Fasttech can't ship to SA as E-Cigs are banned??

[allykhat]

Hey Guys!

So I'm trying to put an order through to FastTech but upon selecting South Africa it states:

"E-cigarette products are banned in your shipping country"

A mate of mine put an order through a few weeks ago to them... so this must have happened fairly recently. Last I checked they weren't banned here.... has anyone else heard as much?

 

[SinnerG]

What? I ordered in October, stuff not delivered yet, but there was no issue with shipping it.
I just tried an order to see and, yes, it's stating as banned.

Can you get onto their forums and check with the likes of AnniePan? She might be able to look into it.

 

[SinnerG]

https://www.fasttech.com/forums/shipping/t/2260957/countries-that-banned-e-cig-products

 

[Stosta]

From what I can gather it just relates to shipping options?

Have a look at these two threads...

https://www.ecigssa.co.za/fasttech-shipping-issues.t41046/#post-571166

https://www.ecigssa.co.za/weird-fasttech-issue.t39264/#post-553239

 

[SinnerG]

Problem is you can't actually place an order because none of the shipping options are available. I just tried. It'll stick on the address selection page and I can't move forward to complete the order.

I guess one could stick with Aliexpress if they have the product, or 3fvape.

 

[Imtiaaz]

Well this is kinda sucky news...I have some items sitting at the "Destination post" for about a month now and not even sure if I will ever get it considering this crap.

Say for instance I do not get my items, is there anyway to recoup the cash? or is it just lost along with the gear?

 

[BATMAN]

This really sucks.

I had ordered a parcel from them 2 weeks back and am awaiting shipment.
I really hope I still receive my parcel.

Also,as far as I know,vaping isnt banned in S.A-Lets hope that somebody can sort this kak out

 

[SinnerG]

Well this is kinda sucky news...I have some items sitting at the "Destination post" for about a month now and not even sure if I will ever get it considering this crap.

Say for instance I do not get my items, is there anyway to recoup the cash? or is it just lost along with the gear?

Should be fine if it is saying "arrived at destination post". Our postal system is horribly overloaded at the moment. I ordered something on aliexpress in January and it arrived within 30 days. Not so much this time of year. I currently have 17 inbound packages. 3 are from Fasttech. 1 from aliexpress hit customs on 27/10 and there it sits. 2 of the FT packages arrived in SA on the same day, but only 1 has gone into processing/handling and finally hit Cape Town last Thursday and it's currently "in transit" to Tableview, taking 6 days to go from Goodwood to Tableview. I picked up some other parcel 2 weeks ago, having waited 60 days for it, and then the notice arrived from the post office 4 days after collection. The post office is about 3km away.

Moet maar vasbyt.

 

[Imtiaaz]

Should be fine if it is saying "arrived at destination post". Our postal system is horribly overloaded at the moment. I ordered something on aliexpress in January and it arrived within 30 days. Not so much this time of year. I currently have 17 inbound packages. 3 are from Fasttech. 1 from aliexpress hit customs on 27/10 and there it sits. 2 of the FT packages arrived in SA on the same day, but only 1 has gone into processing/handling and finally hit Cape Town last Thursday and it's currently "in transit" to Tableview, taking 6 days to go from Goodwood to Tableview. I picked up some other parcel 2 weeks ago, having waited 60 days for it, and then the notice arrived from the post office 4 days after collection. The post office is about 3km away.

Moet maar vasbyt.

I think this is all I needed to hear, some sort of reassurance that I will eventually get my goods, be it in a month, two or three's time. Sometimes you just left wondering, and that's not cool after forking out the cash and hoping your stuff reaches you, so thanks for the response man, its appreciated.

 

[Raindance]

Guys, don't mind that notification from FT, they seem to think out various excuses not to ship from time to time for reasons unknown. Try again in a few days time, they may by then have changed their minds again. Used to get the same issue every fourth order or so before i ran out of patience and realised its better to purchase from our local vendors. Just wait until you need to exchange something...

Regards

 

[SinnerG]

I think this is all I needed to hear, some sort of reassurance that I will eventually get my goods, be it in a month, two or three's time. Sometimes you just left wondering, and that's not cool after forking out the cash and hoping your stuff reaches you, so thanks for the response man, its appreciated.

Let's just say I see the CAPTCHA popup in 17track more than a few times during the day. I'm refreshing the hell outta that thing. I feel more comfortable as soon as the local system registers the item.

On the other hand, I can actually feel a bit of sympathy for the folks at the post office. No funding, no staff count increases, etc, etc, and they just have to handle it all. I've been to CapeMail a few times this year and I can tell you it's not like they're sitting around doing nothing.

I've also noticed through 17track that there's now a new entry that says "handed over to delivery agent" and I have this feeling they're probably outsourcing the transport due to volume.

 

[SinnerG]

Guys, don't mind that notification from FT, they seem to think out various excuses not to ship from time to time for reasons unknown. Try again in a few days time, they may by then have changed their minds again. Used to get the same issue every fourth order or so before i ran out of patience and realised its better to purchase from our local vendors. Just wait until you need to exchange something...

Regards

The thing with cheap is there's no point in exchanging stuff.

 

[Puff the Magic Dragon]

Many of us have experienced these problems. My guess is that many South Africans have complained to FastTech that their parcels have not been delivered, even after several months. FastTech knows that the parcels have arrived in SA and are sitting at customs. They must presume that SA customs are not letting vape related products into the country. I have lived in several countries, including two east African countries, and it is unheard of that a parcel can take months to clear customs. FastTech can therefore only assume that the goods are banned in SA.

Would it not be possible for Ecigssa (admin) to contact the major overseas vendors, on behalf of the members, to inform them of the situation with SA customs ? This would be far more effective than single members trying to explain the situation. They could even be referred to the threads where this has been discussed.

 

[Raindance]

You will note according to the ft page the alleged ban has been in place sinse before the tenth day of the sixteenth month of twenty sixteen. (I know, I know, done on purpose to protest an idiotic date format.)

 

[Petrus]

Guys,Guys,Guys, if you want to buy from a Chinese vendor rather buy from 3Fvape and choose a decent shipping option, then they will ship and you will receive your goodies before Xmas, or choose the easiest way and pay R50 more and support the local vendors, just my 2c

 

[Vino1718]

Guys,Guys,Guys, if you want to buy from a Chinese vendor rather buy from 3Fvape and choose a decent shipping option, then they will ship and you will receive your goodies before Xmas, or choose the easiest way and pay R50 more and support the local vendors, just my 2c

If it were R50 more, I'd gladly buy local, but it aint. I want to buy the below for R450, but If I'd to buy it here I'd probably pay +R700.

 

[Raindance]

If it were R50 more, I'd gladly buy local, but it aint. I want to buy the below for R450, but If I'd to buy it here I'd probably pay +R700.
View attachment 113364

@Vino1718 I get what you say. But I think about it this way, I used to pay a garden service to take care of my front yard R220 for two crappy cuts and little else per month. I do it myself now, both because I do a much better job and its just about the only exercise I get, and it takes me about an hour per week in summer time to do so. Now, considering that I am prepared to pay R220 per month to save me two hours of work, paying that more for an item I want so I can get it about 45 days quicker than the alternative is a bargain.

An alternate perspective is that the additional cost is to be considered the cost of impatience, a kind of sin tax imposed by the laws of commerce...

Any product or service offers the client a choice of two out of a total of three attributes. Whichever two he chooses, the inverse of the third will be received.
The choices are: Cheap, Fast and Good.
A Cheap and Good service/product will not be fast.
A Cheap and Fast product will not be good, and
A Fast and Good service will not be Cheap.

(I call those the laws of business physics. Copyright Pending LOL.)

So if fast is your priority, be prepared to pay. And after all this it just shows neither option can claim to be best. It just depends on the individuals expectations and priorities.

Also, it feels good to support our own. (I was raised Catholic so just had to add some guilt inducing statement in there.)

Cheers!. Regards, Boom!

 

[SinnerG]

Many of us have experienced these problems. My guess is that many South Africans have complained to FastTech that their parcels have not been delivered, even after several months. FastTech knows that the parcels have arrived in SA and are sitting at customs. They must presume that SA customs are not letting vape related products into the country. I have lived in several countries, including two east African countries, and it is unheard of that a parcel can take months to clear customs. FastTech can therefore only assume that the goods are banned in SA.

Would it not be possible for Ecigssa (admin) to contact the major overseas vendors, on behalf of the members, to inform them of the situation with SA customs ? This would be far more effective than single members trying to explain the situation. They could even be referred to the threads where this has been discussed.

How do we know it is at customs? If it is at customs then a call to the customs division of JIMC would get proof that it is there or has at least past through there. Right now, looking at 2 of my FT parcels, neither show that they're at customs or in the system, yet tracking indicates having reached our shores. Has anyone who has hard a parcel not arrive actually called up customs and inquired about it? Either just to verify that the package made it or is possible lost in the inbound centre. All packages I've imported and tracked always indicate being moved to customs. I've never received a taxable item that never indicated customs on the tracking.

I currently have an aliexpress parcel at customs and it's been there for 19 days. When SARS gets involved in the process then things just stop. My wife had to wait an entire month for a product to clear Port Health (run by SARS, which I don't understand). It was a permitted already-imported product, but in new packaging format and SARS took their damn time confirming it to be the same thing.

 

[Halfdaft]

I just brought in a bunch of stuff from 3F with absolutely no issues. I think they would be your best bet.

 

[zadiac]

I've had probably more than a hundred orders from FT. Gadgets and/or Vape gear. I received all of it. I cannot say the same of 3Avape and 3Fvape though. I lost some money with those lot.

 

[Puff the Magic Dragon]

I stand to be corrected but I think SARS gets involved if it is suspected that the item is being imported for resale.

On a side note. @SinnerG . Whenever I have phoned JIMC I am told the parcel is at customs (be prepared to hang on for ages). Customs once told me they couldn't help as everyone was having tea.

 

[SinnerG]

Seems about right

And today the local post office tracking service is down. 17track can no makey comms.

 

[SinnerG]

I've had probably more than a hundred orders from FT. Gadgets and/or Vape gear. I received all of it. I cannot say the same of 3Avape and 3Fvape though. I lost some money with those lot.

Lost in the system or did they just not even bother to send it?

 

[Clouds4Days]

I stand to be corrected but I think SARS gets involved if it is suspected that the item is being imported for resale.

On a side note. @SinnerG . Customs once told me they couldn't help as everyone was having tea.

I think a matter of lost in translation.
We also have Tea time at work which is a morning/late afternoon break.

 

[zadiac]

Lost in the system or did they just not even bother to send it?

Lost in transit, but they can't be bothered. They just shrug it off and say it's not their problem.