Importing with TNT Express - Avoid at all cost

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xbmcfan

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I just want to warn everyone that wants to import and the seller uses TNT Express.
They might charge $10 shipping cost, much lower than DHL or EMS but they recoup their money from the buyers.

Not a single positive review on Hellopeter
https://hellopeter.com/tnt-express?page=1

They have the same exact robotic response to every single complaint namely
"Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

We would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused. The issue has been raised with the relevant management team.

Customer Service
0860 122 441"

You will never get an email response back from them.

If you get second hand goods from relatives, buy items on pre-sale or flash-sales you will most likely be out of pocket by about R2200 to claim your goods back if you are one of the unlucky ones they try to scam you with their R1575 penalty fee and hidden R469(sometimes R533) admin fees on top of the customs, vat and shipping costs you already paid.

Here is what costs you can expect
https://hellopeter.com/tnt-express/...e-for-basic-customs-form-submission-1-2032604

Here are international reviews.
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/tnt.co.uk
http://tnt-express.pissedconsumer.com/

In countries like the US and Canada people receive their parcels and 6 months later they receive invoices from TNT for over $100 for brokerage fees and services rendered.
At least in those countries people get their parcels before they have to pay these fees and can go to their consumer protection agencies and refuse to pay.

Unfortunately in South Africa you have to pay all the fees before your parcel is delivered.
If you refuse to pay and have the parcels delivered they also have extra fees to dispose of your parcels.

It would be very good if Mybroadband writers can do a full article on TNT Express and warn users and also compare all the different shipping options available to South Africans like DHL, EMS, Aramex with all their prices and hidden fees.

I was almost a victim myself but luckily researched a lot and only use EMS and Aramex now and sometimes DHL when in a hurry.
 
I agree with you. My brother sent me some stuff with TNT. Had to fork out their stupid Admin fee on top of the SARS fee basically making their fees more than the items sent. After I found this out I also goggled them and see they do this even in Europe, low fees for sending stuff but then make it up with hidden costs.

Will not use them ever again. Their attitude also sucks.
 
xbmcfan said:
It would be very good if Mybroadband writers can do a full article on TNT Express and warn users and also compare all the different shipping options available to South Africans like DHL, EMS, Aramex with all their prices and hidden fees.
Click to expand...

That would be useful.
 
Thanks for the warning. Have seen TNT as an option but never used them. Usually have good experience with DHL, EMS. Had one bad experience with Aramex (when they were Berco, regarding hidden fees) but last experience this year was good.
 
Mybroadband should definitely do an article and investigate TNT's unethical practises.
South African's are very cash strapped and the way they are ripping people off is just not right.
I just feel sorry for all the elderly people that might use them unknowingly or their relatives in other countries sending parcels here without knowing the high hidden costs involved.

Here are some costs I put together
DHL - R150 admin fee
Aramex - R50 admin fee
EMS - R40 admin fee
TNT Express - R469(or R533 if parcel value, weight is more) + R1500 penalty fee(if their estimate is more than what you paid or invoice value, no other shipping company has penalty fees except them and they tell you it is part of the customs tax) + disposal fees if you don't pay to dispose of your parcel + other fees they get out of thin air.
No email communication, robotic response on hellopeter, puts phone down when you enquire why the fees are so high.
No communication with customers if parcels are stuck at customs, you have to enquire yourself and pay up.
Lost parcels and non delivery problems to name a few.
 
Wish I found this thread sooner. I was just hit with a R380 admin fee which I find way too high compared to other couriers I've used. I phoned a TNT supervisor this morning to ask for a discount as I was not made aware of the exact amount of the admin fee on the website I was buying from. TNT first shifted blame to their supplier and said we as customers customers should sort it out with the supplier.

I mentioned that since they're partnering with the supplier it would make more sense for TNT to take it up with the supplier themselves. After that they told me I should have come to check on their website. I told them that is a great idea in theory but I doubt that many customers would bother as they would simply be expecting similar charges to other couriers. They then informed me they received lots of complaints regarding their admin fee on a daily basis and that the real problem is that they (TNT) are dealing with "an uneducated customer base".

Long story short. Discount was rejected and they're happy to blame everyone except themselves. Please learn from this uneducated customer's mistake and don't make use of TNT in future.
 
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+1 to never use TNT.

Last year i was charged about R560 , after complaining they were actually kind enough to wave the cost.
2 weeks ago i got a call asking for the R560, after the package was delivered!!!
 
bar1 said:
+1 to never use TNT.

Last year i was charged about R560 , after complaining they were actually kind enough to wave the cost.
2 weeks ago i got a call asking for the R560, after the package was delivered!!!
Click to expand...

Just be glad the item you ordered invoice was correct.
Some overseas suppliers reduce the amount on their invoices compared to the item prices so users pay less customs in some countries. If you bought from one of the thousands of places that do this, TNT would have added another R3000 penalty fee for you to pay if the amount you paid and what was invoiced is more than $5.
 
I import stuff weekly for my business and mainly use DHL and Aramex. I had way too many issues with TNT so I do not use them anymore. They operate like a real 3rd world unorganised logistics company compared to the other guys. Their customs clearance fees are higher, and last time I used them they were taking so long I organised my 3rd party clearing agent to clear my consignment. Only to have more problems.

Firstly, TNT sent the wrong information and documents to my clearing agent. The documentation was for another company's consignment. Secondly TNT billed me for the VAT, duties and admin fees for clearing the consignment with customs even though they did not deal with customs at all - my clearing agent did the work and had billed already, which is the way it works.

That was not the first time I had experienced their incompetence either.
 
+1...TNT admin fees suck the tax and duty came to about R150 and their fee was R440 :/... Basically have to pay such a huge admin fee, for what!?
 
i had a call from a debt collect in November asking me for payment....i told him the issue has been resolved in January already and i never heard back,,,,lol
i wonder if they gonna call me again in a year.
 
Guys, another warning not to order anything via TNT.
debt collector called again asking for payment.....and that payment is now R680.

I explained i already received my package, and tnt was kind enough to waive the costs....

I sent him an email with the communication, lets see what happens.
 
bar1 said:
Guys, another warning not to order anything via TNT.
debt collector called again asking for payment.....and that payment is now R680.

I explained i already received my package, and tnt was kind enough to waive the costs....

I sent him an email with the communication, lets see what happens.
Click to expand...

just make sure you have it on record that you deny and don't acknowledge any debt - just repeat that in any and all communication with them.
 
Email i got this morning:

The customer have to pay VAT and duties as TNT paid that to SARS and the value is determined by the senders value of the said parcel. The rest we can waiver via credit note.

WOW...i actually don't know what to say anymore.....

EDIT:

ok the debt collector called , apologised , and said it's all good,and i dont have to pay....i asked him how do i know you not gonna call me a year later with even higher fees and he laughed and said that will not happen....so i guess i can leave it for now....maybe ask for an email confirmation.
 
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Just had my parcel held for ransom by TNT, R380 for "admin" fees.

Will wait until it's delivered tomorrow and then lodge a PayPal dispute against BangGood for excess cost (fees) back or a full refund.
 
What you guys are describing also happens with Fedex and the other courier companies, you know?
There is no way that they can predict all the customs costs up front.
Our customs department don't work that way.
 
LazyLion said:
What you guys are describing also happens with Fedex and the other courier companies, you know?
There is no way that they can predict all the customs costs up front.
Our customs department don't work that way.
Click to expand...

There's a huge difference, these are "admin" fees - not customs/vat. And customs/vat is easy to determine.
 
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