International shipping in lockdown

Wrath of Khan

Senior Member
Joined
May 4, 2015
Messages
847
Anyone know if you can order goods from overseas and get them shipped to your house with this level 4 lockdown? What I'm ordering is not essential by any means. I see Takealot is operating so hopefully DHL etc is still allowing delivery, they have to go through customs as usual. The shop overseas will ship to South Africa on DHL, and I've used them many times before, I just don't want my order to sit in customs for months because the government blocks the clearing and delivery. Anyone received an order lately? Thanks
 

Willie Trombone

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Jul 18, 2008
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60,038
I have my doubts but I'll let others comment. International deliveries are likely reserved for importers registered with SARS and with an essential service trading permit.
 

chrisc

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Aug 14, 2008
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11,274
There are 13 parcels sitting (presumably) with various couriers since the end of March. None will respond as to when they will deliver. Emails are ignored

12 parcels from China, one from France. One is a supplementary kit for a 3D printer for making face-mask frames. Had an order for 12000 which has now been cancelled as could not deliver

Have the appropriate permit, but the courier does not respond
 

joker08

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Sep 4, 2018
Messages
1,982
I received an international parcel from china delivered by dhl day before yesterday.
It was shipped after lockdown
 

TEXTILE GUY

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Joined
Oct 4, 2012
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16,294
Anyone know if you can order goods from overseas and get them shipped to your house with this level 4 lockdown? What I'm ordering is not essential by any means.

You can buy fags from the SAPS apparently and booze. ;)
 

TheRidDlerX

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Messages
890
I received an international parcel from china delivered by dhl day before yesterday.
It was shipped after lockdown
This is kinda annoying to hear. I ordered stuff on the 28th of Feb already, delivery early April. It arrived according to ALiExpress on the 17th of March right when the crappola hit the fan, then disappeared, not heard from anyone. Messaging them they say wait. Cant even tell me who the 'last mile supplier' is thats reported on the tracking. Been quite hesitant myself now because that was a test delivery before i order my bigger items, now not in the mood in the sligthest. Then again, with the state of things some disarray is probly normal, just... this much is weird
 

joker08

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Sep 4, 2018
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This is kinda annoying to hear. I ordered stuff on the 28th of Feb already, delivery early April. It arrived according to ALiExpress on the 17th of March right when the crappola hit the fan, then disappeared, not heard from anyone. Messaging them they say wait. Cant even tell me who the 'last mile supplier' is thats reported on the tracking. Been quite hesitant myself now because that was a test delivery before i order my bigger items, now not in the mood in the sligthest. Then again, with the state of things some disarray is probly normal, just... this much is weird
I understand your pain. I was not even expecting this and I got it. Where as some other stuff I need which I ordered from aliexpress in Feb is MIA
 

TheRidDlerX

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Apr 30, 2008
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890
I understand your pain. I was not even expecting this and I got it. Where as some other stuff I need which I ordered from aliexpress in Feb is MIA
Yikes. So I'm not the only one then. Wow crazy times
 

warwickw

Expert Member
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Feb 8, 2008
Messages
1,658
If you have a certificate it shouldn't be a problem for you.

Since lockdown, I have made 3 orders from international sources 2 delivered via DHL and 3rd by Fedex, all contacted me to ask for my certificate.
 

TheRidDlerX

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Messages
890
If you have a certificate it shouldn't be a problem for you.

Since lockdown, I have made 3 orders from international sources 2 delivered via DHL and 3rd by Fedex, all contacted me to ask for my certificate.
Yeeeea nope. None of that
 

Devinity

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
501
I ordered something from Aliexpress the end of February. In March I checked the tracking, it got returned to the seller. I asked them to resend...they never did. Logged a dispute last week before delivery expired... waiting for my money. Turns out to be a suspect seller as he wanted to settle via unofficial channels. If I must reorder this item again, it's going to cost me much more cos of our crappy exchange rate and ridiculous shipping charges.

I've checked out delivery for other items the past 2 weeks and it's ridiculous. Some charging from about R400 to R1.8k for delivery as courier seems to be the only option. Not worth it as the items cost practically nothing. I'll wait until this lockdown period is completely over to buy anything.
 

Prim0

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Joined
Nov 22, 2015
Messages
275
I ordered something from Aliexpress the end of February. In March I checked the tracking, it got returned to the seller. I asked them to resend...they never did. Logged a dispute last week before delivery expired... waiting for my money. Turns out to be a suspect seller as he wanted to settle via unofficial channels. If I must reorder this item again, it's going to cost me much more cos of our crappy exchange rate and ridiculous shipping charges.

I've checked out delivery for other items the past 2 weeks and it's ridiculous. Some charging from about R400 to R1.8k for delivery as courier seems to be the only option. Not worth it as the items cost practically nothing. I'll wait until this lockdown period is completely over to buy anything.
Noticed the same thing. A few weeks ago even during lockdown shipping usually was free or next to nothing, now they all seem to be hundreds of rands more for the same item from the same seller. Really infuriating.
 

rhynokitc

New Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2020
Messages
4
I have a very responsive post office in my area - and me too am waiting for stuff from wish.com and AliExpress

They told me that customs and deliveries to post offices will be most likely be closed and understaffed until level 2 is announced -
 

Doom5003

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2013
Messages
384
Anyone else notice that Amazon ships next to nothing to SA anymore?
Items that i could previously order now states not delivering to SA.
Hope this is a temp thing and not permanent.
 

Georgios

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Messages
842
Received a parcel from bang good which I ordered beginning March. Used buffalo to post.
 

Gnome

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2005
Messages
7,208
Anyone else notice that Amazon ships next to nothing to SA anymore?
Items that i could previously order now states not delivering to SA.
Hope this is a temp thing and not permanent.

Yep, noticed it also. Super annoying, and almost certainly because of the lockdown.

I only buy items shipped & sold by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon, so this put a damper on Amazon.com for me :(

Sellers not using fulfilled by Amazon almost always have rip-off shipping prices (cheapest I could find was like $80 just for shipping)
 
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