sending packages to the philippines

[MikelanNida 28]

hello everyone, i hope all is well, i have a question and would like anyones opinion, especially someone who has done this, I want to send a laptop to bislig, well actually i wanted to bring it next visit, but i have been told lately that i am going to send it soon, (guess by who?) is it safe to do? will it make it to her? any opinions or suggestions are welcome, thanx everyone!

[michaillah07 2]

hello everyone, i hope all is well, i have a question and would like anyones opinion, especially someone who has done this, I want to send a laptop to bislig, well actually i wanted to bring it next visit, but i have been told lately that i am going to send it soon, (guess by who?) is it safe to do? will it make it to her? any opinions or suggestions are welcome, thanx everyone!

It should reach her but I suggest that she will pick it up from the shipping company like FEDEX or DHL's local office if it's near her. In this way, it is guaranteed that she is the one who will get it.

[sjr09 155]

hello everyone, i hope all is well, i have a question and would like anyones opinion, especially someone who has done this, I want to send a laptop to bislig, well actually i wanted to bring it next visit, but i have been told lately that i am going to send it soon, (guess by who?) is it safe to do? will it make it to her? any opinions or suggestions are welcome, thanx everyone!

I would bring it on your next visit, if you do send it don't use USPS send it DHL LBC ect. On most electronic devices you will have to pay tax

[maximus 0]

I always use a shipping company like LBC they have the best rates to send valuable items but they do charge a electronics fee on top of the shipping cost.

You can also send a Balikbayan Box for about $65 and you can put just about anything inside that's legal to send it doesn't have any weight restrictions so its like a USPS flat rate box but much bigger..if it fits it ships.

It will ship by boat for $65 and takes approx. a month to arrive depending on the location.

It would be much better if you can bring it on your next visit..that's my suggestion.

PS.

Never send anything thru the USPS cuz the Phil post is notoriously corrupt and they will open and take anything of value..I sent book and a small box of chocolates and it never arrived, cost me $25 to send it, lesson learned.

[Gumbolette 58]

I wouldn't even dare thinking to send it through USPS.

I will definitely send it through FEDEX or UPS, or DHL. They might charged you ungodly but man, it'll surely reach your recipient.

Less headaches and uncertainty.

I got some electronics to send to my hommies back home from Black Friday deals but I will just send it through a cargo service.

[Atencio 43]

I would send her the money and have her buy a laptop there. No risk of damage during transport and no taxes.

I sent a Balikbayan back in beginning of October and it just now got to Manila.

U.S. customs is doing a lot more inspecting which is really delaying things.

[Gumbolette 58]

I would send her the money and have her buy a laptop there. No risk of damage during transport and no taxes.

I sent a Balikbayan back in beginning of October and it just now got to Manila.

U.S. customs is doing a lot more inspecting which is really delaying things.

Atencio,

Which carrier did you use for your balikbayan box?

and how much did you have to pay?

[Atencio 43]

Atencio,

Which carrier did you use for your balikbayan box?

and how much did you have to pay?

I used Atlas Shippers

$65.00 to Butuan

http://www.atlasshippers.com/index.php

[A and T 82]

Its extremely difficult no matter who you pick. Here is why, Fedex might just give you an extremely hard time, fedex told me I needed a permit to ship a cell phone to the philippines (lies) especially when it was a nokia phone that they all have there. Another issue is when the package arrives they will charge her 3 or 4x the cost of the laptop in taxes and customs fees.

Usps told me they only cover up to $50 loss no matter how much the item is worth, so for me I just mail usps and put $0.00 NO VALUE on the customs slip in hopes of getting around the high taxes/fees/punishment

But considering the cost of shipping , risk of being broken./stolen, and the customs/taxes its almost better to just send her the money and let her buy a laptop there

[gary9891 10]

Atencio,

Which carrier did you use for your balikbayan box?

and how much did you have to pay?

The cost to send depends on the location you ship from (east coast/west coast) and City where it is going. Most Asian/Filipino stores have just 1 shipper (my case is Alliance) so you won't have any shopping around to do for lower prices. I ship to Davao, Mindanao from North Florida and it takes 60 days usually for 99$. I send my wife's family members EBAY cellphones with no issues to date. Her brothers are in school now and needed a PC so I bought some older model Dells, fixed them up and sent. Crossing my fingers they get there ok.

The only thing I would send USPS are papers, anything of value will be either stolen, have an outrageous tax or be held hostage for ransom. I use to send my wife chocolates when we were dating and I sent extra bars as bribe to the postal officer in her hometown to release the box to her..........true story folks.

[Markieboy 104]

The only thing I would send USPS are papers, anything of value will be either stolen, have an outrageous tax or be held hostage for ransom. I use to send my wife chocolates when we were dating and I sent extra bars as bribe to the postal officer in her hometown to release the box to her..........true story folks.

I believe that. Unfortunately, that happens every day in most parts of the Philippines.

Once you learn the system, though, things tend to run more smoothly.

If you really get in good with the postal employees (like buying them merienda, making chikka about their family), they will even call you when your package arrives!

[A and T 82]

The cost to send depends on the location you ship from (east coast/west coast) and City where it is going. Most Asian/Filipino stores have just 1 shipper (my case is Alliance) so you won't have any shopping around to do for lower prices. I ship to Davao, Mindanao from North Florida and it takes 60 days usually for 99$. I send my wife's family members EBAY cellphones with no issues to date. Her brothers are in school now and needed a PC so I bought some older model Dells, fixed them up and sent. Crossing my fingers they get there ok.

The only thing I would send USPS are papers, anything of value will be either stolen, have an outrageous tax or be held hostage for ransom. I use to send my wife chocolates when we were dating and I sent extra bars as bribe to the postal officer in her hometown to release the box to her..........true story folks.

Where in North Florida do you ship from???? I would love to know

[rlogan 2,036]

Its extremely difficult no matter who you pick. Here is why, Fedex might just give you an extremely hard time, fedex told me I needed a permit to ship a cell phone to the philippines (lies) especially when it was a nokia phone that they all have there.

Wow, that's pretty crazy! I wonder if that's just some weird employee. I sent a cell phone FedEx no problem.

I am not sure on customs but it's pretty clear why computers are more expensive in the philippines than here for similar models: import duties.

So yeah, I'd say better to take it over with you.

Postal service is worse than people here suggest, which is bad enough. As an experiment I sent four things: two letters in simple envelopes and two post cards. One post card made it. I wouldn't send anything, not even a picture, by mail.

Fed Ex/LBC has been 100% reliable for us.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Never send electronics to the Phils, except maybe in a Balikbayan box. A laptop will either get stolen or taxed at outrageous rates. Just send your girl the $$ or bring the laptop on your next trip. Word!

[Laser1 63]

For USPS, I only use Express Mail International. My online research indicated that Express Mail is more secure than Priority Mail. I sent a used Blackberry phone once through Express Mail International, without any problems.

Edited November 28, 2010 by Laser Lou