Aramex global shopper

Here to drop my recent experience with AGS.

Ordered a DNA test kit from FamilyTreeDNA in US. Used the NY location. all went well and packet was from FamilyTreeDNA (Houston,Tx sent 2 August) to Aramex (NY, received 4 August) to South Africa(received request for commercial invoice 6 August).

Headache came when I saw, according to Aramex, Customs cleared 9 August and then 11 August the description "Under processing at operations facility". After two days I used AGS little chat window and asked if they require anything further from me.

The person manning the support chat responded within seconds on the chat window(which was nice) and answered my questions (I also asked them to confirm the address of delivery, just in case I may have messed up saving my latest address to my account).

She then said that my parcel was still in customs. upon asking why does my update show Customs cleared, she apologised and stated that the person updating the statuses made a mistake, and that my parcel is still being checked. A half hour later my parcel was updated again to show Clearance process is underway. Bit of an inconvenience but at least I had a true reflection of what was happening, instead of relying on the status, I now use the chat window to ask what is happening to my parcel.

Shipment History
LocationDateActivity
Sandton, South Africa08/16/2022 08:40Shipment Update - Code 1 | MRN: JSA20220XXXXXXXX
Sandton, South Africa08/16/2022 08:40Cleared from Customs
Sandton, South Africa08/15/2022 16:05Shipment Update - Clearance Process Underway in South Africa
O.R Tambo International Airport, South Africa08/11/2022 08:21Under processing at operations facility
Sandton, South Africa08/09/2022 10:50Cleared from Customs
Sandton, South Africa08/08/2022 11:44Shipment Held for Customs Clearance - Commercial Invoice Required
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa08/07/2022 14:13SMS Sent to Consignee for the shipper updates description
Sandton, South Africa08/06/2022 18:32Shipment charges paid
New York, United States08/06/2022 08:42Departed Operations facility – In Transit
New York, United States08/04/2022 09:53Received at Origin Facility
New York, United States08/04/2022 08:39Record Created
 
So I want to buy something from a guy over Facebook using Paypal and send that to my Aramex US address. Since it is not a traditional store, will they accept it?
 
@RooibosT how long did your clearance end up taking? I forgot how terrible Aramex are. Package of mine been under processing for 3 days now...
 
Who can I harass at Aramex? I bet they have not submitted it to customs yet.
 
Seems spamming [email protected] helped to get the invoice for the customs charges. Paid and now the next wait continues.

Read back some of the thread: @Gtx Gaming , @Tinuva, @DeeinSouthAfrica you seem to have been big users of the service before, do you still use it? If so, what has the experience been like lately?

Maybe I should give MyUS a try again. Any other recommendations?
 
Yep its been pretyt good, once in a while have request invocie most of time just get send someone even before parcel is in jhb. I just wish i send parcels to cpt directly, everything goes through jhb, which just add delays
 
Gtx Gaming said:
Yep its been pretyt good, once in a while have request invocie most of time just get send someone even before parcel is in jhb. I just wish i send parcels to cpt directly, everything goes through jhb, which just add delays
Click to expand...

Ah right Cool. Hoping it clears tomorrow then. Are we back to 2 days to Cape Town or is it still 3 to 4 days?
 
Strange said:
Seems spamming [email protected] helped to get the invoice for the customs charges. Paid and now the next wait continues.

Read back some of the thread: @Gtx Gaming , @Tinuva, @DeeinSouthAfrica you seem to have been big users of the service before, do you still use it? If so, what has the experience been like lately?

Maybe I should give MyUS a try again. Any other recommendations?
Click to expand...
Latest package I used them for was 05/28/22 Received at NY Origin Facility which was then 06/08/2022 delivered to me in CPT. Was a low value package that went very quick through customs, below R550, so no extra customs charges which is why it was quick. Was smooth I guess.
 
@Gtx Gaming Thanks. I have not dealt with Aramex Slow Customs in a while, generally how long after customs charges are paid should one start annoying them again?

Also I see some of the recipients on that address have full mailboxes, hoping it goes it some humans at least.
 
Strange said:
@Gtx Gaming Thanks. I have not dealt with Aramex Slow Customs in a while, generally how long after customs charges are paid should one start annoying them again?

Also I see some of the recipients on that address have full mailboxes, hoping it goes it some humans at least.
Click to expand...
Once you paid them its almost cleared within hour or so. I have no delays with customs after invoice is paid
 
I guess they just don't like me then or someone has a free Niche Zero coffee grinder now. :)
 
Guess they don't like me today:

Shipment update: Code 13: Shipment Queried by Customs | MRN: JSA202208245178424
 
neoprema said:
Anyone finding that Aramex always delays your product for 5-10 days at customs and then says "It was detained by port health for inspection"

I get this with ALL my Aramex packages right.

But my DHL, Fedex ones NEVER have this and clear customs in 5-10 HOURS.

And ironically, i have sent foodstuffs with DHL which should be more on the radar at Port Health - but Aramex where I only send things like books and electronics gets stopped by Port Health.

I think Aramex just uses Port Health and Customs as a delay tactic for their own incompetence.
Click to expand...
I just had this with a coffee grinder, except the attached EDI notification from customs shows they just require more documents.

The message states:

S: INVOICE WITH INCOTERM AND AIRWAYBILL REQUIRED.
 
So after complaining on the chat box about this supposed "Port Health detainment" thing, Isabela from AGS phoned me. My package has not been detained by Port Health, Aramex made an error on the SAD 500 declaration.
 
S: VOC REQUIRED AMENDING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN TO READ AS CN AS PER THE INVOICE. PLEASE INSERT PENALTY AS PER CUSRES. A COPY OF THE VOC, AS WELL AS A SIGNED SECTION 91 DECLARATION TO BE UPLOADED.L:1;

The invoice clearly stated COO as China, even though it shipped from the UK. Guess I am paying a fine for some clearing agent's subpar work.
 
So in the end I paid a R1500 fine (which was their fault, but I will fight it later) and then they told me it will take 5 days to submit the VOC. What a bunch of clowns.

I guess I just got all the stupid people this week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X