Buying web items in Egypt is becoming easier now with many affordable shipment options. This article discusses (and as usual allows updates) the shipment methods and costs of Customs, Sales Tax and the possible review by authorities for medicine, food, and publications.
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How does it work?
In most cases you find something you like to buy on a trusted website (eg, Amazon.com) and think of ordering with your Credit Card.
The problem in ordering to Egypt is when it's shipped to Egypt and enters the Customs (الجمارك). Customs have 3 problems: difficult to deal with (تحتاج مشهلاتية), charges inconsistent rates if left on its own, and may delay your item considerably.
So when you order from website in USA, this is usually what you pay for:
- price tag for the item itself
- shipping in USA
- shipping from USA to Egypt
- Customs and Sales Tax in Egypt
- fees of shipping company to finish #4
If you order international shipping from website (not offered on all USA website) your item ends up in Egyptian customs and you're asked to hire an Agency (مشهلاتى) to get it out (You cannot do it on your own because entry to some points requires licensed agencies). Such agencies usually asks you to come to Customs in person to receive shipments and handle signatures and stand long hours in the Customs. This is good for companies but not for Consumers like us.
That's why Shipping Companies in Egypt are offering a better solution for Consumers such as Aramex, Fedex, etc.
How Shipping Companies Handle It?
Companies like FedEx, Aramex, DHL or Edfa3ly have set special web-purchasing programs in Egypt to help individuals (consumers) import their own goods in Egypt with special attention to customer care and complaints, and door-to-door delivery.
That's the way you need to do it:
- You set up an account in the shipping company of your choice
- They give you an address in USA (now in UK and China as well) to ship your bought items to
- Use the new USA address when you buy from website. For example when in Amazon.com, place your address as the USA address you were given
- receive in your home/work with COD (Cash On Delivery) which includes the shipping cost as well as Customs Duties and Taxes.
Who Provide Those Services in Egypt?
| Agency | Custom and Taxes | Shipping Costs | Easy & Friendly | Contacts | Value- added Services | Overall Remarks |
| Aramex | Good in reducing it. Few mistakes. Have skipped smaller items from customs sometimes | EGP 68 per kilo or smaller | Customer Service on phone was helpful and very responsive | http://www.aramex.com/ | None so far except website tracking | Perhaps the best because of their handling of Customs costs |
| DHL | ||||||
| FedEx | ||||||
| edfa3ly.com.eg |
What's NOT good about Shipping Companies So Far (Apr 2012)?
What those companies are lacking so far for Consumers are:
- They don't group your items to be shipped together and therefore save shipping costs (some items are too small and still you pay one kilo shipping costs). This perhaps could be handled on their website with additional money
- They don't inform you before they pay money the Customs so mistakes are not easy to fix (eg, Camera Bag was taxed as Camera and not a Bag)
- High Value consumers don't have special treatments (High Value like paying more than EGP 2000 shipping and duties per year) like special offering some of the above.
List (Updated Feb 2012):
|
Item Name |
Custom Duty % (bill value) |
Sales Tax % (bill value) |
Inspection Authority |
Notes |
| Beauty supplies | 30% | 25% | Pharmaceutical ( عرض صيدليات ) | |
|
Books |
5% |
0% |
Publications (matbo3at مطبوعات) |
|
| Brochures | 10% | 10% | Publications (matbo3at مطبوعات) | |
| Bag | 30% | 10% | None | |
| Calculator | 0% | 10% | Publications (matbo3at مطبوعات) | |
| Car accessories & Spare parts | 10% | 10% | None | |
|
DVDs |
0% |
10% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
|
CDs Computer Data |
0% |
10% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
| CDs Games | 0% | 10% | Media (mosanafat مصنفات) | |
|
CDs Movie, Songs |
0% |
10% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
|
CDs Programs |
0% |
10% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
|
VHS tapes |
0% |
25% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
|
Digital Camera |
5% |
25% |
None |
|
|
Digital Cartridge (for printers) |
0% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Electronics |
10% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Laptop |
0% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Web Camera |
5% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Food Supplement |
5% |
10% |
Pharmaceutical (saydaliat صيدليات) |
|
|
Clothes |
30% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Shoes |
30% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Computer Equipment |
0% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Catalogs |
10% |
10% |
Publications (matbo3at مطبوعات) |
|
|
Magazines |
5% |
0% |
Publications (matbo3at مطبوعات) |
|
|
Sports Equipment |
5% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Makeup |
30% |
25% |
Pharmaceutical (saydaliat صيدليات) |
|
|
DVD Player |
30% |
25% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
|
Chocolate |
20% |
10% |
Nutrition (aghzeya أغذية) |
|
|
Poster |
10% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Mobile Charger |
5% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Mobile Battery |
5% |
10% |
None |
|
|
DVD Program |
0% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Frame (?) |
30% |
10% |
??? (عرض زرعة) |
|
|
Stationery |
30% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Toys |
10% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Soap |
30% |
5% |
Pharmaceutical (saydaliat صيدليات) |
|
|
Cables |
10% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Cassette Tapes |
0% |
10% |
Media (mosanafat مصنفات) |
|
|
Watch10 |
% |
10% |
None |
|
|
Electrical Equipment |
10% |
10% |
Security (أمن عام) |
|
| Guitar (Musician) | 30% | 10% | None | |
| iPad | 0% | 10% | Communication (عرض اتصالات) | |
| Archos Internet Tablet | 0% | 10% | Communication (عرض اتصالات) | |
| iPhone | 0% | 10% | Communication (عرض اتصالات) | |
| iPod | 20% | 25% | None | |
| LCD Screen Computer | 0% | 10% | None | |
| LCD Screen TV | 30% | 25% | None | |
| Mobile | 0% | 10% | Communication (عرض اتصالات) | |
| Game Sony Playstation | 10% | 10% | None | |
| Radio | 30% | 10% | None | |
| Video Camera | 5% | 25% | None | |
| Wallet | 30% | 10% | None | |
| Wii | 10% | 10% | None | |
| Sun glasses | 30% | 0% | None | |
| Printer | 0% | 10% | Security (أمن عام) | |
| Game Sony PSP Console | 30% | 10% | None | |
| Game X Box | 10% | 10% | None | |
| Kindle | 0% | 10% | None | |
| GPS | 5% | 10% | Communication (عرض اتصالات) | |
| Headphones | 5% | 10% | None | |
| Camera Accessories | 0% | 25% | None | |
| Electric Machine | 30% | 10% | None | |
| Hair Removal Device | 30% | 10% | None | |