Ordering off Aliexpress? Advice?

RiaX said:
So I order some stuff on aliexpress my first time ordering with them. Is it safe ? Does it take long ?

They really have things that are very difficult to find elsewhere. Like foldable mini pocket scissors, super tiny calculators and micro staplers(the kind that uses no 10 staples and you get in Xmas crackers).

I would like to order more stuff but I'm not sure how reliable the delivery is. They don't use the SAPO anymore.

Anyone with some ideas ?
Click to expand...
Safe yes used them years ago but took 4 months via sapo what do they use now
 
Ordered 3 items on 10 November 2022. The first item landed at SAPO on 6 December, but could not get it as SAPO couldn't find it. Yesterday, 02 Feb, Aliexpress refunded me and today SAPO found it with the date when they received it still on the package. I at least went to our SAPO twice a week, now suddenly they found it.

The other two orders were also found the same way.

The tracking codes you see on your order page of Aliexpress are used to find them in the SAPO mess.

For my first order, I got a nice rechargeable torch for $1, shipping included. Just had to wait a while for SAPO to find it.
 
Last edited:
So they still use SAPO ? But it says to door ?

Then again it's ridiculously cheap
 
Stokstert said:
Ordered 3 items on 10 November 2022. The first item landed at SAPO on 6 December, but could not get it as SAPO couldn't find it. Yesterday, 02 Feb, Aliexpress refunded me and today SAPO found it with the date when they received it still on the package. I at least went to our SAPO twice a week, now suddenly they found it.

The other two orders were also found the same way.

The tracking codes you see on your order page of Aliexpress are used to find them in the SAPO mess.

For my first order, I got a nice rechargeable torch for $1, shipping included. Just had to wait a while for SAPO to find it.
Click to expand...

Which tracking number you used?
 
RiaX said:
So they still use SAPO ? But it says to door ?

Then again it's ridiculously cheap
Click to expand...

Don't believe they have ever delivered to the door unless you pay for courier which is usually only available on bigger things.

I've probably received 100 packages over the years with aliexpress and sapo and only one or two had to be refunded. But that said I've been pretty persistent with the post office at times to find them and mostly use well rated shops.

One thing to watch out for is the sapo handling fee. Its R35-40 usually per package and then aliexpress shops often split shipments so you can easily pay a chunk in handling fees. So check the banggood price and if aliexpress isn't much cheaper thats the better place to buy from.
 
Last edited:
AliExpress is a marketplace... So you could order the exact same item from 10 different sellers and they might end up using ten different shipping methods - depends 100% on the seller you buy from.
 
RiaX said:
Which tracking number you used?
Click to expand...
The one on the order tracking page of Aliexpress when clicking on tracking. As soon it shows delivered, go to your post-office and use the tracking code to let them find the parcel. The post-office normally do not send a notification to the receiver to let them know that a parcel is ready for collection, as they should do. My phone number was on each parcel, but they did not send a message. They do not normally deliver to your delivery address.:(

1675509638995.png
the
 
Last edited:
RiaX said:
So I order some stuff on aliexpress my first time ordering with them. Is it safe ? Does it take long ?

They really have things that are very difficult to find elsewhere. Like foldable mini pocket scissors, super tiny calculators and micro staplers(the kind that uses no 10 staples and you get in Xmas crackers).

I would like to order more stuff but I'm not sure how reliable the delivery is. They don't use the SAPO anymore.

Anyone with some ideas ?
Click to expand...
How do they ship now, last I checked they only had ridiculously expensive shipping options to South Africa?
 
airborne said:
How do they ship now, last I checked they only had ridiculously expensive shipping options to South Africa?
Click to expand...

Snail mail started again around march last year I think. Before that it was only the crazy shipping fees.
 
B-1 said:
Snail mail started again around march last year I think. Before that it was only the crazy shipping fees.
Click to expand...
So Sapo is still chugging along, as long as your local PO is still open it’s good to go?
 
airborne said:
So Sapo is still chugging along, as long as your local PO is still open it’s good to go?
Click to expand...

I did 5 orders last year and after splitting it ended up being about 11 packages. SAPO sent me a SMS for each one to come and collect so make sure you add your cell number.

I'd say average time was 2 months for delivery and the only gripe I had was that the packages were spread between 4 post offices in my town but I think its because I used the postal code for my old post office thats closed down.
I never stood in a queue though as they were mostly dead except for the licencing disk renewal.
 
B-1 said:
I did 5 orders last year and after splitting it ended up being about 11 packages. SAPO sent me a SMS for each one to come and collect so make sure you add your cell number.

I'd say average time was 2 months for delivery and the only gripe I had was that the packages were spread between 4 post offices in my town but I think its because I used the postal code for my old post office thats closed down.
I never stood in a queue though as they were mostly dead except for the licencing disk renewal.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
Does anyone know how fast Wish orders are coming through?
it seems they do generally consolidate each order into one parcel which is good value.
 
I use "Aramex Global Shipper" when ordering from Aliexpress, have done this many times, I just use the Aramex Hong Kong address, most of the sellers seem to offer free shipping to Hong Kong. Usually it takes less than 2 weeks from ordering until I get the item.
 
redarrow said:
I use "Aramex Global Shipper" when ordering from Aliexpress, have done this many times, I just use the Aramex Hong Kong address, most of the sellers seem to offer free shipping to Hong Kong. Usually it takes less than 2 weeks from ordering until I get the item.
Click to expand...

How does this work ?
 
RiaX said:
How does this work ?
Click to expand...
Much like any other shipping forwarding company..

You open an account with them here: https://www.aramexglobalshopper.com they give you addresses in various parts of the world, then when ordering stuff you enter the address exactly as AGS provides, once the stuff arrives they inform you, you pay them and they courier it to your door.
 
redarrow said:
Much like any other shipping forwarding company..

You open an account with them here: https://www.aramexglobalshopper.com they give you addresses in various parts of the world, then when ordering stuff you enter the address exactly as AGS provides, once the stuff arrives they inform you, you pay them and they courier it to your door.
Click to expand...

And what's the cost of this ?
 
RiaX said:
And what's the cost of this ?
Click to expand...
Depends on what you're ordering I guess. They have a calculator on their website. Most of the stuff I've bought has been small packages less than 1kg and the typical cost has been around R250, not including the import duty where applicable.
 
I ordered a Oppo phone that was going cheap, last year Nov... still nothing. No response from AliExpress - they marked the product as Delivered. Tracking still says Post Office hub.
 
Aghori said:
I ordered a Oppo phone that was going cheap, last year Nov... still nothing. No response from AliExpress - they marked the product as Delivered. Tracking still says Post Office hub.
Click to expand...
If you don't mind, PM me the tracking code, I want to check something.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X