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Honorary Master
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2005
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I sent an email to an Aramex director last week, asking them to consider a model to compete with SAPO. Why am I so unpatriotic?
Well, I'm not being unpatriotic, I'm rather trying to save the South African economy and consumers money.
Let's start off with the need for some good quality miniature bearings. Much needed last week already and not available locally. These are for specialized repairs where it literally makes the difference between between importing a heavy 2nd-user sub-assembly from the USA at quite a price, even more heftier import costs, versus doing a simple repair locally (refurbishment to like new status) as three magnitudes or order lower costs. Quite a big difference in money out of my and the country's pocket.
These miniature bearings were available on AliExpress. As such I ordered a batch at $3.50 including free shipping via China Airmail. Within three days shipping had taken place. It landed locally not long after that. Welcome to SAPO:
At this stage the parcel had been sitting at Johannesburg International Mail Center for a month.
To get the first movement going, I'd email SAPO's complaints desk. This was after trying to phone SAPO in vain.
It sat at customs a long time. While I cannot say it with certainty, bringing in kit from abroad: Even though customs is slow, they're never THAT slow!
A week and a bit ago, I even went as far as to email Mr Barnes of SAPO, explaining the costs they are subjecting me to, not being able to deliver a small simple parcel, cc'ing complaints and customer service. The silence is overwhelming.
So, last week, after using PostNet for other stuff, it hit me:
While PostNet is not the best, we could do much, much worse. Their costs are appropriate for the service.
As such I reached out to Aramex suggesting the consider a service for the likes of AliExpress, eBay etc to South Africa that bypasses SAPO without damaging the cost benefits possible too much.
I believe I have done South Africa favour.
/Edit: Typo in title - should be Asking - duh ...
Well, I'm not being unpatriotic, I'm rather trying to save the South African economy and consumers money.
Let's start off with the need for some good quality miniature bearings. Much needed last week already and not available locally. These are for specialized repairs where it literally makes the difference between between importing a heavy 2nd-user sub-assembly from the USA at quite a price, even more heftier import costs, versus doing a simple repair locally (refurbishment to like new status) as three magnitudes or order lower costs. Quite a big difference in money out of my and the country's pocket.
These miniature bearings were available on AliExpress. As such I ordered a batch at $3.50 including free shipping via China Airmail. Within three days shipping had taken place. It landed locally not long after that. Welcome to SAPO:
At this stage the parcel had been sitting at Johannesburg International Mail Center for a month.
To get the first movement going, I'd email SAPO's complaints desk. This was after trying to phone SAPO in vain.
It sat at customs a long time. While I cannot say it with certainty, bringing in kit from abroad: Even though customs is slow, they're never THAT slow!
A week and a bit ago, I even went as far as to email Mr Barnes of SAPO, explaining the costs they are subjecting me to, not being able to deliver a small simple parcel, cc'ing complaints and customer service. The silence is overwhelming.
So, last week, after using PostNet for other stuff, it hit me:
While PostNet is not the best, we could do much, much worse. Their costs are appropriate for the service.
As such I reached out to Aramex suggesting the consider a service for the likes of AliExpress, eBay etc to South Africa that bypasses SAPO without damaging the cost benefits possible too much.
I believe I have done South Africa favour.
/Edit: Typo in title - should be Asking - duh ...
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