Balikbayan Box from LA to Cebu through LBC

[Calypso 464]

I'm planning to send a balikbayan box filled with clothes, shoes, chocolates, soap and whatnot to my family in Cebu. Do you think utilizing LBC's freight shipping is a smart idea? I've tried sending small items to Cebu before, such as a digital camera and a mobile phone, but haven't shipped a regular balikbayan box.

I live in SoCal so I contacted LBC today and the woman on the phone said that regardless of the weight, one regular balikbayan box will cost $65 when sent as a sea cargo and it will arrive in the PH between 30 and 40 days. On the other hand, they charge $4.50/pound with minimum of 48 lbs. for air cargo and it will arrive in Cebu two weeks later.

What other viable options can you guys recommend in sending a balikbayan box? What type of experience did you have using the services of LBC?

Are there basic stuff that I shouldn't include or is it okay to add soap, vitamins, shampoo and chocolates?

Ginagmay'ng pahalipay lang gud ni.

[dale_trisha 3]

We have used LBC for balikbayan boxes and have had no issues.

[Hank_ 9,171]

I'm planning to send a balikbayan box filled with clothes, shoes, chocolates, soap and whatnot to my family in Cebu. Do you think utilizing LBC's freight shipping is a smart idea? I've tried sending small items to Cebu before, such as a digital camera and a mobile phone, but haven't shipped a regular balikbayan box.

I live in SoCal so I contacted LBC today and the woman on the phone said that regardless of the weight, one regular balikbayan box will cost $65 when sent as a sea cargo and it will arrive in the PH between 30 and 40 days. On the other hand, they charge $4.50/pound with minimum of 48 lbs. for air cargo and it will arrive in Cebu two weeks later.

What other viable options can you guys recommend in sending a balikbayan box? What type of experience did you have using the services of LBC?

Are there basic stuff that I shouldn't include or is it okay to add soap, vitamins, shampoo and chocolates?

Ginagmay'ng pahalipay lang gud ni.

Viable option? Send money and let them buy those things there... its cheaper..

[Grant PDX 183]

I've sent over a dozen boxes to Phils in the last 5 years. LBC is great. They take awhile (ocean freight) but at $65 bucks you can't beat it. I've sent soap, vitamins, clothes, toys, shampoo, chocolates, snacks, even a play station. No problems. I will continue to use them.

A lot of things are cheaper in the Phils than here. I've been asked to send Spam - yes, seriously. Last time I checked Spam was cheaper in the Phils. When I pointed that out I was told "but it's not imported". Yeah, they care, imported is cooler than sending money and buying it there.

I now go to Costco to help in filling up boxes with volume stuff at a pretty reasonable price. My last box had Folgers instant coffee, big hit.

Yes, use LBC. It's a fairly cheap way to send a bunch of goodies. I do it every 3-4 months. They say 30 days. It's 30 days from when it gets loaded in the US until it gets unloaded in Phils. I've had it take 45-50 days with preloading time and deliver time on the other side. Make sure you have additional time, especially when sending stuff for holidays.

[Calypso 464]

We have used LBC for balikbayan boxes and have had no issues.

That's good to know. Thank you.

Viable option? Send money and let them buy those things there... its cheaper..

I've been living in the US for over two years and I've never given in to the traditional balikbayan box shipping to the PH but this time, I'd like to make an exception.

I'll just treat this as gift-giving, and I don't consider handing someone cash or a gift card an act of giving a present.

[Calypso 464]

I've sent over a dozen boxes to Phils in the last 5 years. LBC is great. They take awhile (ocean freight) but at $65 bucks you can't beat it. I've sent soap, vitamins, clothes, toys, shampoo, chocolates, snacks, even a play station. No problems. I will continue to use them.

A lot of things are cheaper in the Phils than here. I've been asked to send Spam - yes, seriously. Last time I checked Spam was cheaper in the Phils. When I pointed that out I was told "but it's not imported". Yeah, they care, imported is cooler than sending money and buying it there.

I now go to Costco to help in filling up boxes with volume stuff at a pretty reasonable price. My last box had Folgers instant coffee, big hit.

Yes, use LBC. It's a fairly cheap way to send a bunch of goodies. I do it every 3-4 months. They say 30 days. It's 30 days from when it gets loaded in the US until it gets unloaded in Phils. I've had it take 45-50 days with preloading time and deliver time on the other side. Make sure you have additional time, especially when sending stuff for holidays.

Thank you for the valuable insight.

I know, silly as it may seem, I want to be indulgent with them even just once when it comes to sending something "imported" or "stateside" as they call it.

[Leatherneck 693]

LBC is a good choice, they've been at it for a long time and are very reliable. They're probably the most popular forwarder used by Filipinos

to ship Balikbayan boxes from the west coast. I've used them several times -- no complaints.

[dindo and patty 20]

No issues at all with using LBC to send boxes to Cavite & Cotabato from Northern California. For Cavite it took 30-35 days & 45-50 days for Cotabato.

Edited March 2, 2012 by dindo and patty

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I'm planning to send a balikbayan box filled with clothes, shoes, chocolates, soap and whatnot to my family in Cebu. Do you think utilizing LBC's freight shipping is a smart idea? I've tried sending small items to Cebu before, such as a digital camera and a mobile phone, but haven't shipped a regular balikbayan box.

I live in SoCal so I contacted LBC today and the woman on the phone said that regardless of the weight, one regular balikbayan box will cost $65 when sent as a sea cargo and it will arrive in the PH between 30 and 40 days. On the other hand, they charge $4.50/pound with minimum of 48 lbs. for air cargo and it will arrive in Cebu two weeks later.

What other viable options can you guys recommend in sending a balikbayan box? What type of experience did you have using the services of LBC?

Are there basic stuff that I shouldn't include or is it okay to add soap, vitamins, shampoo and chocolates?

Ginagmay'ng pahalipay lang gud ni.

I have used them many times from Georgia to Cebu with no issues.

[Hank_ 9,171]

LBC sounds like a good choice but they are not here in the desert SW.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

LBC sounds like a good choice but they are not here in the desert SW.

Contact the local Filipino community. Often, someone will provide a service to forward boxes to LBC. If nobody comes out to your area, and they are enough Filipinos living in the area, then I see a business opportunity to rent a truck, once or twice a year, and drive all those boxes out to California for profit and adventure.