Ordering From Amazon.com Affordable in SA?

M

mjoubert15

Active Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2017
Messages
69
Reaction score
0
Hi guys,

I was wondering if someone has ordered anything from Amazon.com or Amazon.uk, and whether this is actually an affordable option for us living here in SA?

They have a much wider variety of products on offer than anything here (e.g. Takealot), so if shipping is reasonable and the items actually arrive I would definitely buy things from them.
 
I have, but you need to use DHL which is expensive.

Eery single time I went through SAPO my product got stolen.
 
mjoubert15 said:
Hi guys,

I was wondering if someone has ordered anything from Amazon.com or Amazon.uk, and whether this is actually an affordable option for us living here in SA?

They have a much wider variety of products on offer than anything here (e.g. Takealot), so if shipping is reasonable and the items actually arrive I would definitely buy things from them.
Click to expand...

If it ships to SA, then go through the whole process.
Before you actually pay, you'll see the full price -everything included.
If it's cheaper and you're willing to sort stuff out if the product has an issue, go for it.
If it's not...you know what to do ;)

(I've bought a few things from Amazon before and I've always gone with the cheapest possible delivering option. It's always been dropped by a door to door courier service and nothing's ever gone missing -or arrived broken.)
 
Whats the deal with import duties on stuff you buy from Amazon?
 
I have and I saved a lot. The stuff I bought worked out much cheaper, than locally.
I used their shipping and it worked out fine for me, but there is another option: If you have an FNB account, you can register on Aramex for free and get an UK and US address, that will forward the package to you.: FNB Aramex promotion
 
Ecco said:
Whats the deal with import duties on stuff you buy from Amazon?
Click to expand...

That's all calculated by Amazon and will reflect in the final price before you hit "Place order" or "Buy" or "whatever the purchase button is, I forget." :D

That's why I suggested to go through the whole checkout and everything so you can see what the final price is -before you actually hit buy. :)
 
Sl8er said:
That's all calculated by Amazon and will reflect in the final price before you hit "Place order" or "Buy" or "whatever the purchase button is, I forget." :D

That's why I suggested to go through the whole checkout and everything so you can see what the final price is -before you actually hit buy. :)
Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but I don't recall Amazon including custom duties in the final basket price? I ordered an electronic kit about 4 years ago, customs in SA hit me with a charge that was just more than the item price I ordered :(
 
vic777 said:
I could be wrong, but I don't recall Amazon including custom duties in the final basket price? I ordered an electronic kit about 4 years ago, customs in SA hit me with a charge that was just more than the item price I ordered :(
Click to expand...

This is what concerns me
 
vic777 said:
I could be wrong, but I don't recall Amazon including custom duties in the final basket price? I ordered an electronic kit about 4 years ago, customs in SA hit me with a charge that was just more than the item price I ordered :(
Click to expand...

They do include everything. You were probably bad luck 4 years ago or you might've used a re-seller that doesn't support that.
 
vic777 said:
I could be wrong, but I don't recall Amazon including custom duties in the final basket price? I ordered an electronic kit about 4 years ago, customs in SA hit me with a charge that was just more than the item price I ordered :(
Click to expand...

Nope.
Things must've changed since then, because everything is included.
The item is dropped off at your door, which makes paying custom duties a little hard. :p
 
It's exactly the same as buying from any local online store:

Click a few times, pay and wait for the package to be delivered.

The only possible issue you may have is if there's something wrong with the item you ordered -which hasn't happened to me yet, luckily.
I don't know how the return procedure works, but I'm sure I read somewhere that it's not that big of a deal either.
Best would be to google it.
 
I Purchased a Samsung Tablet from Amazon.com in August and it was completely hassle free. I paid $290 for the Tablet and $46 for shipping and handling including customs and duty - I got it within a week delivered by UPS. I then got a R615 refund from Amazon which was paid directly to my card as the customs was cheaper. The Tablet retails for about R8k here so I saved a hell of a lot. just do your research
 
Sl8er said:
It's exactly the same as buying from any local online store:

Click a few times, pay and wait for the package to be delivered.

The only possible issue you may have is if there's something wrong with the item you ordered -which hasn't happened to me yet, luckily.
I don't know how the return procedure works, but I'm sure I read somewhere that it's not that big of a deal either.
Best would be to google it.
Click to expand...

Ordered a book from Amazon - it didn't arrive. I complained, they sent a replacement. About two weeks after this the first order arrived - contacted them and they just said "keep both"
 
I've bought over a 100 items online before. Amazon is ok if the items ships to SA. They give you the full price including duties so you can work out if its reasonable or not.

Many other online stores don't and then it arrives people get a shock and blame the store but actually should just blame themselves for not doing there home work. Clothes as some of the highest taxed items when brought into SA
 
beans100 said:
I have and I saved a lot. The stuff I bought worked out much cheaper, than locally.
I used their shipping and it worked out fine for me, but there is another option: If you have an FNB account, you can register on Aramex for free and get an UK and US address, that will forward the package to you.: FNB Aramex promotion
Click to expand...

Has anyone used this Aramex option? Wondering if it will actually work out cheaper and safer
 
And is Amazon the best international online shop. or which other sites do you guys recommend?
 
i have bought stuff, but i used Aramex for shipping. Sapo is not reliable any more. it used to take 3-6weeks for shipping through SAPO. now things either take 6months or never come
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X