Ordering off Aliexpress? Advice?

ReeceDBN031 said:
Ordered my first two items on alliexpress, ordered around 20th April and i got update saying arrived in Durban (linehaul office) on the 28th April.
I'd say that is damn quick, no?

Another query how to know which PO to harass?
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How long is a piece of string? What shipping option did you go for, how much did it cost and what was the ETA? Some resellers on aliexpress use services like buffaloexpress and they can get your package in SA in a matter of days for R100 odd. Once here, it is handed to e.g. Fastway or Paxi(Pep).

That, or it went the Wish.com route, and those will also land in SA quite quickly. Do you have a tracking number? Try tracking it on 17 track.
 
ld13 said:
How long is a piece of string? What shipping option did you go for, how much did it cost and what was the ETA? Some resellers on aliexpress use services like buffaloexpress and they can get your package in SA in a matter of days for R100 odd. Once here, it is handed to e.g. Fastway or Paxi(Pep).

That, or it went the Wish.com route, and those will also land in SA quite quickly. Do you have a tracking number? Try tracking it on 17 track.
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Lol no need for all that, as i said this was a first time buy and i didnt even know there was ship options.
So i just checked out as is, i think it was like 2 dollars shipping each.

will see if i can find a tracking number of some sort then. thanks :)

Update - 17track says in transit
 
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I used to order from Bangood and Ebay, but shipping costs or just plain increase in costs had me move over to Aliexpress. I order 1-3 items a month from them (have an importers code). I use this on my phone:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brightstripe.parcels&hl=en&gl=US

It usually gives me the local tracking number when it arrives (though occasionally some don't). I have enough parcels coming in that the tracked and untracted get bundled together.

Advice: Be prepared to wait 3-4 months. It take 2-3 weeks to get to SA. Then sits in clearning/distribution for 1-2 months (JIMC...ECON..SAL LETTERS etc), then 1 - 2 month from there to my local PO.

I usually know from the app before the PO staff know my parcel is there. They write everything down in a book, so most times I leave it for another 2-3 days before I go into the PO to fetch (else they send me away). They know me so well now, they sometimes send me to a corner to flip through the book to find my own parcels.
 
Alkern said:
I used to order from Bangood and Ebay, but shipping costs or just plain increase in costs had me move over to Aliexpress. I order 1-3 items a month from them (have an importers code). I use this on my phone:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brightstripe.parcels&hl=en&gl=US

It usually gives me the local tracking number when it arrives (though occasionally some don't). I have enough parcels coming in that the tracked and untracted get bundled together.

Advice: Be prepared to wait 3-4 months. It take 2-3 weeks to get to SA. Then sits in clearning/distribution for 1-2 months (JIMC...ECON..SAL LETTERS etc), then 1 - 2 month from there to my local PO.

I usually know from the app before the PO staff know my parcel is there. They write everything down in a book, so most times I leave it for another 2-3 days before I go into the PO to fetch (else they send me away). They know me so well now, they sometimes send me to a corner to flip through the book to find my own parcels.
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Do you use China post or a courier option? I've found the couriers on Ali are super expensive.
 
I use the cheapest option which comes via SAPO. As you say, all the rest are ridiculously priced. This means I pay R35 for the privilege or waiting 3-4 months for the delivery. I loose about 1 in 50 parcels (May be an even higher ratio). Which at the cost isn't so bad.
 
Alkern said:
I use the cheapest option which comes via SAPO. As you say, all the rest are ridiculously priced. This means I pay R35 for the privilege or waiting 3-4 months for the delivery. I loose about 1 in 50 parcels (May be an even higher ratio). Which at the cost isn't so bad.
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Same here, but with the current state of SAPO I'm holding back a bit. Last order received 3 weeks ago after 3 months.
 
Yes, that provisional liquidation weighs heavy on me. Though with all things it should take some time to warp up. I also assume that the goverment is going to bail them out.
 
Leisure Larry said:
Same here, but with the current state of SAPO I'm holding back a bit. Last order received 3 weeks ago after 3 months.
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That's my worry too. I did the SAPO thing a few times up until Banggood started using that fast cheap courier company (forgot the name) a coupla years ago. But there's stuff I need from Aliexpress.
However, with all the SAPO shenanigans at the moment, I'm very reluctant to use them.
 
Are there any forums discussing the SAPO liquidation at the moment? It seems to be radio silence on the issue.
 
Is ordering Li-ion batteries on AliExpress different from ordering any other item? Anything I should know beforehand?
 
Lefty309 said:
Is ordering Li-ion batteries on AliExpress different from ordering any other item? Anything I should know beforehand?
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In general I found that you can't get Li-Ion batteries delivered unless part of a device OR you pay through the nose for a courier. YMMV

(I'm up for correction or advice on this from any of the other formites)
 
Lefty309 said:
Is ordering Li-ion batteries on AliExpress different from ordering any other item? Anything I should know beforehand?
Click to expand...

Alkern said:
In general I found that you can't get Li-Ion batteries delivered unless part of a device OR you pay through the nose for a courier. YMMV

(I'm up for correction or advice on this from any of the other formites)
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Yes, you're not allowed to ship batteries into SA without jumping through some hectic hoops, unless the rules have changed recently.
 
K3NS31 said:
Yes, you're not allowed to ship batteries into SA without jumping through some hectic hoops, unless the rules have changed recently.
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I see. This listing offers R88 shipping to SA. So when you say not allowed does that mean they confiscate it when it arrives?
 
Lefty309 said:
I see. This listing offers R88 shipping to SA. So when you say not allowed does that mean they confiscate it when it arrives?
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I don't actually know. Sites like Banggood won't even let you put batteries into your cart if your delivery address is SA.

I do know of someone who bought small LIPOs from an Ali Express vendor and they hid them in a cheap mouse. Funny thing is, he didn't realise - thought he hadn't received his batteries until he finally decided to test his complementary mouse and opened the mouse battery compartment, only to find his lipos wedged in there.:laugh:
 
I need to purchase some items from different sellers on Aliexpress. They all use SAPO!!
Any ideas on how I can buy from these sellers and perhaps get it forwarded?
SAPA and ARAMEX suck.
 
Leisure Larry said:
I need to purchase some items from different sellers on Aliexpress. They all use SAPO!!
Any ideas on how I can buy from these sellers and perhaps get it forwarded?
SAPA and ARAMEX suck.
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How much do you want to spend on this service?

There is tiptrans.com which works well, but it works out expensive. You get an address like AGS, you send stuff there. They can combine the packages into one. Then you get to choose your courier from there to SA, though not all couriers are always available. I remember I wanted to use a specific one and they let me know the covid rules broke it.
 
Tinuva said:
How much do you want to spend on this service?

There is tiptrans.com which works well, but it works out expensive. You get an address like AGS, you send stuff there. They can combine the packages into one. Then you get to choose your courier from there to SA, though not all couriers are always available. I remember I wanted to use a specific one and they let me know the covid rules broke it.
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I used tiptrans when I had an issue getting a phone from Hong Kong with ARAMEX. Great service by them.
But these are rather smallish items. Was looking at a service from Buffalo and/or the like.
 
Leisure Larry said:
I used tiptrans when I had an issue getting a phone from Hong Kong with ARAMEX. Great service by them.
But these are rather smallish items. Was looking at a service from Buffalo and/or the like.
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Buffalo is the best. Maybe contact their SA office and ask if they service any Aliexpress vendors.
(The quickly come and tell us too.)
 
Just got an email while at work that my order is ready for collection.... But doesn't indicate where to collect from

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