By JACK MWEWA –
DHL has advised consumers buying goods online, using e-commerce, to consider other hidden costs other than the purchase price.
DHL operations manager for Sub Saharan Africa Oliver Facey said in a statement that while local consumers were embracing the shift towards e-commerce, many were still not aware of the regulations involved with importing products purchased online from international retailers, which could lead to consumers incurring unexpected expenses.
Mr Facey said consumers were often caught off-guard when their shipments and gifts arrived from international origins with unexpected additional charges that also apply on gifts from international origins.
Mr Facey said import duties and taxes differ in each country and were usually calculated as a percentage of the item value but in certain instances they could also be a flat fee, depending on the product type.
“Import shipments may also be subject to interventions by customs where the price, contents and country of manufacture are often investigated to mitigate a wide range of risks. This could result in delivery delays and additional costs,” he said in a statement.
He cited customs bureaus in Angola who have legislated tax-free exemptions for gifts to an individual as long as the value is less than US$350 and in Zimbabwe where the limit is $50. In South Africa, the value is R400, while Tanzania’s threshold is $15.
