Shein and Temu import duty requires further stakeholder engagement

[Daniel Puchert]

Shein and Temu tax crackdown hits a snag

South African e-commerce giant Takealot has been silent about the South African Revenue Service's (Sars) delayed implementation of a 45% plus VAT import duty for clothing products.

MyBroadband asked the retailer for comment after the news broke, but it hadn't answered our questions by publication.

 

[Bliksis]

If I was them I'd also not answer Daniel's calls. LOL

 

[Crumbl0x]

I'd give an award for most rehashed article to this hands down.

 

[Pegging]

What till Temu and SHEIN start buying the mybb positive article bundle.

 

[username and 23 others]

Sars highlighted the need for further stakeholder engagement before it can enforce the new duty.

You give us a small-a-nyana something-something and we do a small-a-nyana favor...

 

[Bigjay84]

I'm thinking the Chinese overlords have expressed their displeasure

 

[Vanessa13]

If local retailers did not rip us off so much, this wouldn't be an issue. NO ONE would order from overseas if local stores sold the variety and at the same prices as overseas stores. But no, they rather whine about the people NOT ripping us off so that they can continue to rip us off with insane prices. I will continue to purchase certain things from overseas stores - even with the ridiculous tax amount, it's often STILL cheaper!

 

[PeterPan420]

Does everyone take turns writing about this

 

[Swa]

In its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2024, Takealot called for reform within the e-commerce sector to support South Africa’s localisation efforts and fair competition.

Drop shipping isn't localisation, it's globalisation.

However, National Clothing Retail Federation executive director Michael Lawrence slammed these claims. He said customers shopping online with credit cards aren’t vulnerable consumers.

You don't need a credit card to shop online, numpty.

“We’re talking about a fundamentally middle-class consumer here,” said Lawrence.

Middle-class no longer means wealthy, it never has. Middle-class by definition have just enough to not waste anything. The ANC has effectively reduced everyone from the middle and below to poor.

Lawrence said the truly vulnerable in this situation are the people in the local textile industry whose jobs are at risk if the tax loophole isn’t closed.

That's the fault of government with their ridiculous economic and labour laws. Including all overhead costs and tax it's still cheaper to import than buy local. Most of what you federation sells is imported in any case. Explain THAT.

 

[Swa]

If local retailers did not rip us off so much, this wouldn't be an issue. NO ONE would order from overseas if local stores sold the variety and at the same prices as overseas stores. But no, they rather whine about the people NOT ripping us off so that they can continue to rip us off with insane prices. I will continue to purchase certain things from overseas stores - even with the ridiculous tax amount, it's often STILL cheaper!

You can buy local and still pay cheaper, called Chinese malls.

 

[Swa]

First banner on the National Clothing Retail Federation website

Check the others, it's mostly overinflated big brands.

 

[Vanessa13]

You can buy local and still pay cheaper, called Chinese malls.

But you will not get the same choices.