Aramex global shopper

DeeinSouthAfrica said:
That is not entirely true. I once had a phone call as I work from home and they know it. The dog had escaped and was laying on the front stoep and the Aramex guy was too wary about getting out of the van.
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Lol I'm going to try that!

My delivery slot is between 8-10, spoke to my driver and it's just how the routes work out.
 
I only saw this week that eBay's Global Shipping Program is now available in the UK too, and not only in the US. I just placed an order to see how it works.

The shipping for a 1KG package cost me R240. The seller sent the parcel to their International Shipping Center at Alfreton, Derbyshire. Within a day it was processed and left the facility. They notified me that the courier is Aramex.

I am delighted, because I love this program. They take care of import taxes, everything. I normally use it when buying from the US. From there they make use of Fedex.

If all goes well, I will be buying a lot more from the UK now.
 
DeeinSouthAfrica said:
Parcel sent, costing $185. Sender in China declared $30 on parcel.
Parcel stopped for random audit...

Payment Due
Total Duty and VATZAR 843.41
PenaltyZAR 2842.91
Disbursement FeeZAR 150.00
Total DueZAR 3836.32

:(
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This happens more often than people may think. And the chances of SARS reimbursing is next to nil.

My old mans business imports big stuff from the East, and often sellers under declare, even if you insist. Waiting for over a hundred grand in disputes with SARS.
 
reactor_sa said:
This happens more often than people may think. And the chances of SARS reimbursing is next to nil.

My old mans business imports big stuff from the East, and often sellers under declare, even if you insist. Waiting for over a hundred grand in disputes with SARS.
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That's more or less what the DHL chap said. Luckily I paid through PayPal, and seeing as none of my whatsapps to China are being answered, I will dispute it shortly. As far as I am concerned, declaring an $185 parcel as a $30 parcel is SNAD (significantly not as described).
 
DeeinSouthAfrica said:
That's more or less what the DHL chap said. Luckily I paid through PayPal, and seeing as none of my whatsapps to China are being answered, I will dispute it shortly. As far as I am concerned, declaring an $185 parcel as a $30 parcel is SNAD (significantly not as described).
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Not sure how exactly you would go about overturning that but I do believe you should be able to remove that penalty. Its not like you and the seller declared $30 when its not possible to be that low and would most likely have a valuation in the region of $185.
 
I have a shipment from NY that is now in JHB. I have attached ebay invoice and screenshot of ebay order.
Status: Held in Customs - Awaiting Customer Instructions

However I haven't received any communication from AGS, unless they phoned me from a number listed in Truecaller, but even so, the only phonecall today was from "multicover".
 
Tinuva said:
I have a shipment from NY that is now in JHB. I have attached ebay invoice and screenshot of ebay order.
Status: Held in Customs - Awaiting Customer Instructions

However I haven't received any communication from AGS, unless they phoned me from a number listed in Truecaller, but even so, the only phonecall today was from "multicover".
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You get that every now and then instead of "Customs Clearance In Progress" or "Received at Operations Facility"

Nothing to worry about.
 
"Global Shopper" service misleading and slow

Since 10 October "Power Banks and standalone Batteries are now unacceptable" as per a AGS service update. This is an IATA requirement and affects shipping of batteries.

My problem relates to shipments of a watch with a small, built-in battery and another of a mobile phone. The item arrived on Monday the 17th in Hong Kong and I submitted the invoice on the same day. The shipment still states 'Need invoice' on my online profile.

I submitted a query and got a response on Thursday the 20th asking me whether the battery can be removed or the entire shipment sent back to the supplier. I asked for a picture or confirmation whether it is a phone or a watch, as I don't know which it is. I was pretty sure it is a watch with a tiny 450mAh (1.7 Wh) non-removable built-in battery. I have not received a picture or confirmation.

UPDATE 23 Oct:
I am now certain it's a smartwatch, not the mobile phone.

The mobile phone I'm expecting is still in-transit per tracking. Plus, I now have confirmation from the shipper that the AGS shipment in question is indeed the smartwatch with a tiny built-in battery that cannot be removed.

Yet, Aramex now 'confirms' that it is a Mobile Phone, which I know is not and cannot be in this case. They still haven't provided a picture to confirm the contents, as I've requested. I have sent several screenshots, an invoice, specs and information to help clarify the matter.
The online description has read 'Phones/Mobile' from day 1.

The service update states that "However, this does not affect items that come packaged with batteries inside or have inbuilt batteries." This seems to indicate that the watch should not be an issue. Even the phone, if the battery is built-in or 'comes packaged with batteries inside' should not be affected.

If AGS is no longer shipping items with built-in batteries it means that almost all electronic items (i.e. toys, wireless headsets, portable speakers, gps devices, cameras, gaming consoles, etc.) and anything that charges cannot be purchased. Then it should be called AG 'non-electronic item' shopper. (Pardon my facetiousness).

In summary, buyer beware, MANY items you want to buy will be discarded or returned to sender. Secondly, service is terribly slow and online system does not seem to work.
 
Last edited:
inspiredfr said:
"Global Shopper" service misleading and slow

Since 10 October "Power Banks and standalone Batteries are now unacceptable" as per a AGS service update. This is an IATA requirement and affects shipping of batteries.

My problem relates to shipments of a watch with a small, built-in battery and another of a mobile phone. The item arrived on Monday the 17th in Hong Kong and I submitted the invoice on the same day. The shipment still states 'Need invoice' on my online profile.

I submitted a query and got a response on Thursday the 20th asking me whether the battery can be removed or the entire shipment sent back to the supplier. I asked for a picture or confirmation whether it is a phone or a watch, as I don't know which it is. I was pretty sure it is a watch with a tiny 450mAh (1.7 Wh) non-removable built-in battery. I have not received a picture or confirmation.

UPDATE 23 Oct:
I am now certain it's a smartwatch, not the mobile phone.

The mobile phone I'm expecting is still in-transit per tracking. Plus, I now have confirmation from the shipper that the AGS shipment in question is indeed the smartwatch with a tiny built-in battery that cannot be removed.

Yet, Aramex now 'confirms' that it is a Mobile Phone, which I know is not and cannot be in this case. They still haven't provided a picture to confirm the contents, as I've requested. I have sent several screenshots, an invoice, specs and information to help clarify the matter.
The online description has read 'Phones/Mobile' from day 1.

The service update states that "However, this does not affect items that come packaged with batteries inside or have inbuilt batteries." This seems to indicate that the watch should not be an issue. Even the phone, if the battery is built-in or 'comes packaged with batteries inside' should not be affected.

If AGS is no longer shipping items with built-in batteries it means that almost all electronic items (i.e. toys, wireless headsets, portable speakers, gps devices, cameras, gaming consoles, etc.) and anything that charges cannot be purchased. Then it should be called AG 'non-electronic item' shopper. (Pardon my facetiousness).

In summary, buyer beware, MANY items you want to buy will be discarded or returned to sender. Secondly, service is terribly slow and online system does not seem to work.
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If you go on their website there are clear descriptions that any battery product from China or Hong Kong is prohibited from being shipped since 1 January 2016 in the Unacceptable Items document.

The other battery products mentioned is for shipments from the US and Europe that allowed it in the past but also have some restrictions now.
All your items with batteries will be confiscated or you will need to pay $10 per parcel to ship it back to the seller if they will accept it back.
Your only option is to pay around $40 for DHL/EMS to ship the items to South Africa if the seller even ships to South Africa directly otherwise you are going to have even bigger problems if they don't ship directly here. Maybe airmail is an option but you will have to pay the seller again for that since they already paid once for the shipping to Hong Kong and won't do it again for free and wait around 2 months and hope your parcel don't get lost at JIMC.

Aramex still ships battery products but not AGS but their clearance fee is R300 so unless you buy expensive items it won't be worth it.
 
Don't be too hard on him. Its an easy thing to overlook, this battery story.
I think that if the battery is not removable he does have a case. AGS should ship, but not on a passenger aircraft (cargo airplane only).
As for phones, I believe AGS do ship, but it is always best to phone someone and ask before you order that shiny S7 with its non-removable battery.
 
So shipping stuff with li-ion batteries/loose batteries from China via good old snail mail air mail is still allowed?
 
I have to admit I did become a bit worked up about this and become a bit manic sometimes.
I'm not really that versed in forum decorum and best practice posting. But, so you learn.
I now know that any item with a batttery from China is 'unacceptable'. So, I'm SOL on this one.
I't just that the IATA rules are not nearly as strict, basically exempting items with built-in batteries or cells with <2Wh capacity. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm pretty sure my watch, with a battery (technically a single cell, which is much safer) that cannot be removed without damaging the watch, which only has a capacity of 1.6Wh (450 mAh @3.7V).

In any way, dis my ***.

The actual message for me was that by far the majority of stuff I want imported from China have batteries. So, this has just made this service of limited use now.

Rant/over
 
inspiredfr said:
I have to admit I did become a bit worked up about this and become a bit manic sometimes.
I'm not really that versed in forum decorum and best practice posting. But, so you learn.
I now know that any item with a batttery from China is 'unacceptable'. So, I'm SOL on this one.
I't just that the IATA rules are not nearly as strict, basically exempting items with built-in batteries or cells with <2Wh capacity. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm pretty sure my watch, with a battery (technically a single cell, which is much safer) that cannot be removed without damaging the watch, which only has a capacity of 1.6Wh (450 mAh @3.7V).

In any way, dis my ***.

The actual message for me was that by far the majority of stuff I want imported from China have batteries. So, this has just made this service of limited use now.

Rant/over
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I got this in my aramex inbox online, it was posted on the 10th of October. So a watch should be fine?

Power Banks and standalone Batteries are now unacceptable
Please note due to recent airline restrictions we are unable to ship power banks, batteries or shipments that contain standalone batteries. However, this does not affect items that come packaged with batteries inside or have inbuilt batteries. AGS members, who already have shipments in transit, will be contacted directly by our team. If you have any questions please contact your local AGS office.


Thank you
The AGS Team
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