Trudel H

MY SHOCKING EXPERIENCES WITH LAWNCARE SA

Be very careful before purchasing something from LawnCare SA and other local sites which do not act as importers from products especially originating from South-East Asia. On 24 January 21, I responded to an adverti*****t by My LawnCare SA of a "Garden Kneeler and Seat". The listed price was R1106 and promised: "free delivery all across South Africa". Before purchasing the product, I acquainted myself with the Terms & Conditions of this business. These primarily deal with the use of LawnCare's website. After having paid via EFT, I received two emails from the business, both of them confirming "Free Delivery". Much to my surprise a series of emails from DHL Express advising that the product was awaiting clearance and that I should pay R501,75 to have it cleared. Instead of "LawnCare", with whom I had contracted, DHL indicated that the shipment was from "BUY FACTORY DIRECT". The R501,75 claimed by DHL is made up of R301,75 -"duty and tax" and R200 - "Advance Payment". (I am neither a"company", nor have I ever had to deal with Customs before) Upon researching "Advance Payments" I noticed that this was an amount paid by importing companies to Customs to expedite clearance by Customs, pending a determination by Custome & Excise. On querying why I should be liable for the additional payment which, in effect, increased the purchase price in excess of 30%, RanCare's "Customer Support Team" responded, "Kindly note orders for South Africa comes from our Southeast Asia Warehouse, therefore, custom tax is at your own expense". In effect, LawnCare SA has thrown me under the bus. By shirking its responsibility as "importers", I as their client now have to deal with the bureaucracy and trauma of having to deal directly with customs and excise matters via LawnCare's agents, DHL. I was induced by LawnCare's clear representation, that the price listed was what I would pay and that "delivery", which must necessarily include the whole process from the supplier to me, would be "free". Had I known that I would be liable for an additional amount of R501,75, I would most certainly not have made the purchase. The fact that LawnCare SA has not posted my review, begs the question of whether it is hiding vital information from its customers. Interestingly enough, I noticed shortly after my husband sent the letter of complaint to them, that LawnCare duly increased the price of the same product by R489., and still promising "free delivery"! The lessons to be learned by me and maybe to all consumers out there are, firstly, to be very careful before using smaller South African outfits selling items imported from South Asia, who do not clearly state on their website that they are "importers" assuming all responsibilities ensuring that a product reaches the customer. Secondly, before responding to a "free delivery" promise, ensure that this also entails attending to customs matters. Thirdly, to ensure that other consumers are both informed of unconscionable practices of sellers, by writing reviews, be it directly on the seller's sites, or wonderful consumer sites like Hello Peter