Sapo (South african Post Office) needs to up their game

[mafgee]

Hello guys

I need a help because my parcel have been in custom for about a month now. What I really want you guys is that, will I be able to go at JIMC to fetch my parcel or should I wait till they think of deliver it to my doorstep.
What makes me farious a lot is that they are always on high call volume at anytime I tried to call them, they don't respond to my e-mails.
I'm scared that my parcel get lost.

Thanks

 

[Deadmanza]

Go and try and collect.

 

[Albert Broco]

If it is in customs, forget about this. Customs do not work for or answer to the public, they will not help you at all. They work on their own time. Also, if it has been there that long, they probably have an issue with your import and could have asked the sender for more information.

By the way, I see customs has come to a complete halt today. I have imported 5 parcels with Fedex and my parcels have been available for clearance since this morning 07:00. It appears as if customs are not working, probably due to the whole SARS saga.

 

[mafgee]

So you think SARS saga kept them from not working? Meaning our parcels will be delivered when this saga losses its chain's.

 

[Albert Broco]

So you think SARS saga kept them from not working? Meaning our parcels will be delivered when this saga losses its chain's.

Not saying that, but something is going on at customs. Day 2 for me know and still nothing happening at customs. This is the first time in 4 years this happened to me at customs. Normally it takes less than an hour to clear customs and package handed to Fedex.

As for my registered mail, I have two packages at customs for 7 weeks now. Still waiting for them to move out there. My seller confirmed he received no correspondence.

 

[mafgee]

But I think we have do something with this thing because it kills our businesses

 

[Jola]

I have just had the same issue, parcel was in customs (or just SAPO) for 5 weeks after arrival in the country.

I have now received it, but requested the seller to complain to the Chinese Post Office about SAPO's behaviour, FWIW.

 

[Albert Broco]

But I think we have do something with this thing because it kills our businesses

Nothing can be done. But, I have heard of another group of people bringing in goods - no customs, no SARS. I will try to find out more on how they operate and their fees. If I can bypass the government in total, then I will do just that.

 

[mafgee]

So if I try to communicate with my seller, maybe he will lay a complain to his courier company to push our post office deliver parcel on expected date of arrival

 

[Albert Broco]

So if I try to communicate with my seller, maybe he will lay a complain to his courier company to push our post office deliver parcel on expected date of arrival

No, this will not help. Other postal services do not pressure others to deliver faster. The only thing that will happen is that your seller may decide to exclude shipping to South Africa in future. A few thousand eBay sellers already did just that. It already happened on Amazon.

 

[mafgee]

If I may ask how does SARS issue affects custom?

 

[Albert Broco]

If I may ask how does SARS issue affects custom?

It is SARS staff working there. By judging the past few weeks and especially this week, nothing seems to be happening there. Not sure if there is no more staff on duty, or the staff there going on a slow-strike, or what. But, their jobs they are not doing this week.

 

[mafgee]

Okay I get it, but affects us in other way.