DHL un-reliable in areas of Cebu City outside of the city

[Balamban 113]

I asked for suggestions on how to send a packet of papers to my fiancee and the consensus was DHL was the most reliable.

 

Well, the package arrived in Cebu City as expected and then "dead air."  Furious I made plenty of noise via DHL in America.

 

Before that I called seven separate phone numbers, DHL is now handled in Cebu City by W-express, they have a website.  Not one answered.  Either they rang and range, or I got some message that it was not a valid phone number.

I sent several emails, none were answered.

 

After complaining to DHL in America within a few hours I got a notice: "Delivery attempted, unable to find consignee."

 

Consider that the package had the exact street in Balamban, and it's a main street, not some tiny tucked away rural thing.  Further it had her phone number.  In short, no attempt was made at delivery.

 

W-express told DHL they would deliver it the next day and did give us a phone number so we connected with W-express.  NO guarantee of delivery.

 

In desperation my fiancee had her Uncle call in sick to school (he's a HS teacher) who drove to Cebu City to pick the package up--it was there, but they would not give it to him.

 

He's large and imposing and authoratarian and apparently got angry--which worked.  We got the package.

 

I was charged about US$30 for the "rural" (it is rural Balambon is about an hour ride).  But W-express lied, they never made an attempt.

 

Therefore  my recommendation:  If outside of Cebu city in the Province of Cebu DO NOT USE DHL, or allow an extra full weeks.

 

This might be of use to anyone in the future.

 

Cost was about $110 which included a remote area $20 surcharge and I paid Uncle 1000php, pretty expensive package.

 

Consider sending packets an entire month earlier than needed!

 

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2018 by Balamban

[Greenbaum 12,259]

As with anything connected to the Philippines plan for the worse because the worse will happen. Many here have used UPS, USPS, DHL and FedEx and each have a story of success or failure. Thanks for the review as I am sure it will help someone in the future.

[Hank_ 9,174]

8 hours ago, Balamban said:

I asked for suggestions on how to send a packet of papers to my fiancee and the consensus was DHL was the most reliable.

 

Well, the package arrived in Cebu City as expected and then "dead air."  Furious I made plenty of noise via DHL in America.

 

Before that I called seven separate phone numbers, DHL is now handled in Cebu City by W-express, they have a website.  Not one answered.  Either they rang and range, or I got some message that it was not a valid phone number.

I sent several emails, none were answered.

 

After complaining to DHL in America within a few hours I got a notice: "Delivery attempted, unable to find consignee."

 

Consider that the package had the exact street in Balamban, and it's a main street, not some tiny tucked away rural thing.  Further it had her phone number.  In short, no attempt was made at delivery.

 

W-express told DHL they would deliver it the next day and did give us a phone number so we connected with W-express.  NO guarantee of delivery.

 

In desperation my fiancee had her Uncle call in sick to school (he's a HS teacher) who drove to Cebu City to pick the package up--it was there, but they would not give it to him.

 

He's large and imposing and authoratarian and apparently got angry--which worked.  We got the package.

 

I was charged about US$30 for the "rural" (it is rural Balambon is about an hour ride).  But W-express lied, they never made an attempt.

 

Therefore  my recommendation:  If outside of Cebu city in the Province of Cebu DO NOT USE DHL, or allow an extra full weeks.

 

This might be of use to anyone in the future.

 

Cost was about $110 which included a remote area $20 surcharge and I paid Uncle 1000php, pretty expensive package.

 

Consider sending packets an entire month earlier than needed!

 

 

 

 

I always use FedEx  (2GO in the Phils)

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

It's More Fun in The Philippines...........

 

 

[javadown2 308]

5 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

It's More Fun in The Philippines...........

 

 

I've never made mention to my Fun in the Philippines.....I've only been 3 times mind you....2 out of the 3 times my luggage was "lost". The first time was a runaround where they said some elderly couple had it by accident...I never did get it back but was compensated by Delta Airlines almost $800 for one bag! The second trip it supposedly never made it on the plane in Malasia (said the plane was over weight!). I did get that luggage back...but it took about 5 days! Moral of the story....pack light! Oh..and I learned the hard way...(i know stupid me) never put a laptop in your checked in bag. I'm guess that was the culprit for the theft obviously. (luckily it was an older computer that I had wiped clean and was going to give to her family for communication with us. 

 

 

And sorry to hear about your runaround with the package you sent. I've sent a few things to the Philippines and always used FedEx, never had an issue (other then it is EXPENSIVE@!). 

Edited April 2, 2018 by javadown2