CRIME in SA: FedEx SA no longer accept cash (or other payments)

[Frankie]

It appears to be a generalised trend and probably has to do more with rising crime than with more modern business practices.

Could it be a smoke screen for a chosen business practice to avoid the high bank fees for cash deposits - I've heard these are higher than their loss on a credit card transaction.

 

[PeterCH]

Could it be a smoke screen for a chosen business practice to avoid the high bank fees for cash deposits - I've heard these are higher than their loss on a credit card transaction.

Perhaps. They still have a ready supply of red "COD" stickers.
Who really knows.

Maybe an email to FedEx USA to ask for clarification will work.
If I have time to do this, I'll post any results here.

Also one note, I mentioned this before, but FedEx SA became quite
defensive when I quoted this:

Time-Definite, 1–3 Business Days
FedEx International First®, outbound as early as 9 a.m., inbound by 8 or 8:30 a.m. FedEx International Priority®

Time-Definite, 2–5 Business Days
FedEx International Economy® NA

http://www.fedex.com/us/choosefedex/services.html

They were adamant that their company policy differs to that on FedEx US page. LOL! Is that typical new SA attitude or what???
My package was Priority (Toolfarm only does Priority and they're flat rate - I paid the same for an 8kg shipment last year.

 

[Frankie]

Perhaps. They still have a ready supply of red "COD" stickers.
Who really knows.

Maybe an email to FedEx USA to ask for clarification will work.
If I have time to do this, I'll post any results here.

Also one note, I mentioned this before, but FedEx SA became quite
defensive when I quoted this:


http://www.fedex.com/us/choosefedex/services.html

They were adamant that their company policy differs to that on FedEx US page. LOL! Is that typical new SA attitude or what???
My package was Priority (Toolfarm only does Priority and they're flat rate - I paid the same for an 8kg shipment last year.

I'd be interested to hear FedEx US' response, because based on their SA partners policies they cannot meet their agreement of sale.

 

[eXpansys South Africa]

Just to clarify one of the earlier posts, eXpansys is fully represented and operational in South Africa as of early December 2008. There is a licensing agreement between Premiumstores and eXpansys plc. The South Africa site offers all the products that can be found in other regions such as the UK and USA with the exception of TV's at present.

All pricing on the website is including VAT, shipping is available from R 49 or collections are available.

 

[Frankie]

Just to clarify one of the earlier posts, eXpansys is fully represented and operational in South Africa as of early December 2008. There is a licensing agreement between Premiumstores and eXpansys plc. The South Africa site offers all the products that can be found in other regions such as the UK and USA with the exception of TV's at present.

All pricing on the website is including VAT, shipping is available from R 49 or collections are available.

Why are the prices so different to those from your sites abroad?



HTC Touch HD
version: UK, English, GPS, 8GB microSD card
Handset Only Price: HK$5,790
http://www.expansys.com.hk/p.aspx?i=173502
----------------------------------------------------------
HTC Touch HD
version: UK, English, GPS, 8GB microSD card
Handset Only Price: R9,689.99 (8,499.99 exc.)
http://www.expansys.co.za/p.aspx?i=173502


5,790 Hong Kong Dollar = 7,574.05 South
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

 

[eXpansys South Africa]

There are a number of factors which need to be taken into effect, especially when making a comparison with the HK Site. In South Africa, there is 14% VAT payable on all goods imported into South Africa in addition to 8% duty payable on mobile phones. We would also need to factor in the cost of freight from either Hong Kong or the UK.

If we look at the example in the prior post,

Based on the converted HK price in ZAR 7574, once adding 8% for customs duty, airfreight and 14% VAT, you arrive at ZAR 9689 if not pretty close.

We strive to have all pricing competitive at all times. We believe the above price is very well positioned when compared to other online and/or retail stores.

 

[Frankie]

There are a number of factors which need to be taken into effect, especially when making a comparison with the HK Site. In South Africa, there is 14% VAT payable on all goods imported into South Africa in addition to 8% duty payable on mobile phones. We would also need to factor in the cost of freight from either Hong Kong or the UK.

If we look at the example in the prior post,

Based on the converted HK price in ZAR 7574, once adding 8% for customs duty, airfreight and 14% VAT, you arrive at ZAR 9689 if not pretty close.

We strive to have all pricing competitive at all times. We believe the above price is very well positioned when compared to other online and/or retail stores.

Surely the goods sold in UK would be subject to the same costs, and their VAT is higher than ours.

HTC Touch HD
version: UK, English, GPS, 8GB microSD card
Handset Only Price: £544.99 (473.90 exc.)
http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=173502


544.99 British Pound = 7,889.38 South African

 

[eXpansys South Africa]

If you took the ex VAT UK price and applied the various factors, it works out to just under R 9000. That would be if you typically purchased off the UK site and had it drop shipped to you. Your transaction is now with the UK based operation which could lead to additional fees on your part should you have a warranty issue with handset and you would need to return to the UK at your own expense.

Purchasing off the local domain would mean that your transaction is handled through ourselves which would extend to any warranty issues.

We are also operating a trading entity which does have costs to successfully operate, all of this needs to be factored into our final landed price which does not make it as easy as just converting the UK price in ZAR as if the conditions were the same.

 

[Frankie]

If you took the ex VAT UK price and applied the various factors, it works out to just under R 9000. That would be if you typically purchased off the UK site and had it drop shipped to you. Your transaction is now with the UK based operation which could lead to additional fees on your part should you have a warranty issue with handset and you would need to return to the UK at your own expense.

Purchasing off the local domain would mean that your transaction is handled through ourselves which would extend to any warranty issues.

We are also operating a trading entity which does have costs to successfully operate, all of this needs to be factored into our final landed price which does not make it as easy as just converting the UK price in ZAR as if the conditions were the same.

I was not suggesting purchasing the example goods from an online store abroad, but pointing out that those abroad enjoy much better pricing than you are offering to the SA public.

 

[eXpansys South Africa]

You were comparing the pricing with the local pricing. It has always been known that pricing in overseas territories is better than in SA.