I have been very happy with this firm. Today, things went a little pear shaped. I ordered some flowers for K. They should have been delivered today. I used the LBC tracking system and found that whilst they had been despatched from Makati to Pagadian as they should have been, and were then consigned to Molave, as they should have been, this is what happened next... 11/27/2014 09:43:32 PM ACCEPTED AT:LBC CARGO FACILITY - MANILA (Branchposting) 11/27/2014 09:44:45 PM RECEIVED AT LBC CARGO FACILITY - MANILA 11/28/2014 12:07:52 AM FORWARDED TO HANGAR 1 11/28/2014 12:17:25 AM RECEIVED AT FORWARDING TEAM JEFFREY SANTOS 11/28/2014 12:51:07 AM FORWARDED TO PAGADIAN LEONIL PARILLA 11/28/2014 10:56:09 AM FORWARDED TO MOLAVE 11/28/2014 10:56:09 AM RECEIVED AT PAGADIAN DISTRIBUTION CENTER 11/28/2014 01:59:46 PM RECEIVED AT MARAGUSAN Maragusan is in the Compostela Valley and the wrong side of Davao! Molave would have been correct - six miles from the final deliver address. The address used was identical to the address used for a previous delivery, which arrived in good order. I have emailed Island Rose, pointing out what appears to have happened, and will post their reply here.
Last time I sent a parcel to my Mother in the UK, the delivery was perfect. I could track it all the way through, see the delivery time, her signature, and delivery details on the Parcelforce tracking website. Next day I phoned my Mother, and complimented her on her signature, it was far better than her previous "digital signatures". Turns out that the delivery guy signed it for her, what a Gentleman.
Everyone makes mistakes eventually I suppose, In all the years I have used Island Rose they have never put one foot wrong, great company, but sorry to hear of this failure Andrew.
Not their fault - LBC's screw up. Will be interested to see how they handle it - either in an "American" manner (replacement order) or in a Philippines manner (dead flowers delivered two days late!)
LBC is getting stiff competition from Aboitiz "2GO" domestically which is anecdotally more reliable and price competitive.
2GO is not owned by Aboitiz; it is owned, via a shell company in Holland, by the Government of the People's Republic of China.
"Island Rose"........... Only good things to report. On one occasion, the flowers arrived a few days late and wilted. Quick email and it was sorted within a couple of days with a new delivery of extra fresh flowers free of charge, And to top it up I was given a credit for an extra free delivery as and when needed. They still mail me from time to time with offers.
Dashboard now says "Out for delivery" at 8.18 this morning. Nothing has been delivered, which is hardly surprising as they will have trouble getting to Esperaza, Ramon Magsaysay,Zamboanga del Sur, from Maragusan in the Compostela Valley. I have had no reply from Island Rose.
That they do not answer the telephone does not surprise me. From observation I have noticed that Filipinos generally will answer their cellphone immediately and answer a text message the moment it arrives but will happily leave a (landline) telephone ringing if they've something else to do. Island Rose will naturally blame LBC who in turn will blame Island Rose. Neither company will accept responsibility and your chances of a refund from either are somewhere between zero and none. I would complain to the credit card company and have the charge disputed.
Update: I was wrong - they did deliver yesterday, but K's text thanking me never arrived, and I only found out today when I phoned her. Flowers slightly wilted but chocolate very popular! I have emailed Island Rose with an apology.
Oh I am doing well on the Brownie points today, Timmers - I have been invited to Canlaon in Negros to meet her mother's clan and be inspected properly! Have wanted to climb Mount Canlaon (active volcano )for a long time... may get the chance now.
