Sunday 25 March 2012

How Zambians Can Shop On Ebay

            Almost every bank in Zambia today has some form of VISA debit card that allows people to transact with. Apparently the extent to which the VISA card is being used is extremely low. The use of the VISA card rarely goes beyond being able to withdraw money across different banks. It can generally be agreed that the use of the VISA card is fairly being under utilised in this country. In a globalised world that we live in, it is time that we get with the programme and begin to harness its full potential. One such potential is shopping online specifically on Ebay.

            Let me be honest, I was quite hesitant to write this blog, simply because I have a vested interest. The fewer people who know how to shop on Ebay the better for me. Then I thought I am all for empowerment and I believe information is power. Lucky you. I am an entrepreneur and usually we make our money doing things cheaper, faster and better. Well for me it is the cheaper that I am involved in. Shopping on Ebay is like going to the whole world to do both your window shopping and actual shopping. However, there is a lot of skepticism around when it comes to buying things online. The number of computer hacking cases on the increase and the amount of fraudsters online is a very valid argument. Then just because there have been plane crashes around the world, it does not mean that we will stop getting on planes.
            The other reason perhaps is that we are just afraid to take risks. Most Zambians are naturally risk averse, they wait for someone to jump into the deep end before they do, wait for some else to break a leg and say how painful it is before they try it out. You can be rest assured that I have taken the plunge on your behalf and can duly inform you that I have been shopping on Ebay for about 8 months now. I have bought books, sneakers, watches, jewelry, hard drive, laptop battery, Chelsea jersey and the list is endless, so I know what I am talking about. Now this is how you shop on Ebay.
1.      Have a VISA debit card- The card is like your passport to online shopping. It is an internationally recognised card that allows you to make transactions online. Like I mentioned earlier you probably have a VISA card. In Zambia most banks provide VISA Electron cards and not simply VISA. Nonetheless, you are still able to use the card. In case you do not have one, open an account with a bank that offers one.
2.      You Need A Post Box- So I am sure you have thought to yourself who needs a post box in this day and age. Frankly if you want to shop online you need one. This is how you going to get your stuff. I reckon this would be an opportune time to pay the post office a visit.
3.      Register for a Paypal Account- For sites such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble you can use your VISA electron card to buy stuff by simply punching in your card numbers. Now, for Ebay it is slightly different. In order to buy things on Ebay you need to open up a PayPal Account. You cannot buy anything on Ebay without a Paypal Account. A Paypal account is a medium of payment more like Western Union. The Paypal account is linked to your VISA electron card. Whereas when buying from sites like Amazon, you have to input the numbers from your card onto the site, when you have a Paypal account what you input is your email address and password. Getting a Paypal account is absolutely free. All you have to do is register on www.paypal.com. In this registration you will be required to enter your personal details and your VISA card numbers. This is so that the account can be linked to your card. Your account will then be debited with about $2. On your bank statement this debit of $2 by Paypal will be accompanied with a four digit number. You can call this a passcode. In order to complete your Paypal registration you will have to enter this four digit passcode in order to verify that it is your account. Once this is done Paypal will refund the $2 back into your account. Then you are good to go.
4.      Register on Ebay- When you have the first 3 steps sorted out you are now ready to register for an Ebay account on www.ebay.com. It is when you register that you will be required to put in your Paypal account details as well as your Postal address. The registration is fairly easy and I do not expect it to trouble you. Do not be tempted to provide false information because it might come to bite you when you attempt to resolve problems that may arise.
5.      Shop Till Your Money Runs Out- You are now ready to shop till your money runs out. One thing you need to consider while shopping is that on Ebay there are mainly two ways to buy something. You can either Bid or Buy it Now. When you bid it is more like an auction. You make your best offer and wait for the bid to close before you know whether you have the opportunity to buy the item. Buy it Now means that you can buy the item there and then. You must also be aware of the shipping costs to know what you will ultimately be required to pay. The prices are usually in United States Dollar or British Pound so be sure to convert the amounts accurately. Paypal will only pay out money once the seller has shipped the item. Once you have confirmed to the payment through your Paypal account the money will immediately be debited from your account.
I hope that the information has been beneficial and your shopping is now a click away. I would advise you that just like you would in physical shops looking for the best prices, you should do the same on Ebay and not buy the first thing you see, search around first. For beginners I recommend buying small items initially such as watches or jewelry in order to get comfortable buying on Ebay. Do not go straight ahead and buy a laptop the first time of asking. It is now time to explore the whole world is now your shopping mall.
If you should wish to have a personalised service in helping you get set-up to shop on Ebay you can contact me on 0965-700875 at only K99, 000.

243 comments:

  1. I have a stanbic bank debit card and the card number is short, which details on the card do i input?

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    1. Dude... a debit card is not a credit card. Get a credit card ... then you will have the right amount of numbers.

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    2. you simply tell your friend to get a credit card why make him look bad

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  2. You are supposed to input both numbers the 16 digit number in front of the card and the 3 digit number at the back of the card is the security number. Technically it should, I use my Xapit

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  3. HI FRUSTRATED BROTHER.... I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REGISTER ON E BAY FORTHE LAST 1 HOUR...I HAVE A SAVEASSURANCE STANCHART CARD - VISA ELECTRON. THEY KEEP SAYING THE CARD NO IS NOT VALID. WHAT TO DO?

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  4. Hi Anonymous, I have been informed that some banks are failing to link on Paypal. However, I personally use a Xapit. Therefore if you are having problems, try getting yourself a Xapit. Hope it helps

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  5. I wouldn't advice anyone to shop online,its riskly business especially if you stay in zambia.Most online dealers even on ebay dont ship to Zambia or Africa.Dont be cheated you will lose money.Am talking from experience I made a purchase 70 dollars on ebay and paid using my paypal account.Then the dealer got the payment and said we dont ship to africa,so we are going to refund you,its been two months now I have not received my money back. It has been very difficult for me to get my money back and I have lost out just like that.I can not advise anyone to do online banking in zambia you will lose out.

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    1. If you paid on Paypal and didn't get your item then its up to open a buyer dispute. Very simple and you get your money back as soon as the claim is settled. You should probably read a bit more about Ebay and Facebook before you say dumbass things like what you said above.

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  6. Hi Anonymous, I would beg to differ. Like everything else you have to know the rules. I have been shopping on Ebay for close to 10 months now and my items have come in and continue to do so. About not shipping to Zambia that is why it is important to check and contact the shipper before you pay. They always respond. Alternatives when you go to advanced searches you can request to see buyers who ship to Zambia.Should you require assistance in this get in touch.

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  7. Thanks for this info I bank with FNB and their card does not work on ebay. I will go on monday and register for a Xapit card :)

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  8. I run a UK based shopping service for Zambian consumers. If you need someone reliable to do your shopping for you, get in touch.

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  9. I would try www.dczambia.com if you are trying to shop on e-bay. We can help facilitate the transaction.

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  10. Hi Mojo360, when you say help facilitate the transaction what exactly do you mean?

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  11. HI FRUSTRATED BROTHER I WANT TO BUY A LAPTOP O EBAY IS IT POSSIBLE

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    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  12. Hi Anonymous, yes it is possible. However, with such items as laptops you might be required to pay tax by ZRA on it. Items below US$ 500 are not taxed. Also if this is you first time using Ebay I would suggest you start off buying something smaller for practice. Then as you get comfortable with buying from Ebay then you can go ahead and purchase the laptop.

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  13. hi frustrated how about a phone for the first time can i buy to get comfortable and how do i check weather its possible they can ship it to zambia

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  14. Yes you could get a phone. Next to the search button there is advanced. Click on it and scroll to location below and select ship to Zambia. All phones that ship to Zambia will appear. Also you need to know that shipping costs for things like phones is higher because electronics are usually shipped express.

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  15. its a helpful outline for first time users especially us Zambians who are not risk takers

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  16. Hi Anonymous, I am glad that you found this blog helpful.

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  17. It is mananged in the United States. By whom I do not know.

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    1. its owned by Paypal. That's why they make it mandatory for you to have a paypal account... they get a % of sellers fees, and then % of transfer money on paypal. Double-dipping.

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  18. how long do they take to ship? and what kind of information am i suposed to receive?

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  19. Hi Anonymous, shipping is dependent on a number of situations.
    1.Where is it coming from,shipment from USA and China can take upto six weeks or more while from the UK it can only be two weeks or less.
    2. Is it shipped express,economy or free shipping? Usually express shipping takes a week but it is more expensive than the others.The other shipping will take longer.
    I am not sure about your last question on what you are to receive. What do you mean exactly?

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  20. hey diary what of tax how is that taken care of?

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  21. Hi Anonymous if you are buying items below $500 you should not be taxed on those products. Anything above is likely to attract taxes.Items like laptops are major items that are likely to be kept until tax is paid

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  22. hi, thanks for the info, but I wanted to find out how long it can take for a viola (instrument) to be shiped from the US to zambia. And when it shows that it ships to worldwide, does it mean to any country? Thanks

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    1. Hi Anonymous thanks for reading the blog. The length of shipping is dependent on the shipping arrangement that is made. If it is expedited shipping which is more expensive could take about 10days. Then the ordinary shipping can take up to a month. It can still say worldwide but exclude Zambia. When you click on the shipping of the item it should show you the countries it ships to. Hope this helps.

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    2. Oh dear. Go to the website - www.ebay.com Now look for the viola. Now look at the section that shows shipping. If you can't find what you need then ask the seller the question and you can get yourself an exact answer.

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  23. Hi Frustrated, if i buy a laptop for $200 dollars how much am i likely to spend in total? Just give an estimate please

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    1. hi frustrated,what is the total cost of purchasing a phone(nokia N70) at $70 till it reach home, by using standard shipping. or u can use the item you bought from ebay to estimate the total cost u spent.

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    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  24. Hey bro where and how do i check the four digit number when the account is debited with 2$? Help please......

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    1. Hi Anonymous,you get the four digit number from your bank statement. It will be nextto the debit of $2 from paypal.Note if you are using xapit you cannot see it on your phone, you will need to go the actually statement.It will also take a couple of days for the deduction from paypal to reflect after you are done with the paypal registration.

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  25. I cant manage to link my xapit account, the response is that my bank has denied..help

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  26. Hi Andrew that is strange, do you have money in your xapit account?

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  27. I tried doing this last month. I went to get my Xapit bank statement and they told me it costs KR100!!! I wasn't going to dish that out. So I decided to wait for the main confirmation but I haven't got it after over a month. Is there another way to check my Xapit statement to get the code? How did you get yours?

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  28. I meant mail confirmation

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  29. Oh and Andrew, that happened to me. I tried again after about 2 hours and it worked. Keep trying. And yes, make sure your account is active.

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  30. By mail confirmation do you mean the bank statement that is emailed to you? The option that you can try is going to ask them to open your statement and they tell you the four digits next to the Paypal transaction. They do not have to print the statement that way you may spare yourself the KR 100. That is what I did.

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  31. You are so kind Frustrated Brotha to share such useful information. Are you ready for people to use your account to buy things at a fee? Business proposal for you:) Want to thank you for your generosity.

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    1. Hi Anonymous, thank you for your kind words. Yes you may use my account to purchase if the arrangement is good enough. It would also be dependent on what you want to purchase.

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  32. Hi, I wanted to ask how much does it cost to have a p o box..and what details shoild I put in the shipping adress if I was using amazon? Thanks in advance

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    1. Hi a box is around K450 per year. I don't purchase from amazon but I know you can add your post box

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  33. Hey bro, learnt about your blog because eBay can not send me any tracking updates for 10 days since I purchased my good from yallstore. Am just worried that there is no tracking information yet.is it always that they will send tracking information until the item is delivered? Worried about my money...

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    1. Hi Anonymous, well it is not always that you will receive tracking information for your purchases. It mostly depends on what you are purchasing and what amount of shipping cost you paid. If it was free shipping, economy or standard shipping do not expect to receive any tracking information. In case you are in doubt the best would be to contact the seller and find out about the shipping information. Hope this helps

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  34. i used usps tracking is saying it is in transit can i be assured of receiving my parcel

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    1. Hi if it says in transit then it is on its way. Bare in mind that shipping from USA take long to arrive it can even take up to a month so there is no reason to worry. Did you pay for express shipping?

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  35. hi brother, i suggest this answers are not true, if its true why hiding ur face and i cant see your e-mail there,only contact me.

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    1. Hi Anonymous, you are at liberty to take my advice or leave it.The choice is always yours.

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  36. there are a few banks that offer VISA most banks in zambia offer VISA Electron

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  37. You are very right Anonymous. There are a few banks that offer VISA. However, you are still able to link your VISA Electron for some banks to paypal.

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  38. Firstly I'd like to say this is a nice blog!
    Secondly, how much is charged for shipping a small item, say, a DVD?

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  39. Thanks Addictedtoscripture, it depends who is shipping it. usually DVDs are shipped express therefore, shipping costs could be in the range of $50

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  40. frustated brotha i would like to buy a phone on ebay but do not have a postsal box. is there a way of getting my item without the use of a postal address?

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  41. Hi Stone, yes you can. You can receive it using the Mercury Express addresses in the UK and USA. I have not used their services so you will have to pay them a visit in Longacres to get the logistics and addresses.

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  42. hey F.B,really helpful blog! my question is how long did it take for your code to reflect on yo bank statement or in short how long did u take for to go and check to see yo statement?
    my other question is...is it still ok to use yo friends,sister's or whoever's p.o box and is it always that the item has been shipped even when you havent received notification to show it has been shipped?

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    1. Thanks Anonymous, glad that the blog has been helpful. I took three day before going to check with the bank and it was there.

      Yes that is fine as long as you put your name and c/o for the address you want to receive the items at. Whenever, I item is shipped you are always notified via email.

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  43. hi, on paypal it says u can also use your debit card. i have a visa atm card but am not on xapit. av bin trying for days to link and verify the card on paypal but to no avail. wat could be the problem?

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    1. Hi, I am not quite sure where you are stuck. Is it that you are failing to link your card to paypal? If that is the case maybe you are not inputing the correct numbers. In order to verify with paypal you need to obtain the four digit number paypal send from your bank statement. That is the number that is used for verification.

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  44. Hi frustrated brotha? hop you are O.K. If you are recieving your item thru post office, How long does it take to recieve your item after you have purchased it?

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    1. Hi Anonymous, I am great thanks. The time it takes to receive items depends on a number of factors. Where it is coming from, the UK is the fastest. How is it coming if it is express shipping say from the UK I receive them within 14 days. Items bought from China or USA can take more than a month to arrive.

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  45. Hi Fb where are the offices of paypal in zambia in particular Lusaka?

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  46. Hi Frustrated brother,

    Thanks for making this post. Most Zambians want others to try for them before they can do it themselves. We just hear stories and dwell on whatever we get, remaining locked up in backwardness. We should change.

    I don't know if I'm allowed to do this. I just want to share this great shopping site but I'd like to mention that I'll also share a link that includes my referral ID in it so I hope that's fine.

    The online shop is called TripleClicks and it is based in the US but many of the products can be shipped worldwide.

    One interesting part about it is that there are auctions that start from as low as $0.01 and when someone bids, the price increases by this amount and the time resets. It's different from the ebay auctions because here, the final price is usually $5 - $10 and some items are shipped for free. How this is possible is that to place bids, one needs to have Credits which only cost $0.29 a piece and can be cheaper if you get more at once. If you are the final bidder and you get maybe an Apple ipad at $10, you will have spent not more than $10 on Credits. That means you've gotten the item at less than $25 when the actual retail price is higher than $300. Even if you don't win the auction, you have not lost because, for each bid you place, you get 5 (sometimes 10) Member Rewads Points (MRP) which can be used to buy any products of your choice when they accumulate. Isn't that great?

    The store has many great features and those who are already comfortable with ebay will not find any problem there either. Those who are interested can check it out here http://tr.im/45npl

    It is a unique online shop and people (including me, of course) all over the world are even earning money (over $200), promoting the site and its products.

    Readers, "The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't
    know anything about"~
    So those who have never heard of TripleClicks, go check it out. You might be missing out on something great.

    Those who may want to reach me for questions or certain interesting things I've left out ('cause I don't wanna go all spammy) can reach me here facebook.com/ms.cooljay

    Thanks for your time and Frustrated Brother, I'm so grateful. Hope you loosen up on the frustration, though.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Jay, it is fine. I will try and look up the site. Frustrations keep following me.lol

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  47. Hai frustrated brother,I recently signed up with ebay and paypal..am yet 2 get my 4 digits code,but wht do I put on my billing address 1 and 2 as this is really confusing me...

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    1. Hey Warren, hope you know that the four digit code is gotten from the bank statement. On billing you need to put the postal address where the items will be sent to. Hope this helps

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  48. Hai frustrates,does eBay notify if the item has been delivered?I bought a phone from hong Kong and have been tracking it,on 3 July i tracked it again and i found that it has been cleared by customs ZM,can i check for it at the post office before they deliver it to my home address or maybe i should wait until its delivered?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous,

      Ebay does not notify if an item has been delivered. However, if the item you bought does have a tracking number then it will appear on your purchase history of items on ebay. Yes you may check with the post office, though the item will be delivered to the address that you put. Hope this helps

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  49. hey frustrated brother do u have any names of trusted sellers frm ebay..

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    1. Hey Anonymous, this is a tough question that you asking. It all depends what you want to buy. Look for the Top Rated Sellers and read the reviews of the seller to have an idea of their service. Also you make contact the seller if you need any clarification on the purchase before you buy

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    2. Hello F.B it's of great delight to know that people in Zambia like you still exist.
      Do you know of anyone who has bought from this site:
      http://www.sammydress.com
      I only know of one person who reccommended me to use this coz their stuff is really cheap but high quality. I have my doubts pliz recommend.
      I'd also like to know where you collect your parcel from when it reaches Zambia?
      Or is it delivered directly to your home?
      Are there any additional costs you have to pay for when the parcel reaches Zambia?
      How does EMS, DHL come in?
      Is the procedure the same for all online shops or just ebay?

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    3. Hi Anonymous,
      Unfortunately I have never heard of sammydress. However, what you may do is just google it and check what you comes up. But before you purchase I would advise that you to do further research to avoid losing your money.

      I collect my items from the post office. If the item is below US$ 500 you are not required to pay anything.


      The procedures are different for other online shops. So you may need to read the requirements for other online shops.

      Hope this helps.

      Delete
  50. nice!! Bah F.B is the postal address the sme as the billing address on paypal?

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  51. i live in monze and purchased a phone do i wait to get it in monze o i cn get it in lusaka nd where do i get it

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    1. Hi Anonymous, it will come to the address that you put. If it is Lusaka then it will come to Lusaka, if Monze then Monze.

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  52. thank you 4 the information but may I know y ts difficult to link a Barclays visa electron debit card to paypal as I have failed many times while I have done so easily with a Zanaco Xapit debit card

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  53. Hi Anonymous, there are a number of banks that do not allow you to link your card to paypal. From what others have told me Barclays cards are one of those. I guess you will have to stick with the card that works.

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  54. Hi,FB.what if I buy an item valued at 400dollars in the US but 600dollars in zambia,will I be charged for it?and also how do I filter items on ebay to only those that ship worldwide.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, no you will not be charged as long as the parcel states that the price of the item is $400. To filter go to search>> click advance>> type what you want>> scroll down to location>>tick only show items>> click Available to>> Select Zambia>> Then search. It should bring a majority of sellers who ship to Zed.

      Hope this helps

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  55. where exactly do u pick your items from after they have been shipped to Zambia is there a specific collection point.

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    1. The Post Office. Each time a parcel arrives, I receive a slip in my box to go collect the item at the counter. A post box is only K450 per annum.

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  56. Mr.diary,say I buy an s2 at 400 dollar using free shipping or the cheapest shipping available,how much would it cost me in dollars to have it in my hands?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Techlover, if you want to donate your 400 dollars you may opt for free shipping. Items that are shipped free take months to arrive and are at a high risk of getting lost in the mail. Trust me if you are buying any electronic stuff, I would strongly recommend you pay for expedited shipping.Its an extra 50 dollars or so but at least you know you will get your item.

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  57. amm wen you are buy using MERCURY COURIERS do u stil hav to make sure they ship to zambia? Coz the mercury address simz to be frm the uk!

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    Replies
    1. When you are buying from Mercury Couriers you put the address for the UK or USA. Once the item is delivered, they will call you to collect and you will pay for it based on the weight. Note that Mercury charge higher for items coming from the USA than from the UK.

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  58. Hey man.I need your help in buying a blackberry phone as I don't have an account.give me your email or phone number so we cn discuss the monetary issues.

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  59. how long does it take to check for your bank statement? thnx

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  60. Hi Anonymous its takes about 3 days for the pin to appear on the bank statement

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  61. What is the abbreviation for zambia on ebay?

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  62. I have bein tryin to shop on ebay but every time I try to pay on paypal with my Barclay visa electronic it tellsz me check your billing address wat do I do

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    Replies
    1. Hi,

      The reason should that you are trying to buy from a seller who does not ship to Zambia. Therefore, just check and ensure that they ship to Zed.

      Is your Paypal account verified?

      Delete
  63. hi fb what is the postal code for zambia when ordering an item eg a text book and is it posible to open your paypal account without using your p.o box number in orders that dont need to be shiped like those that only require your email adress for downlodable materials like ebooks

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  64. Apparently, only Xapit Zanaco account works to shop online at the moment as far as i know. other banks do not offer this service. i asked barclays and they said its not safe so they dont offer it.but i have been shopping on ebay for 2 years now and the most serious case i have had is late shipping.and few low cost items that got lost.but with paypal,its fairly safe.

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  65. Hi,

    thanks for the infor. i have just started transacting on ebay and so far so good. yet to receive my items and for sure we Zambians so so very risk averse no wonder we lose out on good deals.

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  66. it always works best. i owez shop on ebay,Amazon and alot of these online stores that offer paypal payments :)

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  67. how do u buy thngs on amazon I find it hard to do so unlike ebay

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    Replies
    1. Hi unfortunately I am not too familiar with Amazon. What I do know is that Amazon does not require you to have a paypal account. It is the normal registeration that you do like on ebay but when paying you have to input the numbers on your debit card.

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    2. ok thank can I ask I wanted to buy some green coffee bean pills for my uncle from the usa will customs consficate this item cause they are pills o what what are the requirements to bring such medication

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  68. want to buy a laptop from Russia is it safe to buy from Russia and how long would take to reach zambia

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  69. Hi Anonymous, I have never bought anything from Russia before so I would not be in a position to advice. However, check if they are a top rated sellers and also read the reviews of people who have bought from them. I would recommend you buy elsewhere as you might face communication problems should you be faced with challenges.

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  70. Thanks fb 4 such important information, I guess I just need to get in touch with you at some point.

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  71. Dude,

    I really like your efforts, it takes a lot to answer all these questions and by far for free your doing pretty good. If only we had more people like you. Mostly i have found the Debit/Credit cards are the biggest hindrance when it comes to buying online, i have made many attempts but still cannot successfully register my CARD with Paypal, i tried getting hold of the Banks and unfortunately they were not helpful, finding this Blog just made me realize many Zambians do want to buy online but are held back by the lack of information. To make it easier may you assist with which Banks will register with Paypal and the basic requirements, you can start with your the Bank your using, last night i Spoke with a Barclays call center agent with a South African accent who told me, only platinum clients can purchase online which is ridiculous. I shall circulate word about this blog and hopefully we can all move to a Bank that can allow Online Buying..

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    1. Hi Musa,

      Thank you very much for the kind words. They are highly appreciated. I personally use Zanaco Xapit for my online purchases. I also know that the UBA Debit Card does too and the advantage with this one is that you do not need to have an account with UBA, you just top up the card. I do know that most other banks do not allow online purchases and this has been a major problem.

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  72. http://poll.pollcode.com/824684#sthash.C4oNd9CO.dpuf

    Kindly log onto Poll above and vote for the best commercial bank in zambia

    ReplyDelete
  73. ok thank can I ask I wanted to buy some green coffee bean pills for my uncle from the usa will customs consficate this item cause they are pills o what what are the requirements to bring such medication

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, I am not too sure where you can import those pills. You would have to inquire from a health practictioner as there are some restriction such as requiring a licence when importing medication

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  74. mmh how i want to buy samthn and i dont have a p o box and i want to use mecury how can do it?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, all you need to do is add the mercury express UK or USA address where you proceed to make payment. The addresses can be found here http://thebestofzambia.com/lifestyle/shopping/eshopping/mercury-express/

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  75. bt ba Fb, i've tried severally to enter my visa card number(xapit),but paypal keeps saying some information on my card number is wrong.isnt my card number the 16 digits on my card? same for my csc code?could i be missing something?

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  76. I would to buy memory module (RAM) ON e-bay since this is my first time i would like to know the risks and possibly the shipping costs coz most sellers say free shipping. And how much does mecury charge for such items for using their service

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    1. Hi Mwansa, if it says free shipping then it is free shipping. Just make sure that they ship to Zambia. The problem with free shipping is that it will take a month plus before the item arrives. Mercury charge according to weight. For RAM it will probably cost you around K30. As regards to the risk since it is small it could get lost in the mail, however, such instances are quite rare.

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  77. Does PayPal accept barclays debit cards?

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    1. The last time I checked, you could not link the barclays debit card to Paypal. I recall many people being unable to do so.

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  78. Hi there. I have been shopping on Amazon and ebay for sometime now, quite successfully. My only problem is that a lot of the items I would like do order do not ship to Zambia. I noticed that this varies according to supplier. Would you know why some suppliers won't ship to Zambia, after all we are paying for the shipping cost.

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    1. Hi Anonymous, there reason most people do not ship to Zambia could be because the reliability of the postal service. Perhaps a number of items get lost or take too long to arrive. Therefore, in order to avoid resending items shippers dont just ship to Zambia. However, you can still buy the items through other shippers such as Mercury, DotCom Zambia, Post Courier etc

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  79. Hey there, is there any way we can talk in person? Phone number, email? I need your help with something, Its very important

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  80. Hi,Diary of a Frustrated Brotha,
    i have a card with fnb (a cheque card) i dont why but when i try to link it with pay pal it simply tells me unable to verify the 3 digit number ...help

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mwaba,I am not sure it is telling you that. One of the possibilities is that FNB does not permit their cards to be linked with paypal. You may go find out from them. Alternatively you may attempt to use another bank if you have a visa card with them because like I mention in some of the comments above, there are some banks that do not allow their cards to be linked with paypal.

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  81. Hey FB I wuld lke to knw the reason why am getting this message wen trying to link my xapit visa with paypal account (sorry the credit card u enterd is incorrect or partially wrong) whilst entering the correct card number am using Zanaco Xapit Visa please help!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, I cannot really determine why you are receiving that error message. Make sure that the name on you card is the one that you have registered with PayPal and it is the right digits you are entering. In regards to the postal address, I am assuming you mean the post code. Please as the post office in mufulira they should be able to let you know. Hope this helps

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  82. Hey FB I'll ask two questions; (1) I wuld lke to knw the reason why am getting this message wen trying to link my xapit visa with paypal account (sorry the credit card u enterd is incorrect or partially wrong) whilst entering the correct card number am using Zanaco Xapit Visa (2) the postal address for Mufulira please help!

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  83. Thanks FB have just linked the account but am a little behind on how I'll receive the 4 digit confirmation code. Should I go to the bank or I need to wait for them to email me and if so how long will it take in both cases of either going to the bank or waiting for the email?

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  84. Hi FB... How much does FNB charge per transaction??? At zanaco its only k10

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, unfortunately I do not know how much FNB charge. You may have to inquire from them.

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  85. How do I know that the saller ships to Zed. I have tried to use the advanced Search but I see the same thing when I opnen the item. It says post to GBR, some are post to worldwide, some are post to europian union. How do I know the seller ships to Zambia.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, when you go to the item next to the description there is shipping. Click on the shipping and it will bring you a tab where you can select the country. If Zambia does not appear then they do not ship to Zambia. Some will even state that countries they do not ship to.

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  86. So you mean even if it states that - post to Europe Or what ever. It can still be shipped to zambia. And that dosent really matter?

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    Replies
    1. No, if it does not say Zambia then it means it does not ship to Zambia.

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  87. I'm trying to open a pay pal a/c but on I'm stuck on the security challenge page. I'm entering the codes as they are shown but still I can't continue. Is there anything I'm missing.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, I am not sure where exactly you are stuck. Are attempting to link your card to paypal or you have already done that and want the verification code

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  88. You should contact GPS Solutions at the BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP COMPLEX PLOT 3061/2 MAKISHI ROAD. They can help you I think. The building is at the corner of great East and Makishi road if you are in Lusaka. They can help you out or they can even buy items for you from the U.S. if you pay them the cash if you are not comfortable using using your bank card online or something. They are providing online shopping services from the U.S. and work with GPS Logistics Zambia (www.glzambia.com). I am very excited to have another option for my online shopping services from the USA (though I dont want my customers to start using them since am in the selling business of items from the U.S.) given all the problems Mercury has put some of the customers through as explained by our frustrated brotha. You can also contact them at sales@glzambia.com and they were helpful. Let us know how helpful they were in case someone has the same problem.

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    1. I will also be waiting for feedback on their service.

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  89. Hey Frustrated Brotha! Muli shani, Its great to see you trying to help your fellow countrymen explore new ways of acquiring the things they need. Paypal is a great and secure way of shopping and if you have trouble with you purchase you have recourse through paypal and they should assist you in getting your money back if you are unsatisfied. You guys dont have to take a big leap straight away but start with a small purchase and see how you feel about it. As was said before, make sure the vendor will ship the goods to Zambia. I am ashamed to admit some people here in the U.K class the whole enormous African continent as one "country" and know little about the the unique qualities of the individual countries, and as I'm sure we all know, unfamiliarity feeds fear and prejudice.
    I have been dealing with Zambians for the past 15 years through the company that i currently work for ,and I have to say in my experience , just like me you guys are just trying to make you way in the world and make a better life for you and your families. So good luck to you and be cautious and brave in equal measure.
    The not so aimless muzungu.

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  90. Hey fb I purchased items on eBay i don't have P.O. box, I only submitted my postal code , email and phone number and am expecting my items in 3 weeks time ,do I need postal address to collect my items because I don't have one currently please help

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    1. Hi Shekano, unfortunately you might have a challenge in receiving your items on time. As suggested in the blog above you are required to post a postal address just putting a postcode is not sufficient. Hope that the post office will call or drop you an email when you item arrives.

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    2. Thanks a lot FB i assume i have to visit the post office tomorrow, you doing great keep it up

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  91. Hello ba fb. Hope you and your family are okay. i am trying to create a paypal account. i have a zanaco Seba account which has xapit features n when i try putting my card number and CSS number on paypal i am getting a response that 'we are unable to confirm this credit card'. is there an option on the site that u can change to debit card or is there another problem? thanks n keep up the good work

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous I do not know why you are facing that challenge. Make sure that you get the card name correct as well. In the event that fails you may ask the bank if it is possible to link the Seba account to paypal. Good luck

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  92. Dear fb I like your effort you have pounded knowledge into many zambians head keep up

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  93. Hi fb, is it possible to receive an item using your sister's work address (govt institution).

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    1. Hi Anonymous, yes it is possible. However, it may not be the best as government institutions. When I item is received the post office provide a slip that informs you that your parcel needs to be collected from the counter. Therefore there is a risk that the item may be lost.

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  94. hi FB...Your blog has helped out...
    but if an item where required to pay tax, where do i pay the tax from. and how will the post office know the cost of the item so necessary charges are implemented by zra

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    1. Hi Isaac,that would depend. Sometimes your item will be held at the airport and that is where you would have to pay the tax from. If it is at the post office, you will have to pay it there before they can give you the item. From the post office ZRA will most likely put some kind of invoice.

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  95. Hey F.b i bought a laptop from the USA. And it cost me $619 i paid $89 for usps priority express mail international and it was shipped on the 25th April. I tracked the item and i it says 28.04.2014 10:20 Isc New York Ny(usps) Send item abroad (Export) the it was estimated that the item would arrive between the 2 and 6 may is it possible that this will be archived with zambian way of doing things and up to now they have been no update about my item how long do airlines take from usa to zambia? and since it is above $500 is it always that customs holds your package? so in your view how long would this item take to arrive to me?

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. okay now i can catch my breath thanx man,so when it arrives in zambia can it still be tracked so that i know the progress of the item.

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    3. Yes it should be able to be tracked to the best of my knowledge

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  96. Hi how are u? How long does it usually take to be shipped to Zambia?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, shipping from where? The time depends where it is shipped from.

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  97. Hi FB, thanks for taking your time to enlighten abantu like you are doing. If only zed had more people like you who are not so stingy with info. I`ve been trying to link my xapit card with paypal form march and am always faced with a challenge every time i try. My major problems right now are, the zanaco routing number(ZNCOZMLU) is beign rejected and i get a message sometimes that says i can not use my card for multiple accounts and yet i have NEVER registered my card for any other account and lastly i got my code sent on my bank statement but i have not been prompted to enter it yet (my fear is that it may expire and i`v traveled, i wont be in the country for some time and i have no contact with zanaco for a new code if there will be need for paypal to send another one)

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  98. Hi Anonymous, thank you for the kind words. Well if you received the code that means that your card has already being linked on paypal. Paypal will not prompt you to verify the account you are supposed to do that yourself. When you log into the paypal account on the top there is a word verify, click on it and follow the instructions.

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  99. Thanks, i managed to get in touch with paypal (excellent customer care BTW) and ZANACO by email. Still working on linking my card.

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  100. frustrated brother hello there, wer exactly did you read that the ZRA threshold has increased to $1000? Currently the price list i got from FEDEX Zambia regarding online shopping is showing a threshold of $500.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, sorry for the error unfortunately the person who informed got the information wrong.

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  101. Helo fb I tied checking for 4digits code from bank statement I can't see it there,what else can I do?and what if I don't want to use these private shiping like fedex and dhl,I use the other local post office?thank u

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  102. hey guys, for those who do not have a paypal account to shop from ebay, we can negotiate, we can use mine for a fee. 0961581032. Thanks

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  103. do i really have to visit the main zannaco brach just to get my paypal pin for my xapit account

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  104. i tried to get my paypal pin from a small branch in unza and they told me to go and visit the main zanaco branch opposite BOZ buh am just wondering if thats really necessary...can i still just get get it by any other branch?

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    1. Hi am not so sure why they did not give it to you from the unza branch. If they can see your bank statement then they should be able to give you the pin. Go the manda hill branch they should be able to assist.

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  105. This is a very good blog, got a stupid question. Can I purchase any goods (e.g sex toys) or are they banned in Zambia?

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    1. Hi Anonymous, thank you for the compliment. To the best of my knowledge it is not illegal. I just think you need to be the kind that doesn't get embarrassed in the event that customs office decides to open the box.

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  106. hi DFB, love your blog. am trying to open a paypal account using my xapit account. But each time i submit, its showing this error. `The bank that issued your card didn't approve this transaction. Please contact the card issuer.s customer service department if you have any questions. Or you can add a different card now to continue.` PLEASE HELP. Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, there is usually some incorrect information that you are filling in. Try to ensure that you get the expiry date, card number, card name and the like accurate

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  107. Hi DFB, i want to buy something on ebay, but i dont know how to ship it to zambia using mercury and what their address is. can you help. thanx.

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    Replies
    1. (Full name) (phone Number)
      Mercury Zambia, Big Box Storage, Ingleby House, Crowhurst Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 8AF, UK.

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  108. Hi DFB, is it possible for multiple items to be shipped in one parcel from Mercury USA?

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    Replies
    1. You may have to contact Mercury to find out. I am not too sure

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  109. Hi DFB, Please advise on this tracking number CJ190114046US. the item was below $500.

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    Replies
    1. The tracking number is used to track your parcel from the shipper until it has been delivered.

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  110. Well i agree with your point of view, Men's Shopping topic is so interesting and time saving as doing shopping online.
    Online Shopping Movies

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  111. Hello DFB,,would anyone of you help me with paypal...whats the right way to register in terms of billing address i have a xapit account which i got from findeco house....whenever i try its giving an error..please help.Thanks

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    1. It could be you are not filling it out correctly. The billing address is the address where you what the items to be delivered.

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    2. its still saying the bank that issued your card dint approve this transaction...i have changed the address to Dot Com Zambia...or could it be because i have K0.00 in my account?

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  112. I baught a shoe and a bb battery of which it indicated shiped to chainama college and the dead line was 1st september 2014.will my things rich chainama,or i can follow somewere?or just a contact to call pliz assist

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    Replies
    1. Yes you may follow-up at the place where you are supposed to collect the items from.

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  113. Hello fb, thank you soo much for the great insight on online shopping. I have leant soo much. I want to order 2 pairs of shoes from china and need them in 4 weeks time. I have been communicating witht the seller but DHL seems too expensive Is the post office express service reliable and fast for me to get them before then? If not what cheaper service would you advise?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, you could try the the Post Courier run by the Post Newspaper or Mercury. However, as you want them in 4 weeks I would suggest you go with the most established and reliable couriers like DHL and Fedex otherwise you would be taking a risk. Items from China usually take longer to arrive than from say the UK

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    2. Thank you soo much Sir.

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  114. how can i put fedex as my shipping company?

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  115. i mean wen i buy an item it should be shipped by fedex automaticaly.what can i do

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, put the fedex address in your Ebay profile.

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  116. Hello DFB, do you know how long it takes to ship a small parcel from Hong Kong to Zambia when you have a tracking number?

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    1. Hi Anonymous, issues to deal with shipping depend quite frankly on the shipper. Though I will say shipping from Hong Kong is cheaper than shipping from Mainland China. It takes about 3 weeks

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  117. HOW ARE YOU MY BROTHER? I GOT A PHONE FROM GERMANY,THEY SENT IT THROUGH SWISSPOST.NOW WERE IS THE LOCATION OF SWISS POST OFFICES HERE IN LUSAKA?AND THERE CONTACT DETAILS.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, unfortunately I have never heard of Swiss Post cannot be of much help in that regard. Try checking google

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  118. I WHANT TO CHANGE MY ADRESS AND PUT EBAY ADRESS..NOW WHAT SHOULD I PUT ON STATE AND POSTAL CODE.IF YOU DONT MIND YOU CAN WHATSAPP ME ON 0976096404

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    Replies
    1. Hi why do you want to put the Ebay address instead of yours?

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    2. HI,I WANT TO STARTING BUYING CLOTHES FOR MY BOUTIQUE FROM UK USING FEDEX AND SEND BY POST TO WHERE I AM.I ONLY HAVE VISA ELECTRON FROM BACLAYS.WHAT DO I NEED IN FULL TO START BUYING?

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  119. HI,I WANT TO STARTING BUYING CLOTHES FOR MY BOUTIQUE FROM UK USING FEDEX AND SEND BY POST TO WHERE I AM.I ONLY HAVE VISA ELECTRON FROM BACLAYS.WHAT DO I NEED IN FULL TO START BUYING?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous, I am not sure if Barclays have started allowing online purchases with their debit cards. You may try, in the event that it fails you may have to open an account with another bank.

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  120. Hey Bro, Is It Possible To Buy Items Shipping To Uk and Having them Delivered in Zambia???

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