Ali Express

[Cyclewizz]

The biggest problem is our useless Post Office.

I'm still waiting for 2 orders from March - starting to loose hope though.

 

In my experience (I purchase a bit from AliExpress) 98% of the orders make it to me but it's just taking longer and longer because of the Post Office.

 

If our Post Office was world class I'd spend a lot more with AliExpress (so maybe it's a good thing they so useless).

 

AliExpress are having a sale on at the moment.

Placed an order yesterday and hoping that I'll have in my hands by the end of November.

[SuperDooperSnooper]

Still waiting for items purchased from Ali in beginning of May. Tracking shows that it is somewhere in SA, but thanks to useless SAPO anywhere is possible.

 

Must say that I haven't had any quality issues with any cycling products ordered from Ali - may not be the most authentic but with the kinda stuff I order, that doesn't matter.

[Geronimo]

I've been buying from them since 2012. Luckily I work in Nigeria so it takes between 3 and 5 weeks to get to me. Delivered to my door by my friend from the post office 

Back in SA it used to take 2 to 3 months

[Tomik]

The SAPO is trying to clear a backlog of 13 million packages at the JHB depot with 1m coming in every day. 5 of those 13m are mine. I received 3 last week (all ordered in mid-May from Aliexpress).

 

Ordered three cycling tops, one that arrived was quite nice (and I wear Cuore and Enjoy typically). Not as technical fabric but decent fit and nice design that I'll wear for MTB so I don't ruin my expensive ones. Duty was 40% but when the thing cost $15, it doesn't really matter.

 

Have ordered plenty from AliExpress - they have all eventually arrived. 6 months was the longest wait but I attribute that to SAPO too.

[Twaatie]

The SAPO is trying to clear a backlog of 13 million packages at the JHB depot with 1m coming in every day. 5 of those 13m are mine. I received 3 last week (all ordered in mid-May from Aliexpress).

 

Ordered three cycling tops, one that arrived was quite nice (and I wear Cuore and Enjoy typically). Not as technical fabric but decent fit and nice design that I'll wear for MTB so I don't ruin my expensive ones. Duty was 40% but when the thing cost $15, it doesn't really matter.

 

Have ordered plenty from AliExpress - they have all eventually arrived. 6 months was the longest wait but I attribute that to SAPO too.

Also just received notice of an item waiting at my post office for me, also a month of May order

[SuperDooperSnooper]

The SAPO is trying to clear a backlog of 13 million packages at the JHB depot with 1m coming in every day. 5 of those 13m are mine. I received 3 last week (all ordered in mid-May from Aliexpress).

 

...snip...

 

That's good news! We probably use the same branch of SAPO, so at least I know they are working. 

 

As for the bunch at the JHB main depot...

[kosmonooit]

Staff probably awol. Went to go expropriate some land somewhere.

 

I got to know some of the ladies @ Saxonwold PO when it was all a bit more functional, they were very pleasant and helpful, no their fault its all gone south. They were telling me they were all looking for jobs elsewhere.

[Craai]

I've been buying from them since 2012. Luckily I work in Nigeria snip snip

Some people have all the luck ????

[Li Mu Bai]

My two orders have both arrived in the country according to the Ali-Express tracking.

One 13/08 (ordered 27/07) and the other 15/08 (ordered 08/07). No sign of them at the Post Office though

There is a pile rivaling Kilimanjaro at the ORTambo sorting warehouse...

give it another 30 days and maybe... if there isnt another strike...

[Brett Pearce]

Thanks for all the responses! Looks like I should give it a bash but not be in a hurry

[Jaco Steyn]

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/consumer-live/2018-08-17-buying-something-from-overseas-read-this-first/

 

Interesting read for people contemplating importing items on a regular basis.

[Martin PJ]

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/consumer-live/2018-08-17-buying-something-from-overseas-read-this-first/

 

Interesting read for people contemplating importing items on a regular basis.

 

This article does seem pretty clear, Wendy Knowler is a reliable source.

 

I usually only give my ID number when I collect the item, so I don't know how this is going to work. Most of the items I buy from Aliexpress do not have customs as they are small items of low value (less than 10 USD), maybe these are exempt? I will ask them at the post office if they know anything.

[TNOSE_E]

yip, how on earth will they match this importer code to my standard post package from mainland CH...

The name is normaly wrong, no phone or ID number..

 

Maybe only by postal address in which case 500 peeps can use the same importer code and share the love...

[WR 1.0]

With the massive backlog of packages, how will this affect the buyer protection offered by Ali?

One of my orders shows that the buyer protection expires in 7 days. As per my previous post, the package is apparently in the country, but it looks highly unlikely that I will get it before the 7 days are up.

[TNOSE_E]

With the massive backlog of packages, how will this affect the buyer protection offered by Ali?

One of my orders shows that the buyer protection expires in 7 days. As per my previous post, the package is apparently in the country, but it looks highly unlikely that I will get it before the 7 days are up.

Ask them kindly to extend the protection as you have not yet received the package. They gladly do it.

[SuperDooperSnooper]

Ask them kindly to extend the protection as you have not yet received the package. They gladly do it.

 

Not always the case. The last one I asked refused, stating that according to their tracking the package is with the mail agent (SAPO) and I would therefore only need to wait for delivery. 

 

I reckon that they are also savvy to the total uselessness of our postal service and are fed up to stand guardian on SAPO's behalf.