Scam or not?

E

empirex

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Ordered some stuff from Amazon UK on Friday.

And I received this e-mail today. Anyone else receive anything similar from Amazon like this and had to supply these details?

One thing that caught my attention was that I ordered these items from Amazon UK, yet in the e-mail it says that the items will not be able to be shipped from the US without the ID details.

Subject line:

AMAZON EU SARL order of "Digital Video Disc" shipping through i-Parcel tracking number **************
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Content of e-mail:

Dear ***** ****,

As of September 1st, 2012 South Africa customs requires your ID Number for all shipments being imported into South Africa up to ZAR25000 in value. For shipments with a value of greater than ZAR25000, importers are required to register with South Africa customs to obtain an importer code. iParcel policy is to obtain that information prior to export to allow us to clear your parcel quickly upon arrival in South Africa. No additional fees are assessed with fulfilling this requirement and it is used for customs clearance purposes only.

Your shipment value is less than ZAR25000 and therefore we require your ID Number, please click here to enter your information.

Please be advised your shipment will not be able to export from the US until we have received the information and may be returned as undeliverable to the internet retailer if not received within 15 days of this email. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]

Best Regards,
i-Parcel client relations
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From TNT's Site:

South Africa - 1 September 2012

Customs - General Importers Code

For all Importers and Exporters that do not have an Importers Code registered with South African Revenue Service, the general rules below apply but additional data will be required as of 1 September 2012.



General Rules for Importers:

- Value can not exceed R20000.00 (ZAR)

- Goods can not be for Commercial use

- Receiver can only import up to 3 times per year, without registering for an Importers Code

With effect from 1 September 2012 the rules as above continue to apply, and in addition the Importer / Exporter will be classified as an "Unregistered Trader", for which either a South African Identity Number or Tax Identification number must be added to the declaration.
 
Billy said:
From TNT's Site:

South Africa - 1 September 2012

Customs - General Importers Code

For all Importers and Exporters that do not have an Importers Code registered with South African Revenue Service, the general rules below apply but additional data will be required as of 1 September 2012.



General Rules for Importers:

- Value can not exceed R20000.00 (ZAR)

- Goods can not be for Commercial use

- Receiver can only import up to 3 times per year, without registering for an Importers Code

With effect from 1 September 2012 the rules as above continue to apply, and in addition the Importer / Exporter will be classified as an "Unregistered Trader", for which either a South African Identity Number or Tax Identification number must be added to the declaration.
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Shot!


- Receiver can only import up to 3 times per year, without registering for an Importers Code
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the f*** :wtf:

Glad I ordered a whole load then :D
 
Ag nee man. Why now? Why why why. They have been threatening to do this for quite a few years now. I guess their systems are now in place to connect imports to IDs. :(
 
ld13 said:
Ag nee man. Why now? Why why why. They have been threatening to do this for quite a few years now. I guess their systems are now in place to connect imports to IDs. :(
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Why? You really wonder why or do you just ask that knowing why?

I assume you're not, so here's why:

Goods are normally cheaper to import than to buy here locally. As an example, a friend of mine upgraded his iMac's RAM recently. They wanted to charge him R3 or R3.5k for this here. He got the RAM from overseas, including shipping, for R600.

Now, he is by far NOT an importer. But anyone with half a business sense would grab an opportunity to get cheap items and sell it with a 100-200% markup and STILL be cheaper than the official retailers here.

That's just one example.

A few years ago, and apparently a lot of people does this, another work friend of mine sent his wife to Hong Kong with 2 empty suitcases. She bought a crap load of designer clothes for cheap, came back, and resold them. This covered her stay AND return flight costs including a profit.

Now ask WHY they put this in place again.... then think of the reasons I just stated. It should make perfect sense why they don't want to allow anyone to succeed in their own business in South Africa.
 
Empirex, I didn't get the email, but I got the same call from I-Parcel last week (Strangely enough, it also looks like I-Parcel sometimes uses FedEx. Maybe they have some sort of agreement?).

Anyway, I gave them my ID number, and package was delivered a couple of days later. My package came from Amazon.com. This was also the first time that they requested an ID number. (And a separate order also arrived since then via snail mail, but no ID was requested).

The 3 shipments per year rule is a bit of a downer, but I got that exact letter around Feb this year (via DHL). So I'm not sure if it was just them just warning me back then that it will come into affect, or if it actually went into affect back then.

And I don't know if you've experienced this, but lately it seems like Amazon packages would sometimes arrive via courier and sometimes via regular mail (Whether you gave them a postal or residential address. It seems somewhat random).
 
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AcidRaZor said:
...just ask that knowing why?
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I import quite a bit and the reason is exactly that - even with courier costs I can land items to my door for cheaper than buying it locally. There is no way I'm paying R270 for that "PREMIUM" hdmi cable! I can get a stock standard one for about R20 overseas. Even with VAT R25.08 (R20 x 1.10 x 1.14) and clearance fees (+R15) it lands at my door for the grand total of R25.08 + R15 = R40.08

R40 vs R270 ... they make the choice so easy.
 
Blubbio said:
Empirex, I didn't get the email, but I got the same call from I-Parcel last week (Strangely enough, it also looks like I-Parcel sometimes uses FedEx. Maybe they have some sort of agreement?).

Anyway, I gave them my ID number, and package was delivered a couple of days later. My package came from Amazon.com. This was also the first time that they requested an ID number. (And a separate order also arrived since then via snail mail, but no ID was requested).

The 3 shipments per year rule is a bit of a downer, but I got that exact letter around Feb this year (via DHL). So I'm not sure if it was just them just warning me back then that it will come into affect, or if it actually went into affect back then.

And I don't know if you've experienced this, but lately it seems like Amazon packages would sometimes arrive via courier and sometimes via regular mail (Whether you gave them a postal or residential address. It seems somewhat random).
Click to expand...

Nope, haven't ordered from Amazon UK in a while so was just used to the regular process. Order > receive collection notice from PO > pay import duties > open parcel.

But yeah 3 parcels is ridiculous; 7 should be a minimum..
 
Its been 3 items for years.

I got stuck with this 5 years ago when I needed to order in spare parts for my laser. They sent it in 4 shipments for some reason and I got into a whole load of crap about it.
 
I imported some RAM about 3 years ago. The courier company needed my ID and an signed statement that I was not going to resell the stuff.

I dared not tell them that the work address was infact a PC business that I owned part of. The stuff was for my own PC, so they were welcome to come look at my home if they wanted too...

Then already they said max 3 times a year.

Fortunately I have family/friends going between here and the UK every now and then. So I have not imported. I also save money for when I go there to buy stuff and bring it back. None of it is for sale all for personal use.

Getting some stuff in this week again.
 
Madman88 said:
Its been 3 items for years.

I got stuck with this 5 years ago when I needed to order in spare parts for my laser. They sent it in 4 shipments for some reason and I got into a whole load of crap about it.
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Can't be, I've ordered much more than 3 in the course of a year in the past (within the last 5 years) with no hassles whatsoever.
This is also the first time I've had to supply my ID number..
 
you guys are flying under the radar. Just do the whole importers thing its much easier and safer. I was also bringing in small stuff via the SAPO without getting into trouble (lenses, mirrors and the like).

Could be that all four the packages where sent to me at the same time that caused the whole bang tho, that and all the parts together came to just under R20k.
I had to get an affidavit stating that the parts where spare parts to repair an existing machine, I had to produce an invoice for the machine as well as then supply contact details for the repairer. Since the repairer was me this complicated the issue even more.
In the end I didn't get a fine or anything, but they really made me jump through hoops to get my stuff.
 
Will soon find out I guess, as Amazon (bless their hearts) shipped my order in four individual packages to ensure quicker shipping times, even though I paid it to be shipped as one.
 
empirex said:
Nope, haven't ordered from Amazon UK in a while so was just used to the regular process. Order > receive collection notice from PO > pay import duties > open parcel.

But yeah 3 parcels is ridiculous; 7 should be a minimum..
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Who actually benefits from something as ridiculous as this?
 
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