Aramex global shopper

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

Email: [email protected]
Just queried a Laptop Battery. They've stopped shipping these. Darn it. New airline restrictions. Stup!d Samsung Engineers

If you open a laptop battery you will find a row of 18650 rechargeable batteries. As you can gather, this would firmly fall under the "no, we will not ship this sh*t" category.

At least you queried this first, before just deciding to import and see if you could get it through.

BTW, my parcel received in NY on 25 Feb is out for delivery to me in Cape Town today. One week (less, if you take into account that the 25 Feb was a Saturday). I am totally stoked at their improved service!

 

[Tinuva]

I'd say this is excellent delivery time. Just under a week from arrival time at NY to me in CPT.

 Cape Town, South Africa  	03/03/2017 07:49 AM	Out for Delivery
 Johannesburg, South Africa	03/02/2017 19:51 PM	Shipment Forwarded to Beyond/Remote Area Sorting Location
 Johannesburg, South Africa	03/02/2017 17:20 PM	Shipment Update - payment received shipment sent to despatch floor
 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa	03/02/2017 12:15 PM	Departed Operations facility – In Transit
 Johannesburg, South Africa	03/02/2017 12:04 PM	Received at Operations Facility
 Cape Town, South Africa  	03/01/2017 06:13 AM	Credit Card Payment - Completed
 New York, United States  	02/28/2017 17:12 PM	Departed Operations facility – In Transit
 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa	02/27/2017 16:35 PM	Shipment on Hold
 New York, United States  	02/25/2017 07:37 AM	Record Created
 New York, United States  	02/25/2017 07:37 AM	Shipment on Hold

ps. Didn't email or phone AGS at all, just let it take it's course.

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

I'd say this is excellent delivery time. Just under a week from arrival time at NY to me in CPT.

Lol, SNAP!
Wonder if we get the same driver? I'm in Parow.

Dammit...5.24pm I finally look online and find this:
Cape Town, South Africa 03/03/2017 17:15 PM On Hold - Delivery Scheduled for Next Business Day.
That's MONDAY.

 

[Weblord]

ps. Didn't email or phone AGS at all, just let it take it's course.

Unfortunately, not possible. If you need to have your package moved, you need to contact them and keep contacting them at each and every step of the process.

I had to contact them at least 3 times on my first package.

Last week started my second. It arrived at New York on Saturday. They sent me a notification that they received the package but they needed an invoice. I immediately uploaded the required invoice as well as a copy of my ID (although they already have my ID on their system). Despite this, today, two days later, they again sent me an email, this time from Johannesburg, again notifying me that the package arrived at New York and that I need to supply an invoice. The documents have been on their system for 2 days now.

This prompted me to contact them again notifying them that I already supplied them with the documents 2 days ago and asking them to stop their laziness and stupidity.

So, if you do not contact them, I am afraid your package could end up at one of their depots indefinitely.

 

[Tinuva]

Unfortunately, not possible. If you need to have your package moved, you need to contact them and keep contacting them at each and every step of the process.

I had to contact them at least 3 times on my first package.

Last week started my second. It arrived at New York on Saturday. They sent me a notification that they received the package but they needed an invoice. I immediately uploaded the required invoice as well as a copy of my ID (although they already have my ID on their system). Despite this, today, two days later, they again sent me an email, this time from Johannesburg, again notifying me that the package arrived at New York and that I need to supply an invoice. The documents have been on their system for 2 days now.

This prompted me to contact them again notifying them that I already supplied them with the documents 2 days ago and asking them to stop their laziness and stupidity.

So, if you do not contact them, I am afraid your package could end up at one of their depots indefinitely.

I dont know, but either you are super unlucky, or I am super lucky. I have never had to contact them to get my packages to move.

The only times I contacted them was for:
3 times changing the delivery address
1 time asking for waybill to be able to claim vat tax back from Amazon

 

[Weblord]

I dont know, but either you are super unlucky, or I am super lucky. I have never had to contact them to get my packages to move.

The only times I contacted them was for:
3 times changing the delivery address
1 time asking for waybill to be able to claim vat tax back from Amazon

I am probably super unlucky then.

 

[Weblord]

Ah well, just spoke to Aramex in NY. It seems they just keep the package there. They are waiting for instructions from South Africa. I uploaded my docs on Saturday, but South Africa does not appear to know about it. Submitted a request early this morning, but no one replied today. Re-uploaded my documents a second time this afternoon (at least they have 2 copies now) but I think Aramex in SA has gone home or either have not been working today. Hopefully tomorrow they will respond, but I will not hold my breath.

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

I cannot express how helpful Olivia is. I ordered something from Pawn America (the USA version of Cash Crusaders in Minnesota) and it arrived in NY yesterday without my customer number.
Luckily I noticed this, and I sent Olivia the invoice, and the tracking info to NY.
She immediately replied and had most things organised within an hour.
Very slick. She even emailed me back to caution me to keep an eye out and let her know if the parcel hasn't be added to my account by tomorrow.

 

[Weblord]

I cannot express how helpful Olivia is. I ordered something from Pawn America (the USA version of Cash Crusaders in Minnesota) and it arrived in NY yesterday without my customer number.
Luckily I noticed this, and I sent Olivia the invoice, and the tracking info to NY.
She immediately replied and had most things organised within an hour.
Very slick. She even emailed me back to caution me to keep an eye out and let her know if the parcel hasn't be added to my account by tomorrow.

I will contact her today. Unfortunately they still did not answer me nor see my uploaded documents. Going for 4 days now since it was received at NY. What do we do when Olivia ever leaves the company or something else happen to her? Seems Aramex may close its doors then or it may take 15-75 years before receiving packages?

It is totally clear the company cannot function independently on their own systems. It require constant user complaints in order to move packages. Actually a shame.

 

[Ho3n3r]

I am probably super unlucky then.

No, seems to be the norm. 3 orders so far with them, all 3 needed extra contact with Aramex.

 

[Weblord]

Okay, I can confirm above all reasonable doubt that Aramex SA has been working today and I do apologize unconditionally for my limited faith in them. The reason why I say this, someone just closed my requests but forgot to answer me or did not know how to send a reply.

So, back to square one. Have to submit a new request as their system still needs an invoice which was sent to them on Saturday.

Damn, these guys seems to be on par with the SA Post Office.

 

[Nigelm]

If you open a laptop battery you will find a row of 18650 rechargeable batteries. As you can gather, this would firmly fall under the "no, we will not ship this sh*t" category.

At least you queried this first, before just deciding to import and see if you could get it through.

BTW, my parcel received in NY on 25 Feb is out for delivery to me in Cape Town today. One week (less, if you take into account that the 25 Feb was a Saturday). I am totally stoked at their improved service!

I shipped two (cheap) laptops from Amazon via Aramex NY. I didnt have any issues (other than slow delivery). Do you think its still safe/viable to ship laptops using Aramex/AGS?

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

I shipped two (cheap) laptops from Amazon via Aramex NY. I didnt have any issues (other than slow delivery). Do you think its still safe/viable to ship laptops using Aramex/AGS?

If you look at the AGS Unacceptable List you will see they do not mention laptops:
https://www.aramexglobalshopper.com...319/51166/AGS_Unacceptable Items List_V19.pdf

Batteries are another matter entirely, that they do not carry.
When it comes to your laptop, stick to New York as China are very sticky about carrying anything with a battery inside and you may encounter problems.
I ordered bluetooth speakers (with batteries attached to the motherboard) and encountered no problems through NY.

As always, you not sure, contact Olivia first and ask. [email protected]

 

[Weblord]

I shipped two (cheap) laptops from Amazon via Aramex NY. I didnt have any issues (other than slow delivery). Do you think its still safe/viable to ship laptops using Aramex/AGS?

I think they may be safe, but to be honest I will not try it personally. I just shipped a Dell XPS 13 via Fedex on eBay's GSP. I was too scared shipping it through Aramex. My laptop left Kentucky, USA on Thursday and it came into Johannesburg on Sunday morning. Fedex done customs Sunday morning and Monday it was delivered to me. Anything above R1,000 I will rather pay more and get a faster, better service.

By the way, my second package with Aramex arrived at New York last Saturday. Uploaded my invoice a minute after they sent me a notification. It is now 5 days later, nothing has happened as yet. All requests submitted is ignored, so are all e-mails sent.

 

[Nigelm]

If you look at the AGS Unacceptable List you will see they do not mention laptops:
https://www.aramexglobalshopper.com...319/51166/AGS_Unacceptable Items List_V19.pdf

Batteries are another matter entirely, that they do not carry.
When it comes to your laptop, stick to New York as China are very sticky about carrying anything with a battery inside and you may encounter problems.
I ordered bluetooth speakers (with batteries attached to the motherboard) and encountered no problems through NY.

As always, you not sure, contact Olivia first and ask. [email protected]

Yep, I also looked at the AGS unacceptable list and it does not mention anything about laptops not being allowed.

I am afraid that even some of the AGS people themselves are not 100% clued up.

 

[Nigelm]

I think they may be safe, but to be honest I will not try it personally. I just shipped a Dell XPS 13 via Fedex on eBay's GSP. I was too scared shipping it through Aramex. My laptop left Kentucky, USA on Thursday and it came into Johannesburg on Sunday morning. Fedex done customs Sunday morning and Monday it was delivered to me. Anything above R1,000 I will rather pay more and get a faster, better service.

By the way, my second package with Aramex arrived at New York last Saturday. Uploaded my invoice a minute after they sent me a notification. It is now 5 days later, nothing has happened as yet. All requests submitted is ignored, so are all e-mails sent.

Thats a good option to choose (Fedex) if you have it. However, alot of items on Amazon or Ebay need to be drop shipped from the US to ZA. In this case a service like AGS is the only option.

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

By the way, my second package with Aramex arrived at New York last Saturday. Uploaded my invoice a minute after they sent me a notification. It is now 5 days later, nothing has happened as yet. All requests submitted is ignored, so are all e-mails sent.

What on earth did you order? My NY packages usually move within 2 days. Have you phoned them?
Phone 0114573000

 

[Weblord]

Thats a good option to choose (Fedex) if you have it. However, alot of items on Amazon or Ebay need to be drop shipped from the US to ZA. In this case a service like AGS is the only option.

Yes, when I buy expensive items on eBay, I only make use of sellers using the Global Shipping Program. Nothing else. I do not order from Amazon as eBay offer me the opportunity to pay using Paypal. But yes, Fedex is brilliant and the costs via the GSP is very reasonable.

What on earth did you order? My NY packages usually move within 2 days. Have you phoned them?
Phone 0114573000

It was a laptop backpack. No, I did not as yet, but will do so soon. On my first shipping I had the same experience. Nothing moves unless you keep contacting them. In my opinion, this far, they are the same as the SA Post Office. And, for that matter most of my lower cost packages I buy abroad, I rather have sent via the Post Office. They seem to be faster, on occasions, than Aramex.

 

[Weblord]

I am afraid that even some of the AGS people themselves are not 100% clued up.

From my little experience with Aramex, I tend to agree. I think they are new in the game of mass international shipping and I think they are struggling at this point in time.

They also recently, a couple of months ago, got an agreement with eBay in the UK. Things are not going well there either.

Here is a few points I found:

Firstly, I think their systems are not working correctly. Their systems does not appear to properly manage and track packages. It is quite unacceptable that packages sit without movement for 2-5 days and clients need to contact them.

Secondly, I feel that they may be inundated with the workload, even with eBay orders, which seems to ship faster than their Global Shopper Program. It also seem that with their Global Shopper Program, packages are often left to wait days for an available flight. Not all packages are guaranteed a flight every day.

Thirdly, they seem to have no relations with customs in many countries. Fedex, UPS, etc., all have methods of getting their packages through customs in a matter of hours. None of them have to wait a day or two. Aramex packages may sit a day or two at customs, which I experienced with my first package and even two packages I ordered from the UK via eBay's GSP last year, which was shipped via them.

 

[DeeinSouthAfrica]

Yes, when I buy expensive items on eBay, I only make use of sellers using the Global Shipping Program. Nothing else. I do not order from Amazon as eBay offer me the opportunity to pay using Paypal. But yes, Fedex is brilliant and the costs via the GSP is very reasonable.

Quite a number of different items on eBay are USA only. The seller does not use the Pitney Bowes Global Shipping Program as they will only send locally and therefore do not need it. This is where having an address in New York is so helpful.

It was a laptop backpack. No, I did not as yet, but will do so soon. On my first shipping I had the same experience. Nothing moves unless you keep contacting them. In my opinion, this far, they are the same as the SA Post Office. And, for that matter most of my lower cost packages I buy abroad, I rather have sent via the Post Office. They seem to be faster, on occasions, than Aramex.

The people at AGS are only human. If you keep on contacting them impatiently via email you will make few friends. Rather phone them and ask them politely what the heck is happening.