Buffalo couriers

wbot

wbot

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Hey all.

I ordered something which is being imported from China and they're using Buffalo couriers or logistics or something. Just recieved an email supposedly from Buffalo customer services asking for my importers code (no idea what that is) or my personal ID which I have to enter on a badly translated, dodgy looking website. Apparently this is for customs clearance but I've never had to do anything like this. Copied this from the website that looks like it was designed in wordpad or something:

BUFFALO
Hi:<my name>,
Yours parcel <my tracking number> is transporting from China.
Kindly please input your Importer's Code or Personal ID:
Why do I have to provide these infomations?
Note:
!Please confirm yours input is accurate, otherwise the clearance may delayed or even detained.
!If you have committed with any mistake, you can input correct informations and commit again.
!Customer service : WhatsApp(Only) +27 813886570
Click to expand...

I don't trust this and don't wanna give anyone my ID. Anyone else ever used Buffalo? Is this actually legit? If I don't give my ID then what happens to my parcel?

I've imported from China before but never had to give any personal info or anything.
 
Used them two times when importing from banggood. Overall has been good.
If you don't want to input your ID no, maybe just contact them directly.
 
I have had to do the same after receiving an email from them following my order from Banggood.

You are fine, just see id13's post.
 
Ok cheers guys. That link just looked very dodgy. They should do something about that
 
Hm now Buffalo is charging me extra before my parcel can be released. Have to EFT money into their back account. Never had to do any of this with parcels from other countries. Shouldn't all this already be included in what I've already paid for shipping etc?
 
its the 15% VAT i think
i have been using Buffalo since last year November for all my deliveries
It is legit

However SARS caught onto me this week importing my small orders and now i have to go and get an Importers Code because i have ordered more than twice :(

But Yes Buffalo is very legit, I promise
 
wbot said:
Hm now Buffalo is charging me extra before my parcel can be released. Have to EFT money into their back account. Never had to do any of this with parcels from other countries. Shouldn't all this already be included in what I've already paid for shipping etc?
Click to expand...
Buffalo is legit(20+ deliveries in the past few years), vat and duty is charged separately in the country you receive the item and not where you order it.
They should have an option to pay by credit card.
 
wbot said:
Hm now Buffalo is charging me extra before my parcel can be released. Have to EFT money into their back account. Never had to do any of this with parcels from other countries. Shouldn't all this already be included in what I've already paid for shipping etc?
Click to expand...

You paid for shipping, now you are paying for duties/TAX and the clearing of the parcel through customs. Trust me, buffalo is the cheapest of the lot. Well, the post office is the cheapest with their clearing fees, but then you would need to wait months for the delivery, if you even end up getting it at all. DHL charges ~R150 for the same service and TNT charges like R400. That is simply to clear the parcel, after you have paid some big bucks for the delivery already, excluding the customs duties/VAT.
 
Buffalo has jacked their prices but are still the cheapest. There was times I was charged R30 shipping and the courier delivered to my door. Banggood shipped via Buffalo who received in JHB and sent down to Durban to my door via Fastways Couriers all for R30.

So yeah, I can understand the dodgy looking website and poor customer service. At those margins they are providing a valuable service that people in US, Europe and Australia get only by paying DHL level prices.
 
wbot said:
Hm now Buffalo is charging me extra before my parcel can be released.
Click to expand...
I have used them to buy from Banggood. I selected to take the tax free option (think it was an extra R25 or something). All I had to do was pay Buffalo and then Banggood refunded me the amount. Took about 20 minutes for them to process the refund. Money was back in my CC the next day. None of this SA BS 7 to 14 working days refund "scam" that most online retailers like to "offer" us.
 
Dairyfarmer said:
I have used them to buy from Banggood. I selected to take the tax free option (think it was an extra R25 or something). All I had to do was pay Buffalo and then Banggood refunded me the amount. Took about 20 minutes for them to process the refund. Money was back in my CC the next day. None of this SA BS 7 to 14 working days refund "scam" that most online retailers like to "offer" us.
Click to expand...
I experienced the same. Received my order earlier this week. Took less than two weeks
 
My only gripe with Buffalo is that they are sending parcels via Paxi. Having to go find a Pep store that I've never heard of in the dodgy parts of town is not ideal.

Do they still do 'to the door'? Or was I just unlucky with my last delivery?
 
Dairyfarmer said:
I have used them to buy from Banggood. I selected to take the tax free option (think it was an extra R25 or something). All I had to do was pay Buffalo and then Banggood refunded me the amount. Took about 20 minutes for them to process the refund. Money was back in my CC the next day. None of this SA BS 7 to 14 working days refund "scam" that most online retailers like to "offer" us.
Click to expand...
I also took the duties insurance option on banggood for like R6, I needed to pay Buffalo R57 for duties. Within 3 or 4 days of emailing Banggood the receipt of Buffalo for the duties, the R57 was back in my bank account. I have zero complaints about their service and process.
 
sgs said:
My only gripe with Buffalo is that they are sending parcels via Paxi. Having to go find a Pep store that I've never heard of in the dodgy parts of town is not ideal.

Do they still do 'to the door'? Or was I just unlucky with my last delivery?
Click to expand...
It just depends on your address... I get most of my parcels through buffalo to my door
 
sgs said:
My only gripe with Buffalo is that they are sending parcels via Paxi. Having to go find a Pep store that I've never heard of in the dodgy parts of town is not ideal.
Click to expand...
We have 3 Pep stores in out one horse town. All three get Paxi deliveries. Mine always goes to the hardest to get to, doggiest part of town, slowest staff and no parking.
 
I ordered from gearbest. Parcel should arrive today I think. Didn't see a tax free option
 
sgs said:
My only gripe with Buffalo is that they are sending parcels via Paxi. Having to go find a Pep store that I've never heard of in the dodgy parts of town is not ideal.

Do they still do 'to the door'? Or was I just unlucky with my last delivery?
Click to expand...
Mine came to my door this week
 
sgs said:
My only gripe with Buffalo is that they are sending parcels via Paxi. Having to go find a Pep store that I've never heard of in the dodgy parts of town is not ideal.

Do they still do 'to the door'? Or was I just unlucky with my last delivery?
Click to expand...
i had that once before a few months back
took me 2 days to find the Pep store branch, its google map address is off by almost 2km
 
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