At Direct From China we import quality products from China for the South African
market. Because most items are sourced to order and consolidated into a monthly shipment, please
review the timeframes below before ordering.
Processing
2–5 business days
Order processing
Once your payment has cleared into our account, your order is processed within
2–5 business days (excluding weekends and public holidays). In-stock items are
prepared for dispatch immediately; to-order items are allocated to the next monthly shipment.
Monthly shipment & order cut-off
We receive a consolidated shipment from China once a month. To secure
space on a given shipment, your order must be placed and paid before the order cut-off — 10
days before that shipment departs. Orders placed after the cut-off roll over to the following
month's shipment. You can see every upcoming shipment, its cut-off and its estimated arrival on our
Shipping Schedule.
Delivery lead times
After a shipment departs China, estimated delivery lead times are:
- Sea freight — 35 to 60 days (standard for most to-order items).
- Air freight — 7 to 14 days (selected smaller / high-demand items).
Delays & customs
Delivery timeframes are estimates and may vary due to shipping schedules, customs
clearance, or periods of high demand. While we aim to meet the original schedule, unforeseen
circumstances may occasionally extend the delivery window. Should a material delay be expected, we
will let you know at order confirmation and keep you updated.
In short: pay early enough to beat the monthly
cut-off, then allow the lead time for your shipping method. We appreciate your patience and work hard
to get your order to you as swiftly as possible.