Buying from AliExpress.com

Strapped

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

The original tracking number I got from the sender was: 6900950291. Type this into www.dhl.co.uk and it does not track.

The second tracking number I received was: 7369625992. This does track - but was delivered to an address in Birmingham and signed for by someone called DOAL.

Wait a minute, DOAL? Is that not an anagram of LOAD?

And what error message did I get when trying to pay the customs duty on the tracking number eventually provided by DHL?

Object doesn't support property or method 'LOAD'

Is that coincidence or what?

It's a coincidence.

The error message is a fairly generic one in oo (object-orientated) programming ie it's DHL's software at fault.

Pembroke

There are a few bits on this web article that you could try: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308260 if you are reasonably happy around a computer. I'm also coming across suggestions on the web that IE9 has a scripting problem, so if you're running that it may be causing your difficulties.

On your other problem as I understand Ali-Express's Escrow service they won't release the money to the seller until both you and he are satisfied, which means after you've received the goods. So I would be contacting them and telling them the problem.

Do you know the value of the package that DHL currently have for you ? as you may be able to work out if the package could contain the tablet by doing the maths back to arrive at an approx value from what the customs charge is.

Only other thought is that the delivery seems rather quick, it's only been 8 days since you ordered the item and from what I've seen quoted the delivery time is usually in the order of a couple of weeks. Were you given any sort of delivery time scale?

Paul_Varjak

gavjbrown wrote: »

In my experience, its not unusual to have items from China that are incorrectly described on the customs label. Maybe they're trying to save you customs charges.

Good Luck.

Yes, I am aware. Very good when all runs smoothly. But I am unsure of the exact mix-up.

Paul_Varjak

George_Michael wrote: »

Did you advise them that your payment was made to the seller via an escrow service as this may well invalidate your claim under the CCA. (This normally only covers payments that go directly from the credit issuer to the seller).

That was the very question I raised with my credit card provider, but they avoided the question, simply saying they would issue a chargeback. I pointed out that if the Escrow service failed to repay the money, they would contest any chargeback. Unfortunately, the person I spoke to did not understand what escrow was.

Paul_Varjak

Strapped wrote: »

It's a coincidence.

The error message is a fairly generic one in oo (object-orientated) programming ie it's DHL's software at fault.

I have done a little bit of OOP myself, so I kinda realised, but when I rang DHL they insisted that the website was working for them.

Although IE9 only generated the error message when I typed in the tracking number, Safari and Chrome generated similar messages at load page time (ie before entering tracking number).

Paul_Varjak

Pembroke wrote: »

There are a few bits on this web article that you could try: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308260 if you are reasonably happy around a computer. I'm also coming across suggestions on the web that IE9 has a scripting problem, so if you're running that it may be causing your difficulties.

I did try two other browsers, but to no avail.

Pembroke wrote: »

On your other problem as I understand Ali-Express's Escrow service they won't release the money to the seller until both you and he are satisfied, which means after you've received the goods. So I would be contacting them and telling them the problem.

I have already raised a dispute, just waiting for contact from the seller.

Pembroke wrote: »

Do you know the value of the package that DHL currently have for you ? as you may be able to work out if the package could contain the tablet by doing the maths back to arrive at an approx value from what the customs charge is.

That would be a good idea but sellers from China (including this one) mis-describe contents and their value so that the buyers pay reduced customs charges.

Pembroke wrote: »

Only other thought is that the delivery seems rather quick, it's only been 8 days since you ordered the item and from what I've seen quoted the delivery time is usually in the order of a couple of weeks. Were you given any sort of delivery time scale?

According to the seller, it was shipped on 9th August. According to DHL, the package sent to the address in Birmingham and the package addressed to me, were both shipped on 11 August!

Paul_Varjak

I have just checked with DHL again. They now tell me that the contents of the package are an e-reader and a USB keyboard valued at 60 US dollars.

That gives me a little bit more confidence that the contents are correct. The tablet pc is also an e-reader and they probably described it that way in order to justify the lowered value.

Paul_Varjak

DHL attempted to deliver today! They had told me they would not arrive until I had paid Customs' charges. I could not take delivery as I had no cash!

So, I rang DHL payments line. I was put in a queue for 2-3 minutes then it announced that if I did not want to wait on the line, they would call me back. But I did want to wait! But it then went straight to voice-mail.

I rang again a bit later and asked if I could pay on-line and they directed me to their epayments page again (the page that does not work). In the end I paid over the phone - with some difficulty as it was a poor phone line (probably somewhere in India).

I don't think DHL have anyway of paying on-line, as when I bring up the package tracking number on their website there is no link to pay the import duty! It just says I have to pay the duty but does not even mention how I can pay!

All, in all, not a very good experience ordering from China. I think I will pay a bit extra and order from a UK supplier in future, who will be bound by the Sale of Goods Act and maybe responsible for any warranty issues as well.

gavjbrown

By the time you paid duty etc, was there much of a saving?.

Paul_Varjak

gavjbrown wrote: »

By the time you paid duty etc, was there much of a saving?.

It would have cost £170 in the UK. It cost (with duties/VAT) just under £135.