Online order & Courier charges locally

[MTB_Roadie]

I recently ordered something online from a SA seller, he has his own online shop...I won't mention names but he knows who he is, what irritated me though was the following:

 

- I paid R50 for shipping and he send me a parcel down that cost him R22 (The postoffice left the price on the box)

- I had to mail him first for a tracking number...then only did he send it.

- I waited two weeks for the package... (I order from wiggle in the UK alot and their parcels take a week and that is overseas.)

- a friend of mine is having the same problem now who also ordered from him....

 

Why run a online shop when you can't use your own initiative to send something before people need to ask you where it is and why rip them of on shipping when sending it snail mail?

[fanievb]

R50 for shipping is VERY cheap.

 

I also think its very reasonable as the seller still has to drive to the post office and stand in a que to have your package delivered.

 

Most 24hr/Express delivery options range between R150-R300 depending on who you buy from and what you buy.

[MTB_Roadie]

R50 for shipping is VERY cheap.

 

I also think its very reasonable as the seller still has to drive to the post office and stand in a que to have your package delivered.

 

Most 24hr/Express delivery options range between R150-R300 depending on who you buy from and what you buy.

 

True, but perhaps notify us your sending it snail mail then...also why only send it after we have to make contact if it was send? Shouldn't it be a order come in, goes out next morning?

[fanievb]

True, but perhaps notify us your sending it snail mail then...also why only send it after we have to make contact if it was send? Shouldn't it be a order come in, goes out next morning?

 

i get where you are coming from.

 

but keep in mind that some retailers don't carry stock and have to order from supplier and then ship to you, increasing turn-around times.

[LazyTrailRider]

I also think its very reasonable as the seller still has to drive to the post office and stand in a que to have your package delivered.

 

Which is why I mostly don't sell stuff to out-of-town hubbers (only recently did I sell two items this way). When you're posting someone a R500 item, the time spent to package it, get to the post office and stand in a queue pretty much swallows the entire cost of the item... The majority of us bike riders earn substantially more per hour on average than these admin tasks cost.

[ChUkKy]

I recently ordered something online from a SA seller, he has his own online shop...I won't mention names but he knows who he is, what irritated me though was the following:

 

- I paid R50 for shipping and he send me a parcel down that cost him R22 (The postoffice left the price on the box)

- I had to mail him first for a tracking number...then only did he send it.

- I waited two weeks for the package... (I order from wiggle in the UK alot and their parcels take a week and that is overseas.)

- a friend of mine is having the same problem now who also ordered from him....

 

Why run a online shop when you can't use your own initiative to send something before people need to ask you where it is and why rip them of on shipping when sending it snail mail?

 

Then these people are all quick to ask why people order from overseas, they ask why kill the market and not support local....

 

I cant paint all online shops or normal shops with the same brush in fairness but things should be done properly 1st time round

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

Also bear in mind that we have just had 4 short weeks in a row, slowing sort times at the post office, if you want faster delivery, ask for the guy to send in a speed services bag(if within the size/weight limit) for R75

 

Otherwise patience is a virtue.

[MTB_Roadie]

Which is why I mostly don't sell stuff to out-of-town hubbers (only recently did I sell two items this way). When you're posting someone a R500 item, the time spent to package it, get to the post office and stand in a queue pretty much swallows the entire cost of the item... The majority of us bike riders earn substantially more per hour on average than these admin tasks cost.

 

This is an actual online store not a once off purchase

 

Then these people are all quick to ask why people order from overseas, they ask why kill the market and not support local....

 

I cant paint all online shops or normal shops with the same brush in fairness but things should be done properly 1st time round

 

I agree 100% with you!

 

Also bear in mind that we have just had 4 short weeks in a row, slowing sort times at the post office, if you want faster delivery, ask for the guy to send in a speed services bag(if within the size/weight limit) for R75

 

Otherwise patience is a virtue.

 

I ordered something from wiggle on Thursday the 1st of May, my parcel was here last week Thursday delivered to my door (Public holidays included)

 

My friend ordered the same day and he is still waiting...his is local...mine came from overseas...National and International parcels all go to the same hub at Capemail and then gets send out.

 

If something is required then you can't wait 2 weeks+ everytime, then you might as well order internationally.

Edited May 12, 2014 by MTB_Roadie

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

Sapo vs courier... Do really need to comment

 

 

[MTB_Roadie]

Sapo vs courier... Do really need to comment

 

Besides the slow postage why do you need to mail the guy first to ask if he got the order before he sends it off? Clearly if he send it off when he should have and not 2 days later it will help speed up the process?

[Jakkals.]

Besides the slow postage why do you need to mail the guy first to ask if he got the order before he sends it off? Clearly if he send it off when he should have and not 2 days later it will help speed up the process?

 

panties in a knot today?

[Surv0MTB]

Simple, make sure you use registered courier and not SAPO... what happens behind the scenes is anybodies guess.

 

If you like I can break down a R50 courier fee for you and you will see how little margin is made on it at the end of the day. You cannot just say, well he bought the service for R25, why sell for R50. Law of diminishing marginal returns....

[Skylark]

Guy has to cover admin, packing & packaging, time & petrol - R50 is a bargain. But not sending the tracking number/no communication is not on, sends a message that the seller doesn't care, I've had that before and it's not great.

 

But then again if you get your parcel and what's inside is all good then you just got to roll with the punches, seller was obviously offering something attractive, good price maybe or product not easily avail etc. The market always squares things up, if the guy offers k4k service then you go somewhere else but if his is the best price/only one who can supply then you just got to suck it up!

[Skylark]

Oh ja bulk(many deliveries per month) door to door courier charges are amazingly cheap, around R55 for the first kg then R15 each extra kg, which is why some online shops can afford to incentivize spending by offering free delivery on anything.

Online bike shops do sometimes take you to the cleaners for courier shipping, not sure why, possibly some haven't realized they can negotiate cheaper rates with couriers.

[MaXiMuM]

Online retailers can't win... If you want it there tomorrow, then it's too expensive.

If you want it cheep, then you'll get it when you get it...

I so feel for myself...

[johanpre44]

I've done some cycling related online (local) orders myself over the last couple of years and sometimes the mess-ups are epic. Patience seems to be the only solution (shouting at the supplier over the phone just makes things worse).

 

Unfortunately bad admin seems to be some sort of South African epidemic, I hope that my good work (at work) will help to somehow make everything better.

 

As for the cost of shipping I found that R75-150 seems to be the going rate. A lot of the time its actually cheaper to buy something from a local LBS, especially if you can bargain with them. But sometimes those on line deals are just to good to ignore.