Shipping to Philippines

[thekfc]

I am wondering how safe it is to ship something to the Philippines via the Post Office (USPS/EMS).
I have read stories about things "disappearing" after it gets to Philippines.

There is a lady that I am chatting with and I would like to send her some stuff.
She and her sister are HUGE Michael Jackson fans - they showed me picture & posters they have of him posted on their wall.
I have a couple of Michael Jackson stuff here at home (none which they have) and they are  just "collecting dust"  - stuff like his Ultimate Collection DVDs, a couple of copies of "The Wiz", etc., all are stuff I can part with as I have an extra one. Truth is they will enjoy it more than me - I haven't even open some of them & I had some of them for a while - I collect movie & music. I almost gave them away to one of my neighbor.

I would like to send them to her & her sister but checking the various prices - Fedex: $178, UPS:174 & USPS: $74.
as you can see, shipping it thru the post office would save be over $100 in shipping cost.
But I want it to get there safe.

A lot of the stuff she like I can get them here very cheap for example chocolate (my co-worker gets a huge discount at Godiva - he do/will use his discount to help me.)

I know & read that there will be a huge cost involve - I want to minimize the cost as much as possible so I can save for things like trips, gifts to family member, etc, but I want the stuff I sent to get there safe AND she receive it.

She is in Porac Pampanga.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[piglett]

KFC
i sent my girl in Manila a 5LB box of goodies & it cost me $44 through the post office
I'm not sure the chocalate will make the trip with out turning to sticky gooey tasty mush.
your package may sit in customs for a week or 2 so maybe candy would be a better choice.
I sent my girl Marily a new hampshire t-shirt so all of her friends  & co-workers could see that
she had a "kano" boyfriend. I have found that it doesn't take a lot to make a "pinay" plilippine lady happy.
Marily was floating on a cloud for days after recieving the few gifts that i sent her.
I don't think anyone has ever sent her a package in her life.


piglett

[Ray]

Balikbayan Box. That's the way the Filipinos do it.

You can send a large box stuffed with most anything for a set cost and no weight limit. The box is shipped by ocean freight and takes anywhere from 4-9 weeks depending on where it’s going and what time of year it’s shipped.

There are lots of freight forwarders out here on the West Coast and they charge anywhere from $35-$85. Some charge you extra for the box ($3-3.50). Most include pickup at your home and they will deliver door-door to most anywhere in the Phils. Pampanga would cost you around $40-50 from the West Coast this time of year.

You are not supposed to ship any electronics stuff, appliances, flammables, guns, ammo, weapons, etc. Usually there is no problem with customs and the boxes are rarely opened.

Ask any Filipinos in your area for recommended forwarders or check with some Filipino stores. LBC should be in your area (NY?), but they are probably the most expensive. We ship 1-3 boxes every year and we never had a problem with theft or tampering (yet).

http://www.teamlbc.com/products.html?page=products_shipping_sea.html

Ray

[thekfc]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. After reading your suggestion about Balikbayan Box , there are 2 cargo companies near me - the first one mostly deals with South America & and the other one own by a western Afician & mainly deal with Africa.  I did ask them a few questions about about BB & will be going that route in the future. I was quoted a shipping timetable of 1-3 months. That will look like the way to go in the future.

But what about the times when I need something to be there quicker -within 2 weeks or even a week.

As for when I ship chocolate - it will be in an insulated container or with gel pack (biodegradable and non-toxic) - I am now looking into the regulations into that for shipping to Phil. I have shipped insulated before but only within the USA.

Also I do have experience with shipping & packing - that is part of my job where I work BUT I have ONLY shipped to the Continential United States, Canada, Mexico & the Fiji Island (Fiji was a breeze & painless). I have not shipped any package to anywhere in Asia or Europe so I have no experience or knowledge shipping there, that is all new territory for me.

A friend of mine work for Fedex, he is on medical leave now for 1 month, when he comes back I will also ask him for some pointers (he is in Georgia now).

Also, I am based in New York.

[Ray]

If you’re going to send chocolate to the Phils, forget about trying to insulate it. Just include a couple of plastic spoons because most chocolate will arrive in the liquid state… 
Ray

[Dave H]

Balikbayan Box. That's the way the Filipinos do it.
Usually there is no problem with customs and the boxes are rarely opened.

Ask any Filipinos in your area for recommended forwarders or check with some Filipino stores. LBC should be in your area (NY?), but they are probably the most expensive. We ship 1-3 boxes every year and we never had a problem with theft or tampering (yet).

Ray

Hey theKFC

I agree with Ray on the Balikbayan Boxes.  I have used most freight forewarders and haven't had a problem yet either. I shipped 58 boxes between January and March and they all arrived untampered. Pack and pad them well if you have anything fragile. A few of our boxes were a bit crumpled, but everything made it OK.  Sometimes there are specials that include a free small box when you ship a jumbo box. It saved us a lot of money!

I have sent small items USPS Global Express envelope $10-$20. I never had a problem. But many birthday and Christmas cards never made it. Fortunately, I never send money through the mail! Once it is discovered, all of your mail will be opened and searched. It really depends on the Philippine postal personnel, especially the letter carrier. Once a letter or card is opened, it will probably be destroyed and not delivered. That sucks when you've sent a lot of pictures! I started sending mail to another address and never had a problem again.

Dave

[thekfc]

Thanks Dave.

I do plan on going the Balikbayan Box.
I was looking for a faster way to sent smaller items to the Philippines. Just incase stuff needs to be there in a hurry.

I am an expert in packing so packing is not a problem for me.
I am currently reading up on BB so I will be prepared when the time comes to send stuff over.
I am in New York so I am looking up on my different options/carriers that serves from my area.

[Bear]

The day I met my wife I went down to Federal Express and mailed her a stuffed bear, some sent candles, a T-shirt that said "Someone in Texas Loves Me", and a letter because her birthday was 2 weeks off.  She got it in less that a week and unopened.  I have several times since then using Federal express send other valuable items that always arrived in perfect order.

I've only send BBs once and it did arrive in good order but took a week longer than promised.  I clearly marked the box where if it was tampered with it would be noticeable and sent a letter separately with a list of what was in the box.

The Bear Family

[thekfc]

Thanks for the reply Bear...I am also looking into Federal Express because my oldest brother works for them here in New York.
I wish I could use his discount but I can't.
Experience wise, they are the most expensive but also the safest & most reliable. At my job I use them frequently for shipping within the USA.
I would pick them over UPS for international shipping - the company I work for had too many bad experience shipping to clients international with UPS.

USPS is still my first & cheapest choice but I am worried about the safety.