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Shipping furniture to Cebu

Discussion in 'Migrating to the Philippines' started by Bongle, Dec 31, 2022.

  1. Bongle
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    Bongle New Member

    Apologies if this thread is better served in another forum but it seemed the most relevant even though we're not migrating yet.

    We have an unfurnished condo next to the Ayala Shopping Centre in Cebu City and we're wondering if it's worth buying everything in the UK and shipping it there via a container?

    It will come down to cost and any import duties so I'm asking if anyone has a rough idea how much it would cost for a small or half container as our condo is only 28sqm. If it is feasible and you know of a cheap company then I would be grateful if you would let us know.

    I hope it is possible because I think buying items here in the UK is cheaper with more range, but it would save the hassle of shopping when we go over there next as all we'd need to do is unpack. I'm sure there's a few pitfalls doing it this way but if it doesn't cost a lot more overall then would it not be worth a go?

    With Ikea in Manila now that is also an option as I believe there's a service where they can deliver everything from there whether it be themselves or by third-party.

    If you can think of anything else that I should be aware of then please let me know.

    Thanks very much.
  2. Mattecube
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    Mattecube face the sunshine so shadows fall behind you Trusted Member

  3. Radnor16
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    Radnor16 New Member

    I recently requested a quote to ship to Manila: my dining table with 4 chairs, a tv unit, a centre table, and a old foldable coffee table. Just under £3k - no thanks.
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Ikea deliver although to Cebu it might be quite expensive and they will assemble as well, in the UK the assembly service is called Task Rabbit in the Phils it's essentially the same kind of service but I didn't notice it having the same name.

    For a 28sqm condo buy it all in the Phils, we used to stay in a condo that size back in 2005 it's dirt cheap to furnish some of our furniture from then lasted 10 years, you could do everything you would need from Ikea and get better quality than most cheap locally produced furniture but you can also source high quality furniture in the Phils but at much higher prices.

    I recently bought a new couch, 2 cheap armchairs, coffee table, dining table, new bed and new storage cabinets all from Ikea, new cutlery better than anything we'd ever bought before in Manila, the couch was about 60% of the price of the same couch in Ikea in the UK same for the bed and mattress, I have the same bed and mattress over there that I have here in the UK.

    Electronics are basically the same price in the Phils as here or just slightly more expensive than here but you can pick up stuff on Lazada at good discounts.

    Some electronics from the UK like cheap clock radios will not work in the Phils because of AC frequency differences but that was only one item in 18 years where I found that problem, it worked but it couldn't keep time :)

    [​IMG]
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  5. Bongle
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    Bongle New Member

    Apologies for the delay, my elderly parents caught COVID so it's been stressful over the last few weeks, they're okay now - the boosters did their job.

    Thanks for all your input. I have come to the conclusion that it will be far cheaper to buy everything in the Philippines.

    I was then going to try and buy everything from Ikea Manila online and get them delivered. As far as I can tell, the delivery charges seem okay. I don't how reliable the deliveries are compared to here in the UK which brings me on to my next observation:

    You mentioned Lazada and I also noticed another established online shopping store called Shopee. They actually seem quite impressive with the range and prices so I'm wondering if they're worth a go and if anyone here has had any experience purchasing items from them? Surprisingly and impressively, especially with Shopee, they have a review system like Amazon but I find it's more genuine than Amazon. Buyers upload a lot of photos of the items they have bought so you can get a better idea of how the really look which is particularly useful when it comes to furniture. I don't know how the general quality compares to Ikea but it seems a lot of folks are happy with their purchases. The delivery charges and times seem okay as well.
  6. Jim
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    Jim Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I have bought loads of stuff from both Lazada and Shopee. make sure you pay CoD only. I won't buy furniture from them hard to send it back if it's crap and probably will be crap.
  7. Bongle
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    Bongle New Member

    Oh dear, is CoD important, meaning credit cards are not safe?

    I was going to order stuff using a credit card since I won't be there in the Philippines when they arrive. We'd arrange the deliveries to go to a relative's house and pick them up in one go when we arrive there.
  8. Br28016
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    Br28016 Active Member Trusted Member

    We did lazada orders with credit card when wife was living philippines and worked ok - sure actually managed to buy using my UK card as well. CoD allows inspection before payment but don't remember any issues with the stuff we got but wasn't hugh number of orders so limited sample

    If I remember Lazada covers a number of suppliers so acts as middle man/sales portal. Never had issues so not sure how difficult it is to sort problems
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  9. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    I noticed earlier today an Ikea collection point in Cebu It’s official: IKEA opens VisMin’s first Collection Point in Cebu City (sugbo.ph)

    My kids buy from Shopee and it seems to work well, I've bought from Lazada and I know that my credit and debit cards will work with Lazada for larger value items but so far I've only use Cash on Delivery, I bought a 24" computer monitor back last May arrived the next day and it was great almost like using eBay here.
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  10. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Your credit card will work fine with Ikea, I am finding it harder and harder to use an international Credit or Debit Card online anywhere in the Philippines, I know Ikea works I bought everything on my card, I know Lazada will work as they accepted one of my cards as a payment option, but PayMaya (now just Maya) and most bill payments that used to work no longer work I can't pay our electric bill even with a UK debit card and even with my Wise card that has a balance in Peso. Using foreign cards in shops no problem, online a nightmare.
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  11. Lee Adams
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    Lee Adams Active Member

    We normally used COD with Lazada or Shopee but lately we have been paying via G Cash with no issues.
    There are a lot of scammers with fake accounts on both systems but there are easy ways to avoid them.
    The best way we have found is to browse via the "Lazada mall" tab which guarantees legitimate and well reviewed shops. Shopee have a similar feature.
    Heavy items such as furniture we normally order from Mandaue foam in Cebu.
    https://mandauefoam.ph/
    • Informative Informative x 1
  12. Druk1
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    Druk1 Well-Known Member

    Trying to ship a motorbike from California to UK just tried to get a quote from UPS air they won’t to it,takes 35-40 days sea freight.
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  13. Jim
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    Jim Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Mostly use CoD over here but credit cards can be used, not saying they are safe or not ! Up to you Sir. In any case CoD is only up to 25,000 peso.
    Look up the reviews before you decide what to buy.
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  14. Bongle
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    Bongle New Member

    Thanks again, I feel more informed now!

    I might just stick with IKEA and have all the stuff delivered to the collection point in Cebu City just before we arrive, if that's feasible.
    That said, Shopee and Lazada do have some good value stuff so may end up using them all!

    Just one final question that's a bit off topic but still relevant in terms of shipping stuff, does anyone know of a company in the UK that's quicker at sending balikbayan boxes than the usual? I need one to get there before May or beginning of May at the latest? I believe it normally takes 3-4 months which might still get there in time but it's very uncertain.

    Thank you.
  15. HONEST DAVE
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    HONEST DAVE Active Member

    Most of the advice you are getting here is spot on, I have a lot of Ikea furniture in my house in UK and it is very hard wearing, so much better than anything flat pack I have had before, it is so very easy to put together with clear concise instructions another thing in its favour, I would not trust any useless Pinoy to put it together for me, when I lived there in Cebu I found a shop called Echo I think? this was good for electrical goods.

    Cebu City was not for me I was there for 3yrs and our son was born there, but I decided to get him away from there because of the high lever of air pollution, quite a few of my Foreigners friends were having to take Antihistamine pills especially ones that were riding Motorbikes, one of which told me the Doctor had been telling him there is a high incidence of this among Foreigners that are Bikers.

    Try to avoid hardware stores there if you can, they are 3 times the price that you can buy on-line, I have bought hundreds of things from both Lazada and Shopee with minimal problems other than late deliveries, I have had at least 15 BB boxes delivered over there most arrived in 10weeks and maybe a couple taking 12 but never more than that, there had been 3 different company's involved, none had been burst open, just be careful to have fragile things in the middle as the sides do get a few knocks but nothing serious, if you are a tea drinker send that over from UK, Aldi Diplomat are as good as any, Tea prices are crazy over there.

    I'm sure you need not worry all that much about late delivery of your BB boxes, so you have to rough it a bit for a couple of weeks? a Mattress to sleep on and a Pan to Sh!t in, I assume you are bringing your own Puzzy with you? there will be plenty of places there in which to eat out and at prices to suit all pockets.
  16. andrzej
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    andrzej New Member

    hi dave..curious as to which three you used?
  17. HONEST DAVE
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    HONEST DAVE Active Member

    The one I use mostly is; Alsomavic they have been pretty good up till now, I think they are reasonably priced sending two boxes is £60 but you get a third for only £30 more so £150 gets you three boxes, my Son was sending me boxes and he tried two different company's one of which he had problems with arranging to pick up the filled box and not arriving this happened more than once I think, but I do not remember who they were and my son is not contactable at this time.

    Not once did I ever suffer any damage to any box I did receive all the company's seem to take good care of them.
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  18. andrzej
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    andrzej New Member

    thanks... very useful to know...appreciated.

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