Nikki Lada
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Post by Nikki Lada on Aug 13, 2011 21:24:17 GMT 2
Hi Danie I wrote to Pavel yesterday asking various questions and requesting a schedule of postage charges from the Ukraine. He responded the same day and provided details of both Standard and Express Airmail charges which I have typed - see below. From these you will see that it would not be cost effective to use Express Airmail for an order weighing just a couple of kg’s or so. STANDARD AIRMAIL0.1 – 0.5 kg = 10.00 USD 0.5 – 1.0 kg = 28.00 USD 1.1 – 2.0 kg = 37,00 USD 2,1 - 3,0 kg = 46.00 USD 3,1 - 4,0 kg = 55.00 USD 4,1 - 5,0 kg = 64.00 USD 5,1 - 6,0 kg = 73.00 USD 6,1 - 7,0 kg = 81.00 USD 7,1 - 8,0 kg = 90.00 USD 8,1 - 9,0 kg = 98.00 USD 9,1 - 10,0 kg = 107.00 USD (this schedule goes all the way up to 50kg @ 463.00 USD - if anyone would like the whole schedule pm me and I will email it) EXPRESS AIRMAIL0.1 – 0.5 kg = 56.00 USD 0.5 – 1.0 kg = 75,00 USD For every additional kg thereafter ADD 4.25 USD per kg PLUS 3.00 USD per PARCEL for packaging for anything over 1kg. Using your 7.9 kg parcel as an example it would work as follows: First 1 kg = 76USD, The remaining 6.9 kg will be charged as 7 kg 7kg x 4.25USD = 29.75 USD Total = 76.00 + 29.75 + 3.00 = 108.75 USD Personally, I do not believe it will make any difference what method is used as far as Customs is concerned - if they feel like opening it they will!! ;D One should also bear in mind that how long a parcel takes to arrive at its destination will also depend on how long Customs take to clear it which does vary. NIKKI
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darryn
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Post by darryn on Aug 13, 2011 22:46:00 GMT 2
Thanks for this Nikki.
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Post by Charles on Aug 13, 2011 22:59:09 GMT 2
My one parcel got opened by customs. Where they useally take 3 weeks to arrive this one took 6. So it stayed with customs for 3 weeks!
Charles
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 9:17:02 GMT 2
Hi Nikki
In my case the cost of standard Airmail would have been US$90.00.
Pavel has advised me rather to use Express Mail - according to him Express Mail is a safer way of transporting parcels.
I guessed he was referring to "safer conditions in Russia "- and I am also convinced that the services of "Express Mail" Companies are safer, and way faster, than standard post in South Africa as well.
To my mind the additional US$18.75 was worth avoiding a safety risk in South Africa, as well as Russia.
I have sent you a PM as well
Regards
Danie
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darryn
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Post by darryn on Aug 14, 2011 9:33:38 GMT 2
Yeah, EMS is way safer.
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 9:44:23 GMT 2
Oh , I forgot to mention - I also believe that should a parcel be sent by Express Mail, and the parcel have been addressed to a Company Name (not an individual) - the parcel will definitely not be lying around at Customs for three weeks.
Danie
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Post by ronnie on Aug 14, 2011 12:27:38 GMT 2
Hi Danie
I doubt very much if adressing a parcel to a conpany will make any difference as mail is not sorted out by customer, only by area. It all depends on how busy the customs are. It would be very difficult to believe you have personel looking to see who a box is adressed to.
Ronnie
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 12:51:06 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie
To my knowledge and experience at work, there is huge competition between the different Companies who offer "speed post" deliveries to the public.
At work we are often awaiting urgent parcels from abroad, and the Freight Company we are dealing with, is often in contact with Customs to try and "speed up" parcels which might be lying there.
To my mind there is no chance that Customs will be prepared to give special attention to an inquiry by an individual - I know for a fact that they do investigate inquiries by Freight Companies though.
And I also know that the Freight Company we are dealing with, are on "good terms" with Customs. So I think it is also a matter of "dealing with people who are able to get results".
Regards
Danie
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Post by ronnie on Aug 14, 2011 13:04:18 GMT 2
Hi Danie It is all speculation unless examples can be given. let members let us know how long it takes for them to receive the goods they order. If you do not use normal mail your goods are delivered by one of the many courier services. When the goods arrive at the customs depot, and knowing the level of service in any government dept and the volume of goods arriving it is difficult to believe any person working there will be able to find a parcel quickly unless it is very large. Ronnie
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 13:51:57 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie
In my personal case, it would definitely take longer to get any parcel, should I have used my private (home) address.
I do not have a private Postbox number, therefore any parcels addressed to my home address, would have to be delivered by the Post Office, by means of a slip, which has to be delivered at my post box at home.
Nobody is at home during the day at my house, and I do not think any Express Mail company will make a special effort to deliver slips (or parcels) at an residential area - while they should know that nobody might be at home.
So in my case, should I have not used my work address, I assume the Post Office would also get involved - by means of the Postman on his bicycle (or feet) to deliver the slip at my Postbox at home - while nobody is at home. That would obviously cause a delay.
By using my work address, an EMS agent has delivered the parcel directly at my work address on the same day the parcel has been cleared by Customs- and the Post offices services have been bypassed completely. That's why I believe that a work address as destiny should speed things up - specially if your home town is not located somewhere in the sticks.
But yes, I agree - in some cases it might not make any difference, should a private address be used.
Danie
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Post by ronnie on Aug 14, 2011 14:21:17 GMT 2
Hi Danie
Fortunately, I have a PO box for parcels and when I use a courier they deliver straight to my door,so I have no problems with delivery either.
Ronnie
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Post by ronnie on Aug 14, 2011 14:32:19 GMT 2
H Danie
When I ordered the thermostat from the Uk I paid for the parts on the 19 th April to be sent by air mail. When I checked the post box on the 4th May the goods were there. This I think was good service as this was over the Easter holidays, so it MAY have been quicker if it was not a holiday period.
Ronnie
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 15:21:11 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie
This is quite interesting.
Do you know whether the Post Office has been involved in delivering the parcel, or has it been delivered by a local Courier company ?
In my case the parcel was way to big to fit into an ordinary postbox - so it had to be handed over , hand to hand.
Danie
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Post by ronnie on Aug 14, 2011 15:23:56 GMT 2
Hi Danie
All I can tell you is it was normal air mail, and was collected at my post box at the local post office here in Pennington.
Ronnie
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 15:46:13 GMT 2
Hi Ronnie
Maybe this explains why I personally prefer to use a work address (including Company name) and Express Mail in future then:
1. In my case (Durban) - no Post Office involvement.
2 . No personal checking elsewhere at the Post Office for the parcel, which could be lying there already.
3. Faster, and safer (I think).
Danie
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Post by ronnie on Aug 14, 2011 16:12:03 GMT 2
Hi Danie
I doubt if I will use express air mail as the cost is extremely high, and for me not worth it. I have no problem checking my post box as it is beside the only spar type shop in Pennington and I check for mail as well. It would be interesting to know the difference in delivery times for normal air mail and express air mail. The bottle neck for all of this type of transaction is the customs. At least I did not pay any charges this end so that was a good saving.
Ronnie
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Post by marius on Aug 14, 2011 17:09:07 GMT 2
The best and safest way to send/receive a parcel is to get a tracking number on it - no matter which way you do it.
Marius
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Post by Charles on Aug 14, 2011 17:11:46 GMT 2
I get tracking numbers on even my normal air mail. Useally normal air mail takes about 3 weeks and Air express mail takes about a week.
For me also the cost difference isnt worth the two weeks.
Charles
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Post by danie on Aug 14, 2011 17:32:45 GMT 2
I have also received a Tracking number from Pavel, and tried to the trace the parcel record at the EMS website each evening.
I failed to trace any record at the website, even at the evening before the parcel has been delivered at my work address.
Danie
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Post by Charles on Aug 14, 2011 17:40:06 GMT 2
Danie tracking parcels in general is a nightmare. I managed to track some of my parcels. Struggeling now to track some of my parcels from China.
Charles
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Nikki Lada
Senior Niva Petrol Head
Posts: 353
Registered: Jun 6, 2011 8:12:13 GMT 2
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Post by Nikki Lada on Aug 14, 2011 21:51:16 GMT 2
Hi Nikki In my case the cost of standard Airmail would have been US$90.00. Pavel has advised me rather to use Express Mail - according to him Express Mail is a safer way of transporting parcels. I guessed he was referring to "safer conditions in Russia "- and I am also convinced that the services of "Express Mail" Companies are safer, and way faster, than standard post in South Africa as well. To my mind the additional US$18.75 was worth avoiding a safety risk in South Africa, as well as Russia. I have sent you a PM as well Regards Danie Hi Danie I think I'll drop Pavel another line asking for more clarity with regard to one method being 'safer' than the other. If a tracking number is issued for both I don't understand why there should be any difference. With regard to Express Airmail I think you may have misunderstood my point which was this method is very expensive for ' lightweight' goods weighing just a couple of kgs or so. In your case, with a parcel weight of 7.9kg, I agree that the difference involved is not hugely excessive if you are in desperate need of the spares. NIKKI
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Post by Charles on Aug 14, 2011 23:12:32 GMT 2
Hi
If anybody orders from Pavel again please let me know. There is a few small things that I would like that is not worth ordering on their own. Like the nuts for the front wheel bearings.
Thanks in advance.
Charles
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Post by ronnie on Aug 15, 2011 8:57:47 GMT 2
Hi Nikki
Like you I do not see how one way will be safer when both have tracking numbers. One plane is the same as another plane, and goods are all together no matter who they are addressed to. When My parts were on route from the UK, Freda tried to track my parcel and got nowhere. Vincent may be able to comment as he is always importing.
Ronnie
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Post by danie on Aug 15, 2011 17:47:05 GMT 2
Hi Nikki
I always start making a list of components in advance before I place an order from Russia - I usually add some fast moving components to the list as well. So my parcels are usually slightly more than "lightweight".
Sometimes it might be cheaper rather to buy parts locally, specially when an order would be too small.
So every now and then I do buy parts locally as well.
Regards
Danie
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vincentc
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Post by vincentc on Aug 19, 2011 21:31:28 GMT 2
Hi Nikki Like you I do not see how one way will be safer when both have tracking numbers. One plane is the same as another plane, and goods are all together no matter who they are addressed to. When My parts were on route from the UK, Freda tried to track my parcel and got nowhere. Vincent may be able to comment as he is always importing. Ronnie Hi, We always use a specialist courier company (DHL/UPS or Schenker) to ship our goods. Our values are generally above R20000.00 and weigh about 30kg... Regards Vincent
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