Balikbayan boxes being raided?

[Jnaz 0]

US customs is opening and inspecting random boxes. Essentially handling things much like the TSA, possibly even worse. It they pull the container aside for inspection, expect your box to be delayed at least three weeks.

I had something similar happen to me on my trip to the Philippines just last month. When I arrived at the Manila airport, i noticed that the lock on my luggage was missing! I was horrified! Dug into my luggage to see if anything was missing and found a note from TSA saying that they had to break my lock during inspection because it was not TSA compliant. Nothing was missing and I was relieved.. but this made me wonder how many times my luggages have been opened in the past (when I did had TSA compliant locks) without me even knowing? I felt a little violated but I also know that it's a necessary evil. I was a bit upset though that because TSA got rid of my lock, my luggage went from the plane to the conveyor belt unprotected and any random person could have easily opened it.

On the flip side, on my flight back to the states I decided to try a little experiment. I stuffed a dirty shirt and some socks on the side pocket of my luggage (unlocked). When I got stateside, lo and behold they were gone!

Moral of the story, NEVER put valuables you can't afford to lose in your check in bags.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I had something similar happen to me on my trip to the Philippines just last month. When I arrived at the Manila airport, i noticed that the lock on my luggage was missing! I was horrified! Dug into my luggage to see if anything was missing and found a note from TSA saying that they had to break my lock during inspection because it was not TSA compliant. Nothing was missing and I was relieved.. but this made me wonder how many times my luggages have been opened in the past (when I did had TSA compliant locks) without me even knowing? I felt a little violated but I also know that it's a necessary evil. I was a bit upset though that because TSA got rid of my lock, my luggage went from the plane to the conveyor belt unprotected and any random person could have easily opened it.

On the flip side, on my flight back to the states I decided to try a little experiment. I stuffed a dirty shirt and some socks on the side pocket of my luggage (unlocked). When I got stateside, lo and behold they were gone!

Moral of the story, NEVER put valuables you can't afford to lose in your check in bags.

They tell you in the TSA guidelines not to lock your luggage, or to use a TSA compliant lock. Also, don't overstuff your luggage, or you may find your luggage held together with tape. I only had one TSA casualty, when the inspector took apart a travel mirror to look inside. As in your case, locking something, whether your luggage, or something inside, makes them want to look.

[Jnaz 0]

They tell you in the TSA guidelines not to lock your luggage, or to use a TSA compliant lock. Also, don't overstuff your luggage, or you may find your luggage held together with tape. I only had one TSA casualty, when the inspector took apart a travel mirror to look inside. As in your case, locking something, whether your luggage, or something inside, makes them want to look.

There is no way that I am traveling without a lock on my luggage. TSA inspectors may be trustworthy stateside, but it's the destination airport that I am worried about (and I'm not just talking about the Philippines). I do know that the TSA recommends you using TSA compliant locks, but I've used the same standard "Master Lock" brand lock for years and since I've never had any issue with them I assumed they were compliant lol. I guess I need to read the TSA guidelines more.

[Caryh 5,206]

Years ago I traveled for work carrying a lot of electrical components and tools right on the plane. I used to get some strange looks when they ran the x-ray, but everything was fine once they opened it and what looked like a bomb wasn't. They would even show me the x-ray so I knew how bad it looked I can't imagine trying to bring that same stuff on a plane today. They'd probably tackle me, cuff me, ship me off to gitmo, then explode the tool case rather then opening it to see nothing is really harmful inside. Last thing you wanted to do was to show up to work in some city and find out your bags, including tools and parts, went another direction. Heck I wonder what the TSA would do with it if it was checked today. Maybe the same.

[Rahstyles 10]

What is a balakabyan box?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What is a balakabyan box?

Filipino luggage.

Just a heavy cardboard box that you fill with goodies and send home to your family, usually by sea cargo. However, the boxes are very sturdy, and since they are often free, they are used for a variety of shipping and travelling needs.

Edited March 19, 2013 by The Patriot

[Rahstyles 10]

Filipino luggage.

Just a heavy cardboard box that you fill with goodies and send home to your family, usually by sea cargo. However, the boxes are very sturdy, and since they are often free, they are used for a variety of shipping and travelling needs.

Where do you get these boxes and where do you send it from and how long does it take?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Where do you get these boxes and where do you send it from and how long does it take?

Depends on the area you live, but if you ask any Filipino in your area, they will tell you where to get best deal. We live near San Francisco and use LBC. Usually, you can get a box from the driver when he comes to your area. If you contact your nearest branch, they can drop one off, or send it to you by UPS. We "borrowed" our first box from another Filipina, and just replaced it when they picked up our box and got another one for ourselves. It took less than three weeks for the last box to arrive in Manila, door-to-door.

Edited March 19, 2013 by The Patriot

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It is not unusual for somebody travelling back to the Philippines, to fill a half-dozen or more of the boxes with all their clothes and stuff, then ship it a month or so ahead of time to a family member. Then, when they arrive, everything is ready for them. After they leave, the family member will pack everything back up, and ship what they didn't want to leave behind back to their residence in the US.

Edited March 19, 2013 by The Patriot

[Caryh 5,206]

Where do you get these boxes and where do you send it from and how long does it take?

While our last one just took three months to reach Davao City. Its hard to say how long they'll take. But since you're in California, you'll have better delivery time than us in Minnesota.

The process is, boxes get sent to the shipper, usually in California. Here when we drop a box off, no one drives around picking them up in Minnesota, it might be a week or two before they're sent to the shipper. The shipper collects them until they have enough for a container. When a container is full, it will pass through customs, if they decide to inspect, its stuck there for 3 to 4 weeks. Then it goes to a ship and is loaded on board. Ship starts making its route and finally gets to Manila. Containers are off loaded, then boxes are sorted. Those going to Manila move pretty quick to their destination. Those going to other islands are saved up until they can be loaded onto a smaller ship or ferry and sent to that island. Then they get delivered to the final delivery place. So the shipping time is highly dependent on where you're shipping from, how many boxes are being ship by your Balikbayan shipper at the time, where its being delivered, and finally does US customs decide to inspect your container and box.

[adiiann 163]

Just sent 2 balikbayan box through LBC-chicago branch. It arrive about 7 weeks from the time we sent it. My family said that the box arrived fine and weren't open.

[DaveE 178]

We send a box a month and use LBC or UMAC. Never had a box opened or anything missing. Normal transit time about six weeks from Georgia. LBC is coming to the house today to pick one up, and deliver another empty shipping box

[Hank_ 9,174]

What is a balakabyan box?

balikbayon box Google says this

[Calypso 464]

Just an update. My latest balikbayan box arrived on Black Saturday, March 30 in Bukidnon, exactly 49 days after I dropped it off to LBC Carson, CA. It remained unscathed and my family was very excited to unravel their goodies. Great experience with the shipper and timely delivery so I'm sending another box in a few months. Thanks to LBC!

[Caryh 5,206]

Just an update. My latest balikbayan box arrived on Black Saturday, March 30 in Bukidnon, exactly 49 days after I dropped it off to LBC Carson, CA. It remained unscathed and my family was very excited to unravel their goodies. Great experience with the shipper and timely delivery so I'm sending another box in a few months. Thanks to LBC!

I think I'm going to see to it our future boxes go via LBC. Could be LBC has been better making sure their customers are not sending banned items, so they're getting less scrutiny by USA customs.