Mail Service to the Philippines

[Lancelotte25 1]

USPS from Saudi? Well - that taint the US... Hey hope it arrives safe and good luck to you!

Thanks!! I hope they did not lost it.

[Jasman0717 9]

I used the USPS service. They had an international service that was delivered within 7 days. I used it to send a new I-134 to Claudeth before her interview. She was in Cagayan on Mindanao so would assume Cebu should be just as fast or faster.

http://www.usps.com/international/sendmail.htm

Edited November 10, 2009 by Jasman0717

[Mr.&Mrs.A 0]

I mailed a large padded envelope to northern Mindanao containing Birthday Card, shirt, 2 yo-yo's and a Debit Card. I mailed it on Oct. 26th USPS, Int'l Priorty 6-10 days. It still has not arrived! it only cost me $11.00. Whats funny, my fiance mails me a letter from mindanao and its here in 7 days maximum. Go figure!

[Mr.&Mrs.A 0]

Also, There is big time extortion by their customs, postal and fedex contractors there. There are alot of stories about this on VJ. I'm getting ready to ship a laptop and I'm scared to death as to the final cost.

[fendergirl 1]

Might as well check the postal office to check if you have package or letters pending for delivery, When I was in PI, I always have to go to POSTAL OFFICE to ask for my package.. It might have been sitting there for a long time waiting for somebody to pick it up.

[Richard90027 1]

I use regular postal, because if I use fedex , my package arrives in the phil, and then they use extortion for customs fees and taxes, often charging 200 to 300x the cost of the item.

Many times I have sent items and put the value at $0.00 only for them to scratch it out and write $500.00 or something.

So I've learned to send it as cheap as possible, no registered mail (because then the philippines will think its important and over charge as always) Also I lie about whats in the package , I usually put dirty socks in the box, and write "socks" for the item, I will hide things in the socks or between pages of a book.

Never send money that way though, you are better off with moneygram.

example of the fedex scam, I send a small padded evolope with a few tshirts to my wife, costs me $80.00, it arrives in the phil quickly, they try to charge her $60.00 in tax and customs fees, even though the items inside only cost me $40.00

She eventually paid someone under the table and got it, I sent registered mail once and she was able to pay $7.00 under the table, without signing for the package to get it.

So I've just learned the more unvalueable you can make the item and box look, the better

I send 80LB Balikbayan Boxes full of goodies all the time to Luzon, and never there is a problem with customs, duties, taxes. Only costs $55 bucks, but goes by ship and takes 6 weeks. I already got the Christmas box on the way!

My Balikbayan Boxes full of goodies to Northern Samar only take 30 days and is jumbo box 24x26x27 about 100lbs but is $80.00

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Also, There is big time extortion by their customs, postal and fedex contractors there. There are alot of stories about this on VJ. I'm getting ready to ship a laptop and I'm scared to death as to the final cost.

To ship a laptop to the PH I would suggest using DHL.

Mark it as being used personal property with a declared value of $400.00

If the customs guys try to jack you on tariffs DHL will go to bat for you. They are the only courier that has their own employees in the PH, seems like everyone else uses Air21 and they are crooks.

I'm speaking from personal experience. Customs wanted 12,00Php tariffs on the laptop I sent my wife. With DHL's help it was adjusted down to less than 600Php!

When I sent a repaired iPhone (complete with documents to prove she already owned it and sent it for repair) via UPS Air21 didn't do anything except collect the 4,000Php tariff!

[SuperDuper! 230]

Also, There is big time extortion by their customs, postal and fedex contractors there. There are alot of stories about this on VJ. I'm getting ready to ship a laptop and I'm scared to death as to the final cost.

Do yourself and your girl a big favor: Have her buy the laptop there!

[rlogan 2,036]

We experimented with mail, and good thing too. I sent letters, and my brother sent some. Letters and post cards. One post card arrived out of I think six things sent by mail to Mindanao. Iligan City. We did the letters, which never arrived, and then did an experiment with sending a letter and post card at the same time. My brother did that. The post card made it. So I sent a post card and letter at the same time and neither went through.

Nothing I sent by mail got there. One thing my brother sent got there.

Fed Ex worked fine and usually cost me around $75, got there in a few days. Under a week.

[Mike's Lucy 14]

Wow! Can't believe it, my mom called last night to inform me that she received the package. I'm so glad. I guess that letter from the President worked.

Edited November 12, 2009 by Mike's Lucy