Hydration Pack Came with a Side of Financial Dehydration

Dear AliExpress (and brave souls still shopping there),

Terminating a gym contract may be a universal struggle, but allow me to introduce a new contender: *receiving your parcel without being financially ambushed by the courier.*

I recently ordered a hydration pack for about R1,600. Nothing extravagant. Just a humble attempt at hydration.

Enter MEILI and SpeedAF — the dynamic duo of “customs processing.”

They are now requesting **R1,035** in fees.

R1,035.

For “processing.”

At this point, I can only assume someone is personally escorting my water bottles through customs, offering them emotional support, and perhaps a light massage before delivery.

Let’s be clear: This is not customs. This is not VAT. This is a *creative writing exercise disguised as a bill.*

What makes this even better:

* There was **no warning** at checkout that this courier circus would be involved * There was **no indication** that my total cost might casually double after purchase * And the AliExpress “support email”? Not “unresponsive” — it **literally does not exist**. Gmail sends it back like, “absolutely not.”

In terms of the Consumer Protection Act (68 of 2008), charges must be transparent and reasonable. Doubling the price of an item *after* payment through vague “processing fees” is neither.

I’ve ordered through AliExpress before without issues, which is why this feels less like bad luck and more like a *plot twist.*

So here’s a friendly warning:

If your parcel is handled by MEILI / SpeedAF, don’t track your package — track your blood pressure.

I will not be paying this fee, and I strongly recommend reconsidering before ordering under these conditions.

Regards, A customer who only wanted water bottles, not a financial crisis.