Buying from Amazon or Ebay in RSA

[moemedimrtn]

Is it really cheap, importing PC Hardwares abroad to RSA. Can anybody share their recent experience in acquiring goods from abroad. How does post office charge custom duties? Where can one import iphone or ipad screens?

 

[Mobus]

There are a bunch of similar threads on mbb which should give you all the detail. In short, I recently imported a usb modem from china for R350. It was shipped through our local post office. Upon pick-up I only had to pay 14% VAT or some other tax.

I believe there's some rule about receiving one or two "free gifts" worth R400 per year without needing to pay customs duties. Take a long a copy of the invoice when you pick it up. That said, I've heard fees and rules can be quite randomly applied. Sometimes you pay nothing, sometimes you pay 20% or more. Customs duties also vary on the type of product e.g. tech / textiles / alcohol.

If you're importing for your own consumption its probably worth the gamble for a item < R2000. More and the risks increase. Lost in SAPO, or handling fees by commercial agents (DHL etc). If you plan to import large quantities, its probably worth to arrange with an specific agent beforehand.

 

[envo]

good luck finding stuff you can actually buy, i've had the misfortune of running into their automated "customs denies this so we won't ship to you" BS

 

[Trilkop]

True, there are a number of companies that do ship to South Africa. But at the end of the, on virtually any product, when you consider the cost of the product, shipping fees and import duties, it will probably work out more expensive. In some instances, where it is cheaper, it may be better to pay the extra money and get your product immediately instead of waiting 1-3 weeks for private couriers or 1-2 years for the SA Post Office.

 

[Hermes14]

good luck finding stuff you can actually buy, i've had the misfortune of running into their automated "customs denies this so we won't ship to you" BS

I have had the same response from Amazon & a lot of oversees companies use amazon to ship their goods.
The big problem is the S.A Post Office.
A few years ago I bought some DVDs from Amazon.
The item could be traced up until the time it left America.
The South Africa Post Office could find no trace of my DVDs in South Africa, untill I opened a criminal case at the Police Station, then all of a sudden they managed to find them.

 

[Space_Chief]

True, there are a number of companies that do ship to South Africa. But at the end of the, on virtually any product, when you consider the cost of the product, shipping fees and import duties, it will probably work out more expensive. In some instances, where it is cheaper, it may be better to pay the extra money and get your product immediately instead of waiting 1-3 weeks for private couriers or 1-2 years for the SA Post Office.

It's silly to import just to save a few bucks, I agree. Most of us import because SA is a relative backwater and selection of goods here is very limited.
It's either get the item, or not get the item.

Still I have saved money on imports. Especially if you import many items, every little saving counts.

 

[koeksGHT]

Use https://www.shipito.com/

 

[Sinbad]

I bought from amazon recently. Paid on 28 September. goods arrived 6 October. Shipping $10.
Came by courier, not post office

 

[Mobus]

I bought from ebay/china in December last year. Package came in through SAPO. Took about 4-6 weeks (can't remember the exact dates). Paid 14% VAT. Was still 3x to 4x cheaper than buying the modem locally.

 

[moemedimrtn]

I bought from amazon recently. Paid on 28 September. goods arrived 6 October. Shipping $10.
Came by courier, not post office

Did you use www.shipito.com?
Do you remember the name of your supplier?
Im sorry if it is personal, what did you buy and how much the total cost?
i want to work out the costs.

 

[Sinbad]

Did you use www.shipito.com?
Do you remember the name of your supplier?
Im sorry if it is personal, what did you buy and how much the total cost?
i want to work out the costs.

No, I used amazon directly.

ORDER PLACED
September 28, 2015
TOTAL
$34.76
SHIP TO
Sinbad
ORDER # 109-737614-xxxxx
Order Details Invoice
Delivered Oct 6, 2015
Your package was delivered.
Track package

Maverick Baker's Oven Thermometer
Sold by: Amazon Export Sales LLC
$22.40

 

[Space_Chief]

Because of the weak R/USD I suggest using buyee.jp and yahoo JP auctions, yahoo shopping
or kakaku.com and tenso.com

 

[pedruid]

Any idea what the charges are on a smartphone brought into the country by a friend coming back from Canada?