Delivery Confusion and cost overrun

I ordered two items listed as costing R963, expecting delivery within 5 days I received an invoice for R963 plus shipping R360.98 - the items were ordered from China. I was told that the delivery would happen by the 14th March. If this was a problem to please set a new date. I requested the 18th as I would only be back at home on that day. While away, I received a message on the 8th that delivery was not successful - no-one home. Many calls and arrangements and Buffalo Ex (check their revues) finally delivered one item on the 20th. On the 14th I received a message from SAPO that delivery was unsuccessful - no-one home! I then had to go and fetch the second item from the Post Office. I was then billed a further R329 for "import" duties. So the final cost of the order was R1653 - 72% overspend