mail

[chevy]

How long does it take for a letter to go from the US to the phillipines? Do the women usually respond back by e-mail or letter?

[shadow]

... in response to mail, posted by chevy on Nov 1, 2002

In my experience, normal delivery time 2 to 3 weeks.

I had one letter returned to me marked as undeliverable, 18 months after it was sent! It looked as though it had been stamnped by every post office in the PI.

As for how the girls will respond it is a mixed bag. Those that have access and know how will often respond by email.

Larry.

[Ray]

... in response to mail, posted by chevy on Nov 1, 2002

…on where the letter is going and what time of year it is. From the West Coast, a letter may get there as fast as 7 days to Manila, 10 days to Cebu City, or up to 45 days if it’s mailed to the boondocks around December-January. Some letters never make it due to theft or various other reasons. Sometimes if the local postman gets sick or goes on vacation, the mail won't get delivered until he gets back to work.

Most of the ladies like to send and receive snail mail letters. Sending photos is popular. Most will have access to e-mail if they aren’t too far out in the provinces somewhere. Most don’t own a computer so they use the Internet cafes, which can cost anywhere from P15-P100 per hour depending on the area. That can be a lot of money over there.

Some tips for snail mail:

NEVER include cash in a letter.

Use security envelopes.

Send lots of pictures.

Use $.80 US stamps. They usually don’t sweat it if it’s a little over 1 ounce.

Ask your postal dude for “small” airmail stickers and use them on your letters.

Send greeting cards. Funny ones are great!

Don’t wait for a reply before you write again.

Be careful what you talk about. Assume that she is sharing your letters with friends and family.

Ray

[Dave H]

... in response to Depends..., posted by Ray on Nov 1, 2002

Hey Ray,

Very true:

"NEVER include cash in a letter."

Postal employees will never forget and check all of your mail in the future. More than likely, it will be destroyed and never make it to the destination.

"Ask your postal dude for “small” airmail stickers and use them on your letters."

Or have it stamped "AIRMAIL." If not, your mail to the provinces will probably end up on a ship traveling all over the Philippines for several months before being delivered.

"Don’t wait for a reply before you write again."

Had I waited, I would have only sent around 4-5 letters in a year.

"Be careful what you talk about. Assume that she is sharing your letters with friends and family."

My wife is very "private"...especially for a Filipina. But believe me when I say that EVERYONE read my letters!!!

Dave H.

[shadow]

... in response to Depends..., posted by Ray on Nov 1, 2002

In some cases it may be better to use non security envelopes, for then the dishonest postmen can see there is nothing inside worth their curiosity.

From some US locals, it costs $1 to mail a letter to the PI. I am told it is supposed to be the same from everywhere, but this is just not true. I've been through this with several post offices who always maintain what they charge is the correct amount, and that all are the same.

I had one letter returned because it was 1.04 ounces. This was mailed from one of the post offices that charged me $1. This letter was returned to me promptly three weeks later.

For a time, I had good luck with priority mail. They were consistently delivered to LapuLapu city within 10 days. Then 3 out of 7 never made it and were never seen again.

More later.

Larry.

[shadow]

... in response to Re: Depends...depends, posted by shadow on Nov 1, 2002

In my later days of sending mail two and three times a week, I developed a method that to my knowledge never failed.

Basically, I eliminated the envelope.

I would print my letter and/or photos on one or two sheets of paper. For one sheet I would print the addresses on the back, fold the paper trifold, tape the top edge, and mail it this way. All the dishonest postmen can then squeeze the sides and look into my letter, thereby seeing for themselves there was absolutely nothing of value inside. For two sheets I simply cut the second one about an inch short, and taped it to the first one before folding them.

No problems after that.

Larry.

[Dave H]

... in response to The rest., posted by shadow on Nov 1, 2002

[This message has been edited by Dave H]

Hey Larry,

That sounds like as close to a sure fire way as I have ever heard to get letters safely to their destination. I like it!

Chevy,

I have the same averages as Larry does with mail theft. I eliminated stamps and had it metered, which stopped the "stamp collectors" from stealing my mail. About half of my greeting cards made it throughout the year and none at Christmas time. I started (still do) sending all cards together, sometimes a bit in advance, in  Global Priority envelopes with other mail. It has all made it through so far in 4-5 weeks to Butuan City (Agusan Del Norte, Mindanao). One even made it in 3 weeks. Other mail to Butuan City, 4-6 weeks,  from my experience...when it makes it. I make sure all mail is stamped "AIRMAIL" to avoid being put on a slow boat once in the Philippines. My postcards have never made it on their own...more "collectors." I have been told by several Filipinos that they have witnessed postal employees regularly burning piles of "undeliverable" mail at their homes. Quite often greeting cards. I usually recieved letters and cards from my fiancee (wife). She did not hang out in Internet cafes like many of the younger ladies. Be careful, it's true what they say! The emails and chat you receive may be a collective effort from a group of giggling school girls. I saw it first hand.

Letters from Butuan City to US 3 weeks.

Dave H.