Order from Dangdang

[LNHQ]

hquek:

They use china post. So singpost will handle for them ultimately. So far I still have faith in the end product. You may want to give it a few more weeks. Else, email customer service and ask them to send you the parcel reference number. You can go online to check the status. Sorry I don't have the link, but it's embedded here in few of the pages.

Hi hquek

Thanks.. 1st time buying

[hquek]

no worries, understand your excitement. Hope that your shipment goes through smoothly.

[marklim]

Hi all,


I am a first-timer on these forums, nice to meet you.

I want to order books from China and it seems like there are quite a few shipping options. The main ones I believe are: dangdang direct, peeka, daigou, shopsg and vpost.

Can any experienced kind soul help to differentiate between these options in terms of pricing, service and security (of delivery)? I plan to buy about 8 single-volume books in one go. Thank you very much in advance!

[hquek]

Hi marklim,


So far I’ve only tried dangdang and peeka for china, and vpost for Europe. Personally, vpost was very expensive option for me, and I think the china option also ex.

For peeka, if you have the exact dimensions, it’ll be easier to gauge the final bill. Choose economy and you won’t have to worry how heavy these are. This service is fast and transparent (status update available). But in my case, though I tried to order only books of the same size, I paid more than what I would have under dangdang.

My favorite probably is dangdang becos I know exactly how much I need to pay. Sometimes the amount on the stamp is higher, other times lower than what I paid. Only problem is that it can be slower than putting it on a snail and having the snail crawl all the way here. But my books have so far arrived safely. My preference also becos I got too many books and I can wait. If you can’t, then better to choose another option.

[marklim]

hquek:

Hi marklim,


So far I've only tried dangdang and peeka for china, and vpost for Europe. Personally, vpost was very expensive option for me, and I think the china option also ex.

For peeka, if you have the exact dimensions, it'll be easier to gauge the final bill. Choose economy and you won't have to worry how heavy these are. This service is fast and transparent (status update available). But in my case, though I tried to order only books of the same size, I paid more than what I would have under dangdang.

My favorite probably is dangdang becos I know exactly how much I need to pay. Sometimes the amount on the stamp is higher, other times lower than what I paid. Only problem is that it can be slower than putting it on a snail and having the snail crawl all the way here. But my books have so far arrived safely. My preference also becos I got too many books and I can wait. If you can't, then better to choose another option.

Thank you for sharing hquek I guess for heavy and bulky volumes, dangdang is the only viable option since it doesn't go by weight.

I am surprised peeka cost more for you. Was your package size considered large (in peeka's lingo), i.e. between 60,001 - 200,000 cubic cm? I am assuming that for single-volume books (say around 400 pages), it would take many of them to reach that range. So if i buy less than 10 books, my package size should be medium and peeka's shipping rate for medium is quite low indeed.

Also, for peeka, did you have to pay GST and handling fee on top of shipping fee? Are these percentages out of shipping cost or (shipping cost+product cost) or something else?

In any case, great to hear your books arrive safely! At least the tradeoff is between speed and cost and not security.

[hquek]

My order from peeka was for about 6 or 7 normal sized books. Not very big. But I was charged e medium sized.


For peeka, they charge a handling fee, shipping, and the exchange rate is also fixed by them. So they are in fact earning more than just shipping.

[hquek]

Btw, I rather pay for certainty, that is why I still prefer peeka. But I could be very wrong as to which is actually cheaper.

[marklim]

hquek:

Btw, I rather pay for certainty, that is why I still prefer peeka. But I could be very wrong as to which is actually cheaper.

Yea I would rather certainty as well As to which is cheaper depends on the contents of each individual shipment wouldn't it? I just bought 11 single-volume books, 1 set of 6 children books and 1 set of 4 dvds. Dangdang shipping costs me SGD$55 or so.

When my package comes I will use its volumetric weight to calculate peeka's costs. If peeka is significantly lower I will be sure to share my finding back here

:lovesite:

[znzyzyzx]

Brenda10:

Hi, just to share that I had bought 我的第一本学习漫画书科学实验王全套 (13 books) and 笑猫日记(1 book) from Peeka last year and paid about $23.00 for handling and shipping cost.

漫画书: 400g, 1cm x 19cm x 25cm each.
笑猫日记: 200g

Total: 5.4KG (exclude the packing)

If done thru Dang Dang, the shipping would be about 175rmb. So I think it ix cheaper to do thru Peeka or Daigou if you are ordering quite a lot. (For those a few books type, better still order thru Dang Dang).

So far, I ordered thru Daigou, anf normally is about 30kg, I think average I paid about $2 for each A5 size book. If ordered thru Dang Dang , would probably be 3 to 4 dollars, since those books are normally about 30 to 40 rmb, and 50% of 30rmb is 15 rmb, about $3.

[Www]

I find that DG and Pk's prices competitive.


Have tried both and notice there is a slight difference in calculation of volume weight (from their website currently:

PK: Volumetric weight = L x W x H (cm)/5000
DG: Volumetric weight = L x W x H (cm)/6000

DG:
1. allows you to redeem the points currently and can use for offset agent fee.
2. Service charges varies for different member level, charges $5-$8 for delivery trips or free self collect.
3. Charge volume weight (light/bulky item) or actual weight.
4. Allows you to hold the rest of items, if you still wish to add on more items. Unhold the items once finish adding for shipment.
5. Pay upfront for cost of goods (exclude shipping charges and agent fees) for 1st payment.

PK:
1. charge GST, Handling fees.
2. Offer free home delivery.
3. Can add on more purchase only if not all things arrive yet.
4. Pay only a portion of cost of goods (exclude shipping charges) for 1st payment.

Above points are just base from what I know currently for sea shipment, if not mistaken (some points could be wrong, so do check with the service provider), they could change their terms.

Personally, I find that it is easier to coordinate with DG for home delivery as they sms or call before drop by. Didn't receive call from PK before delivery. Just appear suddenly around for home delivery. Very surprise that someone knock so late at night. But for packing wise, I find PK's better. Very small package.

Pk's responses to questions are also much slower from what I have encountered so far.

So now I am not sure which should I choose for my next shopping.