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  1. Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    56,673
    #1
    Has anyone tried to purchase from an international site? How are the goods shipped? Does it pass through customs and claimed through the post office?

    Normally when I purchase items from US online retailers (Amazon, Nordstrom or Saks etc), I have it shipped to a relative's US address, when my items are enough to fill a box, they send it through sea freight (LBC) which takes about a month to arrive in the Philippines. This is delivered directly to my home.

    Recently I was offered free international shipping by a US online retailer which I want to take advantage of. Will the items pass through the post office or customs? I've heard so many horror stories on claiming items from the post office and customs taxing above the value of the items.

  2. Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    668
    #2
    ganyan din ako minsan, i have them shipped to a friend/relative sa US and hand carried it pauwi sa pinas.

    i have tried one buying from alibaba - alam na nila ang kalakaran sa pinas. they lower the declared value dun sa receipt naka insert sa box ng item mo. Kelangan lang alam mo yun value na nilagay nila(of course put that on your request upon purchase). Dumating yun item ko after 5-7days ata, me "claim stub" something on my mailbox at kelangan personal i-claim sa customs.

    well, minalas lang siguro ako nun time ko (i spent 4hrs of waiting/claim - tinamaan pa ng lunch break. LOL)

    at first, show your claim stub + identification. Then kukunin nila sa "bodega" yun item mo
    (and remember hindi lang ikaw nandyan)
    [this is ALL MANUAL procedures ha]
    then once nakuha na nila yun item mo (me hila silang cart at nakapatong lahat dun ng mga kini-claim)
    they're gonna place all the items sa isang pagkahabang lamesa't bubuklatin lahat nun.
    there will be a person shouting your name to let you know nandyan na item mo at be ready to be called.
    me isang inspector that checks the items, tatanungin ka how much is the value of your item then be-base nila yun customs duties, etc dun.
    then pupunta ka na naman sa isang in-charge where isusulat yun "computation" ng babayaran mo....
    then antay ka na naman tawagin ka for payment.
    even the ORs are manually written. hehe
    then balikan mo yun item mo - show your receipt (as gatepass sa releasing)


    once pa lang nangyari eto sa akin, some friends are claiming mabilis naman sa kanila (so i gues weather weather lan talaga)

    some are saying naman, bribe the "inspector" who calls for the pricing of duties & taxes... haha

    and pays to have somebody who knows somebody din.


    my two cents of experience. hehe

  3. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    29,354
    #3
    Shipping of items can be a hit and miss... at least in my experience.

    Shipping through FEDEX, DHL and similar are generally painless although sometimes you will have to pay certain import taxes directly to the shipping company. To minimize taxes to be paid, always ask the shipping to mention a low value for the declared value of the item(s) to be shipped.

    EMS shipping can be problematic IF your item gets routed to the main post office branch in Paranaque. This branch seems to have the most expensive tax computation table for items shipped via EMS. I have other items arriving at my local area post office and taxes rarely exceed a couple of hundred pesos. Compare that to the P'que branch which sees taxes hitting four to five figures with every item passing through. If you are unfortunate enough for your item to pass through here, doing the undervalued declaration also helps... or better yet, ask the shipping NOT to include any receipts inside the shipment. When the post office customs inspector checks your item and asks how much is your item, mention a very very low amount. Example, if your item is $500 in value, mention $50 (or even less) as it's value.

    And why does the post office customs also includes the shipping cost in computing the customs taxes to be paid??? "Shipping fee" is NOT an item!!

    And make sure you have lots of time to burn because the p'que post office moves at a snails pace.

  4. Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    21,384
    #4
    Hey cathy.....nice to see you back.
    Musta na?

  5. Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    56,673
    #5
    *thanks chua_riwap. Saan na si OB? :P

    Everything ordered online from an International retailer will always pass through the post office or customs?

    Or it depends on how the retailer will ship the the item? How should the items be shipped for it to be delivered to my doorstep?

  6. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    29,354
    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Cathy_for_you View Post
    *thanks chua_riwap. Saan na si OB? :P

    Everything ordered online from an International retailer will always pass through the post office or customs?

    Or it depends on how the retailer will ship the the item? How should the items be shipped for it to be delivered to my doorstep?


    In my experience, having it shipped outside the regular PhilPost system (that means FEDEX, DHL, LBC, AIR21, etc) will minimize your issues especially with bigger boxes. By the way, different shippers have difference policies with certain items like liquids, batteries, etc).

    Smaller boxes (shoe bax size or smaller) seems to reach my local post office branch with no issues.

    If you can wait, you can opt for alternative shippers:

    Example (I haven't used them, just googled them for examples)
    Manila Forwarder Balikbayan Box - Ship, Travel, Remit
    International Shipping to Philippines
    Pobox.ph - Philippine Online Box

  7. Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    25,038
    #7
    I have my Amazon orders shipped to Johnny Air Cargo New Jersey, and then pick it up at their Megamall branch. No customs charges, only pay for the shipping charge which is based on the volume size. Sulit since Amazon shipping within the US is free. Also you can direct any online orders to Johnny Air Cargo if you want to avoid customs.

  8. Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    2,781
    #8
    bought an item in ebay via USPS, so sa post office ko kinuha. kala ko nasa customs ako sa laki ng hinihingi

  9. Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    25,038
    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Cathy_for_you View Post
    Saan na si OB? :P
    You just missed him, na-banned ulit two weeks ago...

  10. Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    56,673
    #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Monseratto View Post
    I have my Amazon orders shipped to Johnny Air Cargo New Jersey, and then pick it up at their Megamall branch. No customs charges, only pay for the shipping charge which is based on the volume size. Sulit since Amazon shipping within the US is free. Also you can direct any online orders to Johnny Air Cargo if you want to avoid customs.
    I've heard very good feedback about Johnny Air. I don't use their services though because it's still cheaper for me to send my items in a relative's US address until it is enough to fill an 18 X 20 box. It costs USD55 and 30 days to arrive in the Philippines. What's best is it's delivered in your doorstep. The only disadvantage is the waiting time - to have enough items to fill the box and one month shipping period.

    I wanted to take advantage of the free international shipping that Saks Fifth Avenue offered so I could get my item right away. But if it means having to pick up the item at the post office or dealing with the customs. Wag na lang

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Online Shopping, International Shipping and Customs