As some of you know we've used B & N Lilley for all of our balikbayon boxes for a good few years. Unfortunately I'll not be using them again. We left the UK and arrived here on the 10th October last year, our 2 boxes where picked up from our house the same day. I informed B&N of our new address on the 17th October and was told to expect the boxes around the end of November. Not a problem and was the time frame I expected. The end of November came and went, any emails and texts where rarely replied to and any phones calls while answered where never followed up with a reply to me. The middle of January that I sent several texts ending in one critising their service (or lack of it). After that I actually got a reply. I'd asked for the agents contact details in manila as it was obvious they where doing v little to resolve any of this. Bear in mind these boxes had all of our important gear from the uk in that I couldn't get into our cases when we travelled. Of the 2 numbers given only one was correct, I told them this and they didn't bother sending the correct number. Eventually I got through to the agent who claims that the boxes had been in their warehouse for approx. 2 months and no address was forwarded to them!!!! B&N claim they did forward the address on. Obviously someone is lying. Anyway after numerous phone calls from me and nearly 2 weeks sitting in waiting for a possible delivery we got our boxes on Thursday in surprisingly reasonable condition. We've not had a problem with B&N before but due to the nature of this last shipment and the problems encountered and general lack of customer service I'll not bee using them again. Might go with LBC in future. Obviously just my impression and passing on recent experiences. Rant over
Stu, we've got exactly the same problem - we sent out 2 boxes in November and they still haven't arrived. B & N Lilley keep telling Elsa it's in transit. I don't suppose you managed to find out who is actually handling the boxes in the Philippines? We're had the boxes sent to Quezon in Manila, so its not as though it needs to go far.
Well, a few days ago we sent our second box ever. Both went via LBC. The first box went perfectly, arriving in November. I did a little write up on it for Europinoy. How much do B&N Lilley charge per box? With LBC the box is trackable ( in theory ). We got regular updates on its progress.
Rob sent I'll send you a PM with the number I was given. I think they charge 125quid to Luzon for an XL box, I think it is 135 for an XL to western Samar. The only information they told me was its out for delivery according to their system which is the tracking program used by the agent in manila. I believe they recently got access to this not that it appears to improve anything. In my mind this decline in performance maybe due to they expanding too rapidly and not having being able to provide the service they once did. Trouble is they don't seem all that interested in where your stuff is once it leaves their depot and is on the ship. It would be nice to be able to track boxes though to me the only stages you'd be interested in would be - arrive manila, transit warehouse, out for delivery.
I've considered using B & N Lilley for their balikbayon box transportation, but due to reports (merged into this thread) from Stu and Rob they might be having difficulties these days. Has anyone else had issues with B & N Lilley Services?
LBC also gave us a first indication of when it had left the UK, estimated time of arrival aswell as actual and the same for some unspecified intermediate port which I took a stab at being Singapore as it was late in the journey. Their Jumbo box 50 x 56 x 77cm (20 x 22 x 30 inches) to Cavite is £100 from IoMan . That includes IofMan markup. Do those prices for B & N Lilley include insurance, Stu? We declined insurance except for the default insurance against the cost of the send ie £100. My approach to Balikbayan boxes has been to see if it works and if they lose one, not to bother again, I have just been treating the sending of them as a novelty experiment after reading about the ad infinitum exploits of Philand Ynterlink We spent more money on the content this time after the confidence built on success the first time.
I've a feeling that the XL boxes are insured up to 300quid and a sliding scale down for the smaller boxes, I think that was on the box declaration slip you fill out sending the boxes. I'm not sure how you'd go about the process though if you did want to claim on the insurance. Safe to say the value of the contents of our two boxes was considerably higher as we emigrated. A calculated risk really, but I was getting edgy though.
I talked too soon guys. Its been 2 weeks since LBC collected our box and still no sign on track and trace. So we called their contact number on the website who have no record of the box whatsoever....................wheres the "steam coming out of ears" smiley?
Hmm so it seems a few companies are having issues. There is always a risk of course in shipping stuff but to be honest I expect it to be fairly standard these days with certainly less problems than experienced recently. Surely it cant all be down to the after effects of the typhoon?
We contacted the agent and it seems it hasnt reached the boat yet. Not trackable until it is on the boat evidently. We hope.
Possibly. Or its been plundered. And somebody here in the UK is sitting scoffing the toblerone right now.
Though Toblerone is pretty awesome, apart from melting in transit I'd suspect it would be as packed. But putting it on the wrong boat wouldn't surprise me!
We decided to go with more chocolate this time as the sister in law said it arrived okay the first time and they wanted more! So we have done just that. Heard from LBC earlier and they again say it isnt yet on the boat. So we shall wait and see. If this one doesnt reach its destination intact we wont ever send another, by any carrier.
John, I wouldn't worry too much at this stage. Many Filipinos send boxes home around Christmas and New Year and I think it's entirely possible that the BB shippers have been inundated with extra boxes this year as Filipinos send aid to their families following the Bohol-Cebu earthquake and the super typhoon that hit a month later.
Its a good point by Mark. Plus I'm not sure of the frequency that the vessel sail to the phils is. I seem to remember B&L saying its once every 2 weeks for the one they use. I suppose its down to volume and how many / size of containers they pay for.
Our boxes suddenly turned up yesterday, apparently a lot of these balikbayan boxes are being held up because of the aid relief.
