crysis
Expert Member
What is the clearance fee for? I just paid R50 for clearance on another item. Why is that so high?
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Gearbest.com - Any good?
- Thread starter That_JC
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Conack
Expert Member
Supplied the legit invoice and full amount from the start, and asked Gearbest to include it with the package to have no problems with customs, so it's not penalty.
Seems awfully high though.
Paid R460 to Customs last month for a $227 Mi Max2. (Aliexpress / SAPO)
Seems awfully high though.
Paid R460 to Customs last month for a $227 Mi Max2. (Aliexpress / SAPO)
The R50 is for the "service" that Aramex do. It is standard on every package they take through customs - if they have to take it to customs. If it is small and passes through you don't pay it.
You can ask Aramex for the calculation.
You can ask Aramex for the calculation.
ZAGadgetReviews
Senior Member
Sorry for the delay in response. I did reply to your PM as well. Declaring at full value might be the correct thing to do but on average, customs charge extra for any package from GearBest as they assume it has been down declared. Since you requested the package to be declared at full price, they assumed it is actually worth 3-4 times the value and thus charged you accordingly. It is not fair but will have to work with Aramex to see how we can fix this as it is very excessive. If you resubmit for clearance, you can provide proof of payment and hope they clear it as normal.
I assist most people with items being down declared as 95% of packages won't be stopped. And if it is, we can supply what is needed for it to clear. There is no real winning as customs will either bill you to much assuming it was down declared. Packages declared at $80 gets charged R300 excluding Aramex charge. That is really high for electronics but fair since the value is slightly more.
In regards to Aramex's charge, their charge is normally R50 if the value is low. But if customs charge a lot, their price increases as I believe they pay it upfront.
Conack
Expert Member
This is the cost breakdown they came back with:
These amounts don't seem to add up to their quoted R936.43.
Mailed them back to ask if R620.67 is now the fully payable amount.
Still high, but atleast that's more palatable even if sour. Curious if the Tariff Code is the same on other people's orders?
Edit: They still insist on the R936.43 even though their own calculations shows R620.67.
Escalated this as per details from Kavir's PM, will see where it goes..
Hopefully the above exchange helps other folks ordering
These amounts don't seem to add up to their quoted R936.43.
Mailed them back to ask if R620.67 is now the fully payable amount.
Still high, but atleast that's more palatable even if sour. Curious if the Tariff Code is the same on other people's orders?
Edit: They still insist on the R936.43 even though their own calculations shows R620.67.
Escalated this as per details from Kavir's PM, will see where it goes..
Hopefully the above exchange helps other folks ordering
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crysis
Expert Member
That seems a bit sneaky? Why should the clearance fee change? Aramex are just pocketing this money for mahala?
Because it takes Aramex employees, who are being paid a salary, to process your parcel. If you were in business (as I am) and paid people a wage/salary, you would also want to recoup their time spent doing things for customers.
That just sounds like BS, in effect you are saying customs just make up their own rates based on a thumsuck.
At those rates maybe do a test and order from a different supplier that offers DHL shipping and see what you get nailed for as those fees seem high. It might just work out cheaper shipping & all.
crysis
Expert Member
It takes the same amount of time to process a parcel with a small value as it does a parcel with a large value. Therefore the clearance fee shouldn't change.
ZAGadgetReviews
Senior Member
I truly believe they do. I have enough invoices for us to prove this if you want as it is never consistent. I have seen it vary far to much and I have disputed a few customs charges before as they charges around 10 time the normal price. Just have to choose whether you want to go through the effort to resubmit or not.
But that's not even how it works. The courier does an electronic filing of a SAD 500 with customs/sars. The courier completes that form with the item codes etc & box 47 contains the info of how much vat/duties you are gonna pay and sars/customs just accepts that info as correct. Do you honestly think they sit there and calculate the value for each package that comes into the country? Legally they can query a declaration and have up to two years to to go back and check things.
Has aramex ever sent you a copy of the SAD 500 they submit to customs/sars?
ZAGadgetReviews
Senior Member
Yes, I have seen the SAD500 from them and DHL. My understanding is slightly different. They enter the information into a PC linked to customs (SAD500) and that is then calculated by Customs on what is due. I was not aware they calculated on Aramex side. If that is true, it still does not add up how a R2400 customs come to R650? Electronics should only be charged VAT but it does depend what code they used. Vat is around R327 according to my calculations.
I would ask for the sad500 for the R2400 and once revised to R650 ask for the last sad500. The only thing that really makes sense someone fscked up a code or something with the initial submission and the automated calculation came out wrong.
The calculations are automatic and done by the system, the initial input is done by the courier. Based on the code entered they will pick up that it's say a cellphone for example and based on the invoiced value and current exchange rate the sars system automatically calculates the VAT etc. There is no human hand involved here from customs/sars side, only their computers crunching the numbers. The courier feeds all the relevant data into their system which is linked to sars/custom and you get your sad500 form at the end of the day. What the courier feeds in is accepted on the sars side as valid/correct info.
If you look at how fast DHL clears packages (<1hr) and the vast amount of packages going through the system it would be nigh impossible for someone from customs to adjust the values based on a thumbsuck in such a short period of time.
So I would suggest looking at the courier as they are the ones entering the data into a completely automated system. Garbage in, garbage out.
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Conack
Expert Member
Just got off the phone with Aramex, and a gentleman assured me that there is nothing wrong with this invoice, and that he works with package clearance every day.
He said on all items they charge (sounded like he said R290, but I think he meant R260 going by the invoice) for clearance. Then went further to add that on mobile phones they add 7%, but on toys and other electronics they don't charge duties.
Apparently there's nothing to be done but to pay the full R936 according to him, and that I shouldn't be surprised as this is the normal pricing.
He said on all items they charge (sounded like he said R290, but I think he meant R260 going by the invoice) for clearance. Then went further to add that on mobile phones they add 7%, but on toys and other electronics they don't charge duties.
Apparently there's nothing to be done but to pay the full R936 according to him, and that I shouldn't be surprised as this is the normal pricing.
Just got off the phone with Aramex, and a gentleman assured me that there is nothing wrong with this invoice, and that he works with package clearance every day.
Apparently there's nothing to be done but to pay the full R936 according to him, and that I shouldn't be surprised as this is the normal pricing.
Ask him to send you the SAD 500 document, I would like to see what they submitted. Just redact your id number that appears on the PDF.
EDIT: 7%=R153 + 15%=R383 + R260=R797
Well that's as close as I come to their figure.
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HibiscusTunes
Expert Member
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Shipping via Airmail(SAPO).
How does one track using the international tracking number these days? The last update was 10 days ago. In the past using 17track I could follow the package all the way to my local postoffice, but the trail has ended with: "Delivered by air transport"
:wtf:
How does one track using the international tracking number these days? The last update was 10 days ago. In the past using 17track I could follow the package all the way to my local postoffice, but the trail has ended with: "Delivered by air transport"
:wtf:
Gtx Gaming
Gtx Gaming
All you can do is wait.
Soprono
Expert Member
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17TRACK will still track it to the end, it’s either in limbo and still being unloaded prior to it being scanned in again or the airmail didn’t make it over the sea.