I would advise against using B & N as they've had some big problems recently mainly due to the company being split up (the owners of the company have parted ways and its not clear who is now running the company, or if indeed there is a company still trading). They haven't returned any of our calls about 3 boxes we sent last September. We were promised delivery before Christmas, then by 27th and now they are not answering the phone. Other people in our part of Wales who sent boxes with them have also not have delivery yet. It wouldn't surprise me if they ended up on the Balikbayan Box blacklist in the near future.
Doesn't sound.promising but hang in there a few weeks as they may yet turn up assuming they got in the container before they started to fail. I'd be gutted if 1 box never made it never mind 3.
Hmm not good news Rob. Hope your boxes arrive sometime in the near future. I honestly think I'll use LBC next time and send Christmas boxes around October time
Boxes arrived this morning at long last. Sent September 29th, arrived 15th January, nearly 4 months. Last time we'll be using them thats for sure.
Good to hear. I've contacted 2 balikbayan companies since the wife got here and neither even managed to drop them off at the house
Hi HaloHalo, Do they leave the box in the nearest office to the destination and contact the person at the destination by phone with details? My wife's family live on a small island.
Hi Apo. I can't honestly say as I've never had success with any however what you say would be the most sensible way of delivery. As you know a lot of places are difficult to pinpoint, even places in the city.
This is all getting a bit frustrating really. Things seem to be getting worse for getting things out to the Philippines. I think for christmas boxes this year I'm still going to try LBC unless something dramatically changes.
i have been using lilley cargo for 2years 6 large boxes now. Mayvel Lilley is the owner and director. She split from her husband about 2 years ago after some wrong doing by him. I have met her several times and she i think is a genuine person but has been overwhelmed by the volume of work coming into her company. she has been running the company single handed for over a year but to be fair it has been beyond her capabilities. she does now have an office manager and things are getting better. Having said that she will promise you a shipping date and possible delivery date but do not rely on these! in reality the last 3 boxes i sent , 2 in aug2015 and 1 in sept should have left their depot the day after i delivered them, but even after promises the first 2 went the same day as the last on 7 oct! Her depot is in reality chaos. I dont think any thing gets lost or goes missing it just takes a long time. also bear in mind customs in manila has a habit of closing down for a month at a time or holds up containers from shippers who have not paid enough in back handers. i researched this last year and know this to be a fact! we had a box held there for a month we did eventually get it out using contacts we have in cebu and give her her dues mayvel paid for air freight to cebu as my wifes wedding dress was in it and she was traveling back to the uk in 2 days. if you are able to be at the depot as the container is being loaded and you see your box loaded as a general rule 4 days to get onto the ship, 7 weeks at sea, 3 weeks in customs in manila, 6 days ship to cebu, 7 days in mactan cargo yard and with luck delivery to my door.87 days .i will use her company again but will next time watch my box being loaded in the container and not expect it to arrive for 90 days. her fees i believe do include insurance £300 for large box and prorata for smaller . it also includes manila TAXES ummmmm . the local agents both in manila and cebu i have found to be helpful and trustworthy, but impossible to get on the phone , they do ring back if you text them. it does help if your box has a label sealed to each face of the box and the shipping no written on in felt pen on all faces, also tape a copy of the manifest in a sealed envelope on the box use lots of tape. i have no links with lilley cargo and these are my personal views. good luck all regards steve wheeler and liza garcia/wheeler
regarding sending balikbayon boxes to phil, i have been sending boxes for 6 years now 12 boxes in all and anther 2 going soon, i have always used bn lilley because i am able to drop my boxes off directly to their warehouse. i have always found their staff to be friendly and helpful and have met mavel lilley several times, she is running the business more or less single handed bar the handling side. yes she is very optimistic about the delivery times as are all the others doing the same, when she says 6 weeks read 8 or 9 for manila area and another 2 for further south . i have many many times spoken to the agents in manila and cebu and much of the delay is with customs and what mood they are in also on the volume of traffic going to your area as the onward shipper tends to hold boxes until a full container . this in all fairness is out of lilleys control. i have in the past even pestered the customs office after backhanding cash to grease the slow wheels. mavel is terrible at returning calls simply overwhelmed at times but keep trying by text email and both phones she does respond eventually. we have never lost a box or had one damaged but we do line the box and cover it with packing tape. i do not know any one who have lost a box with lilley but know of many that have lost boxes with other shippers . i have watched the boxes being loaded into the freight container several times and the container is packed full i believe she sends 1 or 2 containers a month and more in oct /nov for christmas delivery. regards to tracking this is almost impossible in phil as there just is not the technology around to do it. summing up 1; delivery times add at least a month it may be more. ring the freight agents in manila to find out if your box has arrived ( ask him for the container number after giving him your box no it helps if u later need to chase customs up. 2; pack your boxes well line the box with cheep ply, hardboard or cardboard make sure its not bulging or you could find it gets delayed by the onward shipper. 3; cover all the box with packing tape as the cardboard is not coated and it is very humid/wet in phil. 4; put an address label on all sides of the box and tape on with clear tape. 5; put a colour tape band around your box it helps to identify it in a warehouse from a distance ( lidle and aldi sell fancy pattern gafa tape a couple of times a year) 6; with the new customs rules make sure you have listed and priced every thing or your box will be delayed further as they open boxes that do not look correct after xray. the new tax free allowance is fairly generous DO NOT TRY TO SEND IN PROHIBITED ITEMS BE HONEST AND CUSTOMS WILL BE OK. 7; be patient, the problem is mostly the operation and system in phil , or paper work u provide not being fully filled in so the shipper has to pass an inquiry back to lilley adding weeks on. i will continue to use lilley and have a reasonable confidence in the firm. i am not connected with the firm and am not being paid to promote them these are my own personal view from several years experience steve wheeler and liza garcia
[QUOTE=" 6; with the new customs rules make sure you have listed and priced every thing or your box will be delayed further as they open boxes that do not look correct after xray. the new tax free allowance is fairly generous DO NOT TRY TO SEND IN PROHIBITED ITEMS BE HONEST AND CUSTOMS WILL BE OK. [/QUOTE] Update The customs rules have since been relaxed and there is no longer a need to list or price everything in the box.
