Aramex global shopper

I am seriously unimpressed with AGS. I placed an order on Amazon UK on 28 Jan 2017. Some items could be directly delivered to SA via AmazonGlobal (parcel 1), but one item couldn't (parcel 2), so I sent it to AGS in the UK. Parcel 2 got delivered to AGS on 1 Feb 2017, and on the 2nd, they asked for my tax invoice, so I uploaded it immediately. Parcel 1 got delivered to my SA address on 7 Feb 2017, excellent service from Amazon! Parcel 2 however is still with AGS. Absolutely no movement whatsoever. They did not even ask for payment yet. Absolutely pathetic!
 
vancity33 said:
I am seriously unimpressed with AGS. I placed an order on Amazon UK on 28 Jan 2017. Some items could be directly delivered to SA via AmazonGlobal (parcel 1), but one item couldn't (parcel 2), so I sent it to AGS in the UK. Parcel 2 got delivered to AGS on 1 Feb 2017, and on the 2nd, they asked for my tax invoice, so I uploaded it immediately. Parcel 1 got delivered to my SA address on 7 Feb 2017, excellent service from Amazon! Parcel 2 however is still with AGS. Absolutely no movement whatsoever. They did not even ask for payment yet. Absolutely pathetic!
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I must also point out that AGS (also known as Shop and Ship overseas) are the cheaper section of Aramex. They only move your parcel when there is space on the flight heading to South Africa. If the flight is full of Aramex Express items, your parcel will sit in the UK until there is a flight.

Amazon used DHL Express to move parcels. That is almost overnight and you pay accordingly for that service. If you want the same service this side, and don't mind the cost, try MyUS.
 
My email to AGS bounced, I kid you not, so I phoned JHB.
Olivia is brilliant. Totally easy to talk to with excellent customer service manners. If you have a problem, don't bother emailing them, just speak to her.
Of course, I did somehow manage to have 3 parcels in NY in the middle of a terrible winter storm with JFK almost socked in and all flights delayed. There was only so much the poor girl could do. :cool:
 
DeeinSouthAfrica said:
My email to AGS bounced, I kid you not, so I phoned JHB.
Olivia is brilliant. Totally easy to talk to with excellent customer service manners. If you have a problem, don't bother emailing them, just speak to her.
Of course, I did somehow manage to have 3 parcels in NY in the middle of a terrible winter storm with JFK almost socked in and all flights delayed. There was only so much the poor girl could do. :cool:
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Do you call the 4053000 number?
 
DeeinSouthAfrica said:
I must also point out that AGS (also known as Shop and Ship overseas) are the cheaper section of Aramex. They only move your parcel when there is space on the flight heading to South Africa. If the flight is full of Aramex Express items, your parcel will sit in the UK until there is a flight.

Amazon used DHL Express to move parcels. That is almost overnight and you pay accordingly for that service. If you want the same service this side, and don't mind the cost, try MyUS.
Click to expand...

I once had a parcel come in through the Aramex Express service from viabox. It got to JHB fast but the clearance took so long that it worked out to more or less the same time as a normal AGS package.
 
Using them now again in a long while.

Package that is coming from Canada.

Let's see how this goes. I estimate 3 weeks.
 
FWIW - my SARS importers code experience so far:
- They need confirmation of ownership of a phone-line. Either a Telkom- or cellphone statement. If you are on pre-paid you need to provide an affidavit.
- They do not accept a bank statement unless it has been stamped in a bank branch
- They did not accept my Eskom statement as proof of address "because it did not look original" (it's a printed PDF in color)
- I also needed to provide them with a "letter of consent" that I am really the one applying for the code (which is obvious since I also supplied the DA185 forms)

It is now attempt number 3 at it....
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
FWIW - my SARS importers code experience so far:
- They need confirmation of ownership of a phone-line. Either a Telkom- or cellphone statement. If you are on pre-paid you need to provide an affidavit.
- They do not accept a bank statement unless it has been stamped in a bank branch
- They did not accept my Eskom statement as proof of address "because it did not look original" (it's a printed PDF in color)
- I also needed to provide them with a "letter of consent" that I am really the one applying for the code (which is obvious since I also supplied the DA185 forms)

It is now attempt number 3 at it....
Click to expand...

A write-up similar to your Aramex one after you get your importer's code would be awesome.
 
MagicDude4Eva said:
FWIW - my SARS importers code experience so far:
- They need confirmation of ownership of a phone-line. Either a Telkom- or cellphone statement. If you are on pre-paid you need to provide an affidavit.
- They do not accept a bank statement unless it has been stamped in a bank branch
- They did not accept my Eskom statement as proof of address "because it did not look original" (it's a printed PDF in color)
- I also needed to provide them with a "letter of consent" that I am really the one applying for the code (which is obvious since I also supplied the DA185 forms)

It is now attempt number 3 at it....
Click to expand...

This is precisely why I turned tail and walked out of SARS in Cape Town. I had a printed bank statement from FNB that they refused to accept for some strange reason - I can't recall why, but I think the bank stamp was smudged or something. I had failed at something else already (they wouldn't accept my MTN statement as it was 4 months old) so I was really annoyed when he dropped it and said "no good."
 
martin said:
A write-up similar to your Aramex one after you get your importer's code would be awesome.
Click to expand...

I will do this once I know for sure how it works. I did hear from people that apparently there is a Lanseria office where you could "lubricate" the application process to "bypass" those hurdles (read = drop coin for better service). I think the whole thing is ridiculous as they threaten you that they could confiscate parcels if you exceed your annual quote (or fine you). There is no rationale behind it, as people still pay all relevant duties.

I am fortunate enough that my accountant does the application process (she is almost daily at Alberton branch for other business and the import section seems to be never busy). It does appear though, that SARS staff is unreasonably difficult to avoid processing applications. The explanation about rejecting certain copies was "there is too much fraud" - not sure what this means exactly.

The other explanation I heard is that SARS wants to have all your details so that they can make a surprise visit to your registered address to verify that you don't run some unregistered business (i.e. importing products cheaper and then selling it off without declaring revenue).

Some of my AGS parcels are apparently stuck in NYC due to some frigging snow-storm named Niko... uh well...
 
Question.

If I'm brining in something bought off Ebay, would my PayPal payment receipt be sufficient to serve as the 'invoice' they require?
 
DeeinSouthAfrica said:
I must also point out that AGS (also known as Shop and Ship overseas) are the cheaper section of Aramex. They only move your parcel when there is space on the flight heading to South Africa. If the flight is full of Aramex Express items, your parcel will sit in the UK until there is a flight.

Amazon used DHL Express to move parcels. That is almost overnight and you pay accordingly for that service. If you want the same service this side, and don't mind the cost, try MyUS.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your point of view and recommendation.
 
DeeinSouthAfrica said:
I must also point out that AGS (also known as Shop and Ship overseas) are the cheaper section of Aramex. They only move your parcel when there is space on the flight heading to South Africa. If the flight is full of Aramex Express items, your parcel will sit in the UK until there is a flight.

Amazon used DHL Express to move parcels. That is almost overnight and you pay accordingly for that service. If you want the same service this side, and don't mind the cost, try MyUS.
Click to expand...

Well summarised. For info MyUS offers various shipping options. The cheapest option is Budget Carrier (7-14 days for $ 23.07). Fastest shipping option to SA is FedEx Priority ($51.98) or DHL Express($46.69) which takes 1-4 days. It took 6 days from ordering my parcel on Amazon USA to delivery using MyUS. You pay more for the faster delivery.
 
Quick question...do you pay customs on all orders (via the description on the invoice), or can one get lucky and customs totally ignore your package? I understand that they don't inspect all the packages, but maybe the description of goods on the invoice creates an automatic charge. This is my tracking history, so crossing fingers that the customs stage has passed.

Johannesburg, South Africa 02/13/2017 08:30 AM Shipment Update - shipment received in vc @ shop & ship
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa 02/12/2017 12:52 PM Departed Operations facility – In Transit
Johannesburg, South Africa 02/12/2017 12:48 PM Received at Operations Facility
Durban, South Africa 02/11/2017 10:31 AM Credit Card Payment - Completed
Dubai, United Arab Emirates 02/11/2017 09:23 AM Departed Operations facility – In Transit
Dubai Express Hub, UAE 02/10/2017 13:50 PM Received at Operations Facility
London, United Kingdom 02/09/2017 20:57 PM Departed Operations facility – In Transit
London, United Kingdom 02/09/2017 17:47 PM Departed Operations facility – In Transit
London, United Kingdom 02/02/2017 14:46 PM Shipment on Hold
London, United Kingdom 02/01/2017 16:12 PM Record Created
 
Parcel is held in customs -" awaiting customer instruction ".

Honestly... Have already resent ID and document despite having done it repeatedly before. Last time parcel was held at customs for days and days with no communication from aramex.
 
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