Customs Cape Mail 99% asleep

chrisc

chrisc

Honorary Master
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Expecting parcel from China. Track and trace advise arrived in SA on 29th June. No notification. PostMaster in Plumstead advised to go along to Customs Cape Mail with tracking number and they will look it up. Lady at counter refused to look anything up without official notification, said it could be anywhere. But I said, here is tracking number and computer is in front of you. And why does it take nearly 4 weeks for you to process parcel valued at $12.00. She looked over my shoulder and said "next customer"

So I called Cape Mail and complained. Person who answered phone quite disinterested and would only say that according to their records, parcel arrived on 29th June. On complaining about tardy service, said he was only permitted to divulge tracking info. PostMaster at Plumstead said it is out of his hands.
 
Sounds about right. I'm expecting 3 parcels from China - been over 5 weeks already. The PO system here is worse than useless!
 
chrisc4290 said:
Expecting parcel from China. Track and trace advise arrived in SA on 29th June. No notification. PostMaster in Plumstead advised to go along to Customs Cape Mail with tracking number and they will look it up. Lady at counter refused to look anything up without official notification, said it could be anywhere. But I said, here is tracking number and computer is in front of you. And why does it take nearly 4 weeks for you to process parcel valued at $12.00. She looked over my shoulder and said "next customer"

So I called Cape Mail and complained. Person who answered phone quite disinterested and would only say that according to their records, parcel arrived on 29th June. On complaining about tardy service, said he was only permitted to divulge tracking info. PostMaster at Plumstead said it is out of his hands.
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As far as I understand if the package arrives at Cape Mail it has not been processed by Customs yet. So some bloke must check your parcel, see what value it is, see what the contents are, then release it to you.

You cannot just pitch up with an international tracking number and expect them to go take it off the shelf for you before it has been processed.

It sucks, but that is how I understand it.
 
Species8472 said:
As far as I understand if the package arrives at Cape Mail it has not been processed by Customs yet. So some bloke must check your parcel, see what value it is, see what the contents are, then release it to you.
Click to expand...

Couple of months ago I ordered a set of wiper blades from the UK, value 12 pounds. They charged me R260 for duties - without even opening the package. F-ing useless Cape Mail.
 
I just spent 3 days trying to convince the Mowbray PO to rummage around in the back room and locate my parcel. They would repeatedly come back after 2 minutes of presumably scratching their heads, and tell me they couldn't find it. At which point my time would run out and I'd have to leave and come back the next day to repeat the procedure.
 
Yup, sometimes they just add a random number to the value stated on the outside of the package, like 30% or something.

But some of my packages have been opened, then sealed again with "inspected by customs" tape or something. Thankfully nothing has gone missing yet.
 
Save yourself allot of headache. FedEx it. Yes, a bit more expensive, but oh SO much better / quicker. Most of the stuff we order receive pre-clearance as well, meaning that it doesn't end up at customs when it arrives in SA, fedex invoices us for duties, we pay, they deliver. Simple as that.
 
Bad time to jump in and tell a story of how I am still waiting for a parcel to clear customs, after a year? Also nothing of high value - just stationery.

Don't get me started on higher value items. It took nearly 6 months to release a Wacom Inkling.

Maybe I am just very unlucky :D
 
I have a supplier's invoice and proof of payment. Also a completed customs form with the tarriff heading, all the work has been done. They are so bloody s-l-o-w.

The tracking number, inputted into the computer at Cape Mail will tell them: When it was scanned in, the bin and shelf number (the physical location of the parcel) and whether it has been assessed. You are entitled to bring your own assessment along and they may or may not agree with it. I have been doing this since 1985, but found in the last few years, they are getting slower and slower.

Sorry to say, but if you get a white guy helping you, he will look up the bin, go and fetch it himself and bring it to the counter there and then. This indigenous lady was more concerned about easing the crease out of her uniform trousers, as on the way out, one of the clearing agents said in a stage whisper, "f**k it is her again".
 
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