Balikbayan Boxes

[ria_s 0]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know if it's safe sending balikbayan boxes to the PI. I was thinking of sending one to the family back home. Also I have just arrived in the US, so would I even qualify to be able to use one or do I need to go home first to be considered a balikbayan? My husband threw in another concern too and that is customs and applicable fees. How much would it cost to send one? Would it have a hard time going through customs?

Sorry guys. I am just not sure where to get the answers to my concerns. I have looked on some courier sites but nothing seemed specific.

Thanks a whole whole lot to any answers that come my way.

Ria

[oliver-chris 3]

It will be better you send it through DHL, Fedex or LBC ( they have this in California and Nevada).

Edited April 4, 2010 by oliver-chris

[TripleG 3]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know if it's safe sending balikbayan boxes to the PI. I was thinking of sending one to the family back home. Also I have just arrived in the US, so would I even qualify to be able to use one or do I need to go home first to be considered a balikbayan? My husband threw in another concern too and that is customs and applicable fees. How much would it cost to send one? Would it have a hard time going through customs?

Sorry guys. I am just not sure where to get the answers to my concerns. I have looked on some courier sites but nothing seemed specific.

Thanks a whole whole lot to any answers that come my way.

Ria

We like Balikbayan. I have sent things this route as an American citizen (non Filipino) so I can't imagine you having a problem. Balikbayan is safe and you pay all the applicable fee's as part of the shipping. We have never had anything come up missing and I consider it safer then DHL or Fed-ex as far as customs corruption goes. The pros for Balikbayan are the amount you can ship. You are only limitted to the amount you can fit in the box, not weight. The cons are how long it takes to get there. We just sent a box Jan. 6th and it did not arrive until March. 12th in the western visayas of Negros Oriental. So its not exactly fast, I heard its around 35 to 45 days to anywhere in Luzon, but I don't know for sure.

Wyatt

Edited April 4, 2010 by TripleG

[rogail 2]

We have sent balikbyan boxes to Surigao before. We have a filipino store in Louisville that ships the boxes thru forex. There is no weight limit, no customs fees to pay. The box is guaranteed to arrive no later than 2 months. The last box we sent made it to Surigao in 6 weeks.

[edp333 9]

We have sent balikbayan boxes back to Manila. The only problem was the amount of time when we used Orient-Atlas. We sent a box early December and it did not arrive in Manila untill February. Their reason was it took them a long time to get enough cargo to fill a shipping container.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

I'd sent my first BB (as we call them for short) Box before we even submitted the paperwork for Anna to come here.

The second one was sent in January of this year. There were no problems either time.

To ensure safe delivery I do a few things:

First I line the box with a large plastic bag and place all of the contents inside the bag which is sealed water tight before the box is sealed.

Second, I don't leave any empty space in the box. I use clothing, towels etc to fill gaps between items and make sure all outer sides are soft materials.

Third, I completely seal the box with 6 layers of clear shipping tape.

Fourth, I run two bands of strapping tape around the box in each direction.

All of this protects the contents from other things causing leaking or crushing damage. Additionally the excessive amount of outside tape makes it impossible for the integrity of the box to be "accidentally" compromised as I have heard stories of BB Boxes arriving with a broken or ripped side and half of the canned goods missing.

I've sent electronics, canned goods, scuba diving gear, medical supplies etc with no problem.

[Jimfibi 2]

to ship thru fedex is not safe po 100%. I had a terrible experience with Fedex. Nawala ung laman ng package, itinuro ng fedex ang customs... to think dapat binabantayan nila ung shipment habang chinecheck ng customs kasi accountability nila un.

hindi mo na po kailangan umuwi muna ng Pilipinas at bumalik dito para makapagpadala ng balikbayan box, tawag lng po natin yan sa package ung "balikbayan".

Edited April 4, 2010 by Jimfibi

[Jimfibi 2]

to ship thru fedex is not 100% safe.(just to correct my statement above). I had a terrible experience with Fedex. Nawala ung laman ng package, itinuro ng fedex ang customs... to think dapat binabantayan nila ung shipment habang chinecheck ng customs kasi accountability nila un.

hindi mo na po kailangan umuwi muna ng Pilipinas at bumalik dito para makapagpadala ng balikbayan box, tawag lng po natin yan sa package ung "balikbayan".

[JelloShotGirl 0]

we send thru johhny air and last christmas time we used ship mate or something like that, never had any problems

[Kevin- 13]

Use a company that specializes in Balikbayan box shipping. LBC is great if you are in or near their US service area. I sent one by LBC last year. It was an electronic keyboard so the box was not the normal shape. They took extra care to help ensure it would arrive, but I wasn't able to have insurance on it since the shape was unusual (effects how they pack them into the shipping containers). Takes 4-7 weeks, mine took 45 days.

If LBC isn't accessible for you, then any recommendation here from people who have personally used the other service options should do fine.

Though I guess technically my shipment wasn't a Balikbayan box, since I am not a Balikbayan, hehehe.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Pentagon Cargo has never failed me.

FedEx and DHL are not Balikbayan Box shippers. They would charge you around $500 bucks to send what costs about $60 bucks with a real B.Box shipper.

[damulag 26]

If you post your location in the United States maybe someone can recommend a place for you to ship from.

[TOM&Riz 4]

we send thru johhny air and last christmas time we used ship mate or something like that, never had any problems

There are so many good BB companies Johhny Air is one Aero Send is another and even Manila Forwarder all are dot coms and all offer door to door pick up and delivery, FedEx and DHL are great for overnite documents but definetly not BB packages too cost prohibitive do some research you'll find a decent company

[betsay 0]

Hi Ria,

Welcome to the U.S.?

Sa Oregon ka ba? If you are, then LBC is the courier for you I send my boxes thru them, and it's $65.00 per box. check out their website for more info:

http://www.lbcexpress.com/contents/usa/default.aspx

I haven't been back to the Phil. since I cam here more than a year a go, and I was able to send a balikbayan box, so you can too. I guess it's called balikbayan box kasi bound to Pinas (buti pa ang box!) They have an official LBC box they sell for $3.00 (i think it's an 18x20x20), no weight limit (just be sure they can move or pick-up the box:), and they will replace the box for free. their office is in Powell Blvd., Portland, just check the website for the exact address and call them to schedule a pick-up.

there's no additional fees/customs fees, etc anymore, but they have a list of things that you can't send (nasa website din). and since it's a sea cargo, it will take more than a month to reach your folks in the philippines.

i hope this answers your questions and concerns.

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know if it's safe sending balikbayan boxes to the PI. I was thinking of sending one to the family back home. Also I have just arrived in the US, so would I even qualify to be able to use one or do I need to go home first to be considered a balikbayan? My husband threw in another concern too and that is customs and applicable fees. How much would it cost to send one? Would it have a hard time going through customs?

Sorry guys. I am just not sure where to get the answers to my concerns. I have looked on some courier sites but nothing seemed specific.

Thanks a whole whole lot to any answers that come my way.

Ria

[Markieboy 104]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know if it's safe sending balikbayan boxes to the PI. I was thinking of sending one to the family back home. Also I have just arrived in the US, so would I even qualify to be able to use one or do I need to go home first to be considered a balikbayan? My husband threw in another concern too and that is customs and applicable fees. How much would it cost to send one? Would it have a hard time going through customs?

Sorry guys. I am just not sure where to get the answers to my concerns. I have looked on some courier sites but nothing seemed specific.

Thanks a whole whole lot to any answers that come my way.

I've sent balikbayan boxes to Philippines many times. So far, it's very safe sending things. I usually send boxes through Forex. We never had to pay any customs fees or anything.

Try and call the following courier place in your area.

BTS

1601 N. Columbia Blvd.

Portland, Oregon 97127

Phone: (503) 285-1384

Fax: (503) 286-8704

Hope that helps.