FAQ

All items on our website are listed in South African Rands (ZAR) and all transactions will be processed in South African Rands (ZAR).

      1.Find the items you wish to buy

To make it as easy as possible for you to find what you are looking for, our range of products can be viewed through the navigation bar at the top of each page. In the Product Categories navigation bar, items are arranged in terms of the general category eg Cards or Zulu Beadwork. In Product List navigation bar, items are arranged in terms of the type of product eg keyrings and this might span several product categories. We also have the Search Bar to assist in finding the item you are looking for.

2. Add to cart

Found the item you want to buy? Fill in the required quantity, add any necessary comments e.g. required colours or design, and then click on the ‘Add’ button. This will add that product to your shopping basket. Your basket contains all the products that you have selected to buy. Once you’ve added an item to your basket, keep searching until your basket contains all of the items you want to order. You can review the contents of your basket at any time by clicking the ‘View Basket’ button and any changes can be made eg change quantities, delete items, change or add comments. Once changes have been made you can click on the ‘Úpdate’ button and resume shopping.

3. Check out

Once you have finished shopping, click on the ‘Checkout’ button. Billing and delivery details will appear. Complete all the fields. The email address is very important so please ensure it is correct. Click ‘Next’. A list of the ordered products will appear. Add any additional comments at the bottom if required. If you require only a quote then please place a comment accordingly in the additional comments box. Tick the box to show that you have read the terms and conditions, then click on ‘Place Order’. Once the checkout is complete you will be emailed an order confirmation. This is the order only and no payment is required at this stage. A consultant will acknowledge receipt and discuss any queries regarding your order and freight options. Please note that we can only provide you with a freight cost when we have your order. We will then email you a quote that including all the costs and payment details. Once confirmation of payment has been received, we will pack and dispatch.

If you have received the acknowledgement of receipt of your order, then you should receive your quote for payment within 24hrs (unless you ordered over a weekend). We try to respond as quickly as possible. If you have not received the order, acknowledgement or quote please check your junk box as the emails can often get caught in your spam filters. If still haven’t received the quote, please email or call us.

If you are a reseller (curio shop, gift shop, promotional company) you can register for a wholesale login for our website. You will then be able to see all the wholesale pricing and order online. You will need to click on the wholesale login button on the top right of the website. Then click on the wholesale account application tab and fill in your details. Please check that every compulsory field (indicated with red asterisks) has been filled out or the form won’t submit. If you cant fill in a field for some reason, please insert na. Please make sure that your email address is correct. Please note that when entering the security code, the code is case sensitive so you will need to enter a capital letter if one is indicated. You will be emailed a wholesale login and password. You can order online or email an order. Please be aware that in order to qualify for wholesale pricing your first order has to be over R2000. Thereafter no minimum applies.

We try to action the login request within 24hrs (unless you sent the application over a weekend). We attempt to respond as quickly as possible. However, the email with the login details can get caught in your spam filters so please check your junk box. If still haven’t received your login details, please email or call us.

If you have forgotten your login details please click on the wholesale login button in the top right hand corner of the website. Then click on the link for reset password. Enter your email address and click on the submit button. You will be sent an email with a link to reset your password. If you don’t receive the email please check your junk box as it can sometimes get caught in your spam filters. On the email please click on the link to reset your password. This will open a web browser where you can fill in a new password and submit. You will be sent an email with your new login details.

The freight cost depends on the size and weight of the order and the freight method used. We will discuss and quote you on the freight once we have received your order. Please note that we can only provide you with a freight cost when we have your order. We always quote on the cheapest option unless urgency is indicated. The shipping time varies according to the shipping method used. Once your order has been shipped, you will be emailed an invoice with a tracking number so that you can track your order.

Local Orders(South Africa)
We generally send local orders via courier as we get a very reasonable rate as well as it being quicker and more reliable than the post office. Some of the courier options are Next Day, Express (24-48hrs) or Economy (24-72hrs). To give you an idea about costs:
1.Durban Courier: A small parcel is estimated between R75-R90. A larger parcel (about 10kgs) to Durban will cost about R115.
2.Johannesberg Courier: A small parcel is estimated between R80-R95. A larger parcel (about 10kgs) will cost about R130.
3.Cape Town Courier: A small parcel is estimated between R90-R120. A larger parcel (about 10kgs) will cost about R155.
We can send with the post office on request.

International Orders
1.Small international orders are normally sent with the post office as it is generally the cheapest option. The post office options are EMS (6-10 days) and airmail (10-14 days). EMS is the post office’s ‘courier’ service. It’s sometimes slightly more expensive (on smaller parcels) but it is the quickest most reliable method via the post office. We can also courier. Courier is quicker and you receive a better service as regards tracking your parcel but it is more expensive.

2. For larger international orders, sending via courier (3-5 days) is generally the best option as courier is quicker, the price is reasonable and you receive a better service as regards tracking your parcel. Charges quoted for courier exclude customs and clearing in the receiving country. We can send with the post office on request.

Please note: Due to COVID19, postage is taking longer than usual and we can only post to certain countries.

Please indicate if your order is urgent and we will look at all the options to get your order to you in time.

Yes, we can ship your order to an international destination.  We can send your parcel with the South African Postal service or with a courier company.  See “What are my delivery options and costs” for more detail.

The freight cost depends on the size and weight of the order and the freight method.  We will discuss and quote you on freight once we have received your order. Please note that we can only provide you with a freight cost when we have your order. The shipping time varies according to the shipping method used. 

1. Post Office
Orders sent through the post office are insured if possible. However, there are maximums that we can insure for that depends on the country that we are sending to and certain countries do not have an insurance option.

2. Courier
We don’t insure for orders sent via courier as the likelihood is low that an order will be lost. In over 20 years, we have never had a shipment go missing. We will however insure your order if you specifically request insurance.

Yes, you may order a single item. However, the freight cost per item becomes proportionally less the larger your order is.

For local orders (South Africa), payment can be made via Electronic Bank Transfer (EFT), PayFast or Zapper. The quote we send will contain all the necessary banking information. Proof of payment must be emailed through before we will proceed with the order or dispatch.

1. If you pay via EFT please send through payment confirmation. Please use your quote/invoice number as a reference. Please note that we require payment to clear in our account before your order is despatched. To avoid delays on urgent orders, please select the clear immediately option when making an EFT.

2. If you would like to pay via PayFast, please notify us and we will send you a PayFast Payment Request. You will receive an email with a link that will take you to a payment gateway where you can enter your credit card or cheque card details to complete the payment.

3. If you would like to pay via Zapper, please scan the barcode on the quote and then enter the balance due amount reflected on the quote. Instructions as how to use Zapper will be provided.

For international orders payment can be made via PayPal, Payfast, Zapper, International Money Transfer or International Bank Transfer.

1. If you elect to pay via PayPal, a payment request in your currency will be emailed to you with the quote/invoice. The amount is based on the exchange rate that we receive from our bank and covers the transaction costs in order for us to receive the full invoiced amount. Transfer can be made using our email address info@africasmiles.co.za 

2. If you would like to pay via PayFast, please notify us and we will send you a PayFast Payment Request. You will receive an email which with a link that will take you to a payment gateway where you can enter your credit card or cheque card details to complete the payment.

3. If you would like to pay via Zapper, please scan the barcode on the quote. Instructions as how to use Zapper will be provided.

4. There are a number of International Money Transfer options available and depending on the country you are making payment from, some might be better suited to you. You can choose any option but some of the better known options are:
Transfer Wise
World Remit
Remitly

5. If you pay via international bank transfer, you are responsible for the bank charges. Please request our full bank details including the SWIFT code.

When your order is received and the quote is emailed, payment options will be discussed and the necessary information provided. Whichever payment method is utilised, we must receive the full invoiced amount before goods are packed and dispatched.

The lead time is dependent on the size and nature of the order. If we can pull the order from stock we can pack and ship an order within 24 hours. However should we need to make any items, it can take 1-2 weeks (or longer for really large orders) to prepare the order.

If we don’t have stock then we will discuss with you time frames involved. This may lead to us supplying an alternative colour/ design.

Once the order is dispatched delivery depends on the freight method used. Once your order has been shipped, you will be emailed an invoice with a tracking number so that you can track your order.

Local Orders (South Africa)
We generally send local orders via courier as we get a very reasonable rate as well as it being quicker and more reliable than the post office. There are various courier options such as Next Day, Express (24-48hrs) or Economy (24-72hrs).
We can send via the post office on request.

International Orders
1.Small international orders are normally sent with the post office as it is generally the cheapest option. The post office options are EMS (6-10 days) and airmail (10-14 days). EMS is the post office’s ‘courier’ service. It’s sometimes slightly more expensive (on smaller parcels) but it is the quickest most reliable method via the post office. We can also courier. Courier is quicker and you receive a better service as regards tracking your parcel but it is more expensive.

2. For larger international orders, sending via courier (3-5 days) is generally the best option as courier is quicker, the price is reasonable and you receive a better service as regards tracking your parcel. Charges quoted for courier exclude customs and clearing in the receiving country. We can send with the post office on request.

Please note: Due to COVID19, postage is taking longer than usual and we can only post to certain countries.

Every effort is made to effect shipment of your order timeously however unforeseen circumstances may cause delays. Should we be faced with such an occurrence African Craft Street will contact you via email and provide a revised shipping schedule.

Please indicate if your order is urgent and we will look at all the options to get your order to you in time.

Depending on what you require and the stock we have available, we will always try to accommodate your requirements.  If we don’t have the required stock, we will attempt to produce as quickly as possible to meet your deadline. Once ready to dispatch, there are quicker courier options like Next day and Next day pre 10:30 which ensure a swift delivery. However, these delivery options are normally more expensive.

Yes, we can customise products but minimum quantities will generally apply. This is due to the fact that designing a new product or customizing an existing product takes time, the production takes longer and may involve buying minimum quantities of materials. Design, quantities, costs and production time can be discussed with us.

Once the details are finalised and the order confirmation is received, we will email you an invoice that includes freight. We require a 50% deposit before we commence production, with the balance due before despatch.

Yes, you may request a specific colour or design for an existing product. This only applies if it is one of our available colours or designs. If we have that colour and design in stock we will supply as requested. If we don’t have stock then we discuss with you time frames involved. This may lead to us supplying an alternative colour/ design.

We are an online retailer/wholesaler and our premises are not open to customer visits. We only accept emailed or online orders. Orders are normally sent out via courier or post. You may collect the order should it be more convenient or cost effective.

We do not have a catalogue due to our constantly evolving range and the vast number of products that we stock. You can however view our all our products on this website. For all our products there are photos(click to enlarge) and detailed information(click view more button).

This is determined by South African tax regulations. If we ship to an address outside SA, we are not required to charge VAT. However, should we ship to an address within SA we are required to charge VAT, which is 15%. Even if you are ordering and paying from outside SA, if we are sending to an address in SA then we have to charge VAT. If you are not a SA resident, and are taking these goods outside the country, you can claim a VAT refund when you leave.

Our products are handmade and produced by a number of different crafters. Although the crafters work to guidelines and specifications, no two pieces are exactly the same. Any sizes and measurements given are approximate and may vary slightly from the final product.

Should you for any reason wish to return any goods, the goods must be returned to us within 14 calendar days. If the order has been supplied correctly, we are happy to exchange the item for you.  This is provided that the item hasn’t been used/worn or damaged. However, you will need to pay the freight charges. If a mistake has been made by us and you would like to return the order, the freight charges will be for our account. Any returns and exchanges must be discussed with us prior to any action being taken.

When entering the security code, the code is case sensitive so you will need to enter a capital letter if one is indicated. There is a reload image button next to the security code if you aren’t able to read the code clearly. This button will generate a new security code. You need to please check that every field with a red asterisks has been filled out or the form won’t submit. If you are still experiencing problems then please try using a different web browser if you are using Internet explorer it’s sometimes better to try Firefox or Google Chrome.

When entering the security code, the code is case sensitive so you will need to enter a capital letter if one is indicated. There is a reload image button next to the security code if you aren’t able to read the code clearly. This button will generate a new security code. You need to please check that every field with a red asterisks has been filled out or the form won’t submit. If you are still experiencing problems then please try using a different web browser if you are using Internet explorer it’s sometimes better to try Firefox or Google Chrome.