not sure if they ended up using them as the repaired item came in a small box and not the original packaging.

Other times, I just get it returned to the UK and my family there bring it when they visit.

 

[d.casper.b]

Is the estimated delivery date on the app anything to go by? I've usually had speedy encounters with AGS, but there was one that took a while..
I've not previously seen this date in the app (since my last use of AGS was in February or March).

Also, is this bad: "Shipment Held for Customs Clearance - Pending Customs Release"? Don't know if that's the standard customs inspection - just sounds like they want to inspect more thoroughly, granted it is 1.6kg and a biggish box.

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

Is the estimated delivery date on the app anything to go by? I've usually had speedy encounters with AGS, but there was one that took a while..
I've not previously seen this date in the app (since my last use of AGS was in February or March).

Also, is this bad: "Shipment Held for Customs Clearance - Pending Customs Release"? Don't know if that's the standard customs inspection - just sounds like they want to inspect more thoroughly, granted it is 1.6kg and a biggish box.

Don't go on the estimated delivery date. Customs can take their time, or your shipment sails through and gets delivered 3 days earlier than estimation.
I personally have no clue why they would even place an estimate on any shipment as they only open themselves up to abuse if the estimation is exceeded.
... Or is this estimated date flexible and changes dates according to the customs clearance delay. Hmmm...
As to this:
"Shipment Held for Customs Clearance - Pending Customs Release".
Totally Normal. It soon changes to "Customs Clearance - In Progress."

 

[d.casper.b]

Don't go on the estimated delivery date. Customs can take their time, or your shipment sails through and gets delivered 3 days earlier than estimation.
I personally have no clue why they would even place an estimate on any shipment as they only open themselves up to abuse if the estimation is exceeded.
... Or is this estimated date flexible and changes dates according to the customs clearance delay. Hmmm...
As to this:
"Shipment Held for Customs Clearance - Pending Customs Release".
Totally Normal. It soon changes to "Customs Clearance - In Progress."

Thanks.
No I don't believe the date is "dynamic". It's been the 23rd since in NY and now in JHB.

I'm just paranoid because this is one of the heavier items I've received. Also it contains a wooden briefcase-style box as packaging, so ya, anything so fancy would surely catch an eye.
I feel more comfortable now after your message.

EDIT: I guess my paranoia is justified as it's still held at customs since the 12th (2 days now - it's currently the 14th). The longest I've seen without any update. Clearance still not in progress.
EDIT2: It's now day 5 and still no update. I contacted Aramex Cape Town and she said it was marked as "Framing" (I think she said). I asked what that meant and she said she'd have to find out from JHB, but am still waiting for the call.
EDIT3: 20/12/2019 - Still no update since at customs. Arrived there the 12th, last update was the 13th with the exact same message as the 12th.
Been following up everyday. Might be the last time I use Aramex.

 

[Lebseven]

I want to order some item in Russia, AGS doesn't have an address there, I saw somewhere here someone saying I could forward to a country that AGS has an address. Has anyone ever done it? Which country can i have the seller send to that won't attract tax and duties then from that country to South Africa

 

[Tinuva]

I want to order some item in Russia, AGS doesn't have an address there, I saw somewhere here someone saying I could forward to a country that AGS has an address. Has anyone ever done it? Which country can i have the seller send to that won't attract tax and duties then from that country to South Africa

For countries in the EU you can send import tax free between them.

Russia however is not, so you will have to review the addresses countries you do have for their import rules from Russia.

 

[Lebseven]

For countries in the EU you can send import tax free between them.

Russia however is not, so you will have to review the addresses countries you do have for their import rules from Russia.

Thank you, I will check them out.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

What solution is there to ship fragrances that Amazon does not ship to SA? Does anybody know of issues around shipping fragrances?

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

What solution is there to ship fragrances that Amazon does not ship to SA? Does anybody know of issues around shipping fragrances?

From the AGS Unacceptable Items List:
Items that cannot be shipped via Aramex Global Shopper:
Flammable liquids:
Alcohol, Perfume...

I know Shop & Ship offer a fragrance service for the Middle East, but this does not apply to us in Southern Africa.

"S&S Perfume is an add-on service that allows you to shop for perfumes using your S&S addresses."

Aramex Global Shopper

Aramex Global Shopper is an international shipping service that allows you to shop from the US, the UK, China, Turkey, UAE, India, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, South Africa and Singapore and then we deliver it to you at rates you would simply love. That means more online shopping...

www.shopandship.com

You can ask AGS Johannesburg, but I bet you they will refer you to the AGS Unacceptable Items List.

For those who don't know, Shop & Ship is known as Aramex Global Shopper here in Southern Africa as there is already a very successful Shop & Ship (which has nothing to do with Aramex).