Shipping from US?

[stefan9]

Use a mailforwarding service like myus.com. It's the best way.

 

[ziglet]

Don't think you can claim the rebates through wantitall though

 

[Syndyre]

Well the price of something I want from Amazon/Newegg is about $60 (about R430 or so) and they're charging R800 for it, so double.

Quite hectic.

 

[feo]

Use a mailforwarding service like myus.com. It's the best way.

Might give them a try. Have you used them?

 

[bwana]

Use a mailforwarding service like myus.com. It's the best way.

I prefer My Father (dot com) He's often generous enough to thrown in a few more goodies (pop tarts!) and pick up the cost of the shipping. I have mixed results wrt customs - but I never fail to come out ahead as opposed to if I had purchased locally.

As always your milage may vary.

 

[stefan9]

Might give them a try. Have you used them?

Not personally yet. But I have heard from quite a few people they work very well. I am going to make use of them for my next gfx upgrade. With them you have the option of having them declare either the retail or wholesale value of the item. And before everyone starting jumping up and down if this was illegal they would have been closed down by the feds since they advertise this openly on the site. From all accounts most people don't much customs or at all by using this method.

To me they seem to be the best option to get things to SA. They use dhl as a courier and you can ensure your package. They say on their site you can insure the package even at full retail value if you declare the wholesale value.

Here's on thread on them.http://www.systemshock.co.za/forums/index.php?showtopic=9604


Yeah Bwana but not all of us are that lucky. Offcourse if you have family over there it would be easier.

 

[ziglet]

I prefer My Father (dot com) He's often generous enough to thrown in a few more goodies (pop tarts!) and pick up the cost of the shipping. I have mixed results wrt customs - but I never fail to come out ahead as opposed to if I had purchased locally.

As always your milage may vary.

Wonder if its related to the one I use, My Cousin (dot com)? LoL

 

[feo]

Not personally yet. But I have heard from quite a few people they work very well. I am going to make use of them for my next gfx upgrade. With them you have the option of having them declare either the retail or wholesale value of the item. And before everyone starting jumping up and down if this was illegal they would have been closed down by the feds since they advertise this openly on the site. From all accounts most people don't much customs or at all by using this method.

To me they seem to be the best option to get things to SA. They use dhl as a courier and you can ensure your package. They say on their site you can insure the package even at full retail value if you declare the wholesale value.

Here's on thread on them.http://www.systemshock.co.za/forums/index.php?showtopic=9604


Yeah Bwana but not all of us are that lucky. Offcourse if you have family over there it would be easier.

That is a great thread! I'm in PTA and definitely gonna open an account there in the near future, just gotta sort out some other commitments first. If you guys haven't clicked on the link above, do it, it's lekka seeing Saffers banding together to fight the absolute bullcrap prices we have to deal with here.

 

[ziglet]

This myus.com is actually seriously awesome.

Now when they ship it here "to your door", are customs by passed? Does the shipping include customs?

Anyone used this myus.com?

 

[stefan9]

This myus.com is actually seriously awesome.

Now when they ship it here "to your door", are customs by passed? Does the shipping include customs?

Anyone used this myus.com?

Customs are not bypassed but because they declare the wholesale value. It's allot lower. Some people who have used it have told me they very rarely have to pay customs only on some big orders did they pay customs. but that was an oder R15k+. They paid R400 on that order.

 

[ziglet]

 

[PeterCH]

Not personally yet. But I have heard from quite a few people they work very well. I am going to make use of them for my next gfx upgrade. With them you have the option of having them declare either the retail or wholesale value of the item. And before everyone starting jumping up and down if this was illegal they would have been closed down by the feds since they advertise this openly on the site. From all accounts most people don't much customs or at all by using this method.

To me they seem to be the best option to get things to SA. They use dhl as a courier and you can ensure your package. They say on their site you can insure the package even at full retail value if you declare the wholesale value.

Here's on thread on them.http://www.systemshock.co.za/forums/index.php?showtopic=9604


Yeah Bwana but not all of us are that lucky. Offcourse if you have family over there it would be easier.

Unless you're importing that 1080P movie projector at a wholesale price of
R250 or less, you will pay a customs duty. You may get a way with small items declared at $25 or less, even many times, but if you go above that you'll be caught out. Getting away with a significant amount $200+ and no duties is virtually unheard of, it can happen but then its probably due to 1.
package slipped through by mistake (luck), 2. You have a buddy on the inside.

The "Feds" don't prosecute illegal tax declarations. It's probably the USPS
and they don't search out websites either. Customs declarations should
contain the price you PAID to be legitimate not wholesale price.
Since they're there for tax collection.
AFAIK, at least 2 online shops I dealt with were fined in the US for underdeclaring items. Also remember that underdeclaring will void any insurance you may have, ie they'll only pay that amount out in case of theft/loss (couriers).

If you can get away without VAT locally, sometimes, great for you, but
you should always factor it in. EVen a GIFT declaration has limits, I've seen
charitable organisations pay customs duties on GIFTS sent to them
(sporting gear for disadvantaged kids), maybe they can claim back later,
I dunno. Customs these days clamp down really hard on items. Your
best bet is to have multiple parcels sent - eg if DVD/CD/software/small electronics shopping as opposed to single large shipments of 5+ items.

 

[mancombseepgood]

So I recently discovered Newegg.com *Drools*

Have to say, I love this USA rebate stuff

So I've ordered all "non-moveable parts" Motherboard,Gfx,Ram,Cpu-AMD X2 6000+

Now I'm wondering, exactly how dangerous is it to ship hard drives?

And before anyone goes and flames me for not buying this locally, I've saved around R2000 on it including the shipping.

No flaming - believe me - one has to be patriotic to be that good to a poor south african

Seriously tho - all HDD's are shipped to SA AFAIK - just make sure they package it properly - I'm sure if they ship by land to the US, they do just that.

Lastly - beware of customs, they can sometimes pop that little "yay - look how much I saved" bubble!

 

[mancombseepgood]

Unless you're importing that 1080P movie projector at a wholesale price of
R250 or less, you will pay a customs duty. You may get a way with small items declared at $25 or less, even many times, but if you go above that you'll be caught out. Getting away with a significant amount $200+ and no duties is virtually unheard of, it can happen but then its probably due to 1.
package slipped through by mistake (luck), 2. You have a buddy on the inside.

I have shipped three items worth over a grand each from the US, Canada and UK and never paid a cent customs... lucky?

 

[feo]

I have shipped three items worth over a grand each from the US, Canada and UK and never paid a cent customs... lucky?

How? How were the boxes marked?

 

[ziglet]

Well I will let you guys know in a week if my stuff got here ok and if any customs had to be paid.

 

[Syndyre]

Well I will let you guys know in a week if my stuff got here ok and if any customs had to be paid.

Good luck!

 

[feo]

We should actually give myus.com a try sometime and split costs between us forumites. We will never get prices like Newegg here so we gotta make a plan. Even if nobody is interested Im still gonna give it a go and see if works out.

 

[stefan9]

Unless you're importing that 1080P movie projector at a wholesale price of
R250 or less, you will pay a customs duty. You may get a way with small items declared at $25 or less, even many times, but if you go above that you'll be caught out. Getting away with a significant amount $200+ and no duties is virtually unheard of, it can happen but then its probably due to 1.
package slipped through by mistake (luck), 2. You have a buddy on the inside.

The "Feds" don't prosecute illegal tax declarations. It's probably the USPS
and they don't search out websites either. Customs declarations should
contain the price you PAID to be legitimate not wholesale price.
Since they're there for tax collection.
AFAIK, at least 2 online shops I dealt with were fined in the US for underdeclaring items. Also remember that underdeclaring will void any insurance you may have, ie they'll only pay that amount out in case of theft/loss (couriers).

If you can get away without VAT locally, sometimes, great for you, but
you should always factor it in. EVen a GIFT declaration has limits, I've seen
charitable organisations pay customs duties on GIFTS sent to them
(sporting gear for disadvantaged kids), maybe they can claim back later,
I dunno. Customs these days clamp down really hard on items. Your
best bet is to have multiple parcels sent - eg if DVD/CD/software/small electronics shopping as opposed to single large shipments of 5+ items.

Yes you should factor it in to be save. And importing heavy stuff like projectors would be madness the shipping costs would kill you.

I am only reporting what I was told by people who have used myus.com and it's your choice whether you want to declare wholesale or retail price. And myus.com consolidates your package.

 

[Syndyre]

We should actually give myus.com a try sometime and split costs between us forumites. We will never get prices like Newegg here so we gotta make a plan. Even if nobody is interested Im still gonna give it a go and see if works out.

What are the costs? Might be worth a try.