Mailing to the Philipines

[thekfc]

For those who have mailed items to the Philippines - what is normally the turnover time?

I mailed my girl & her family some postcards of NYC.
They were mailed on Dec 4th & they were just delivered today - I though that they were "lost".
I know that it was the Holiday/X-Mas season but that is 32 days.

[piglett]

Well KFC i can only tell you about my own experiences.
I sent Marily a 5lb package a few months back , she received it about 3 weeks later.
on around the 20th of Dec. i sent her a postcard, i just wasn't able to get to the post office before then.
That night she said the she too had been very busy & had just found time to send me a postcard.
It is now Jan. 5th & i still don't have her card & she still hasn't received mine yet.

BTW when are you heading to Asia?

best of luck
piglett

[thekfc]

I will be leaving in about 2 1/2 weeks.
Right now I am crossing my list to make sure that I have everything.

All I have left to get is the alcohol, chocolate, insect repellent, Melatonin, Aspirin, etc.

I got 2 suitcases over the weekend - so I am ready to pack.
I ordered one of these luggage scales (it will be here Thursday) - the scale I have at home was giving me inconsistant readings so I trashed it.
 

[stevjulietb]

KFC....be sure to keep a large supply of bottled water while in the PI....I got dengue fever on my first trip....Now I always brush my teeth with bottle water and never have soda with ice....mango shakes are also made with ice,,,,i avoid these because of the Ice.

Steveb

[Dave H]

You are lucky! I have never had a post card or Christmas card reach it's destination in the southern Philippines, except in a USPS Global Express envelope. I have found that 5-6 weeks the average time for a letter from the US to my barangay in Mindanao...if it makes it. Global Express about 10-14 days. Our mailman has several barangays and only makes it to ours several times a week at best. My post cards are probably plastered all over someone's wall. Cards are often opened and searched for money, then burned. The more hands it passes through, the less likely it will reach it's final destination. It mostly depends on the postal staff in your lady's area. Once money or valuables are found inside (something that I never do, but a relative did - $50) it is doubtful that future cards or letters will make it through.

I generally avoid mailing things, but I have had no problems so far using my lawyer's business envelopes, with his return address printed on it and USPS Global Express envelopes. I usually mail to a business address in the Philippines as well, which cuts a week or two off the delivery time (4 weeks). I also have "AIR MAIL" stamped on regular envelopes so it doesn't take many months on the s l o w boat.

I have had no problems shipping balakbayan boxes, other than it taking up to 3 months for delivery.

Luzon and Metro Manila should be much quicker for mail and balakbayan boxes.

Dave

[thekfc]

You are lucky! I have never had a post card or Christmas card reach it's destination in the southern Philippines, except in a USPS Global Express envelope. I have found that 5-6 weeks the average time for a letter from the US to my barangay in Mindanao...if it makes it. Global Express about 10-14 days. 

5 - 6 weeks, that is a long time. Not all the post cards I sent made it - I mailed 8 & 4 made it.  I have mailed something to her before via express mail & it got there in 7 days. So I am guessing that I am lucky.

KFC....be sure to keep a large supply of bottled water while in the PI....I got dengue fever on my first trip....Now I always brush my teeth with bottle water and never have soda with ice....mango shakes are also made with ice,,,,i avoid these because of the Ice.

Steveb

I do drink bottle water everywhere I go - even at home. I will try to avoid having ice but it will be a little difficult as my girl sister owns a cafe & they sell Palamig and that is something I want to try & they will be offering me some every time I come over.

[Jeff S]

KFC....be sure to keep a large supply of bottled water while in the PI....I got dengue fever on my first trip....Now I always brush my teeth with bottle water and never have soda with ice....mango shakes are also made with ice,,,,i avoid these because of the Ice.

Steveb

I never have soda with or without ice. In lieu of bottled water you can always brush your teeth using beer, or for that matter, quench your thirst with it. 

[Ray]

There is no "normal" in Philippine postal delivery.

While it didn't usually take as long as Dave H's mail did, I found that the average for delivery to Surigao City was about 17 days and around 10 days to Cebu City, but on occasion it took up to 5-6 weeks.

When the mailman went on vacation, she didn’t get any mail until he returned a few of weeks later. Holiday seasons, typhoons, volcanoes, sick mailman, etc, will delay the mail too. I had only a couple of letters out of hundreds that never made it through.

NEVER put any cash in letters!!

Number your letters on the outside so she’ll know if any are missing. Also, like Dave said, an Air Mail sticker helps a little too. Ask for the free small stickers at the post office.

I think the current postal rates to the PI are $.98 for a standard 1 oz letter and $1.18 for cards or odd-sized envelopes.

Mail coming back here from the Philippines was usually about the same or a little faster if she posted it at the local post office.

Ray

[Dave H]

While it didn't usually take as long as Dave H's mail did, I found that the average for delivery to Surigao City was about 17 days and around 10 days to Cebu City, but on occasion it took up to 5-6 weeks.

Ray

Hey Ray,

You are lucky! I have found that it varies throughout our city. Our main problem was a lazy mailman who "inspected" mail (opened to look for money or valuables) and also burned "excess." He was recently promoted...go figure! I was sending mail to a friend's business address here because his mailman was more efficient...and honest. Unfortunately, I received inside info that there are also problems with big shots (I won't be more specific) here taking sacks of interesting looking envelopes home, that are "undeliverable" (BS) to "inspect"...never to be seen again (burned).

Mail theft doesn't seem to be considered a serious crime here!

Dave

[piglett]

Hey Ray,
You are lucky! I have found that it varies throughout our city. Our main problem was a lazy mailman who "inspected" mail (opened to look for money or valuables) and also burned "excess." He was recently promoted...go figure! I was sending mail to a friend's business address here because his mailman was more efficient...and honest. Unfortunately, I received inside info that there are also problems with big shots (I won't be more specific) here taking sacks of interesting looking envelopes home, that are "undeliverable" (BS) to "inspect"...never to be seen again (burned).
Mail theft doesn't seem to be considered a serious crime here!
Dave

Well it that's the case I think it would be great fun to send a box fulled with dog sh*t
I guess it would have to be in some sort of plastic bag which could be placed in the box.
I am sure it would smell very interesting too when & if the mailman decided to burn it. 


piglett

[crashfirepm53]

I just sent a package and USPS said 7-10 days. I guess we will see soon.
Also the package I sent weighed 4lb 1oz. The cost is up to 4lb then over 4lb to 8lb. Basically the price doubled for 1 measly ounce.lol

[thekfc]

I just sent a package and USPS said 7-10 days. I guess we will see soon.
Also the package I sent weighed 4lb 1oz. The cost is up to 4lb then over 4lb to 8lb. Basically the price doubled for 1 measly ounce.lol

Yep I notice that too about the price doubling if you go over the weight cut-off.

[piglett]

Yep I notice that too about the price doubling if you go over the weight cut-off.

so 4 lbs is cheep & 4.1 lbs is double ....i guess that's why they wanted $80 for my 5lb package, i told them i would pass if they wanted that much.


piglett

[Ray]

The price doubled for 4-8 lbs?

I did a quick check on the USPS Web site and it seems that a 4 lb small flat-rate box is $13.45, a 20 lb medium flat-rate box is $43.45, and a 20 lb large flat-rate box is $55.95. Those are maximum weights and the price includes the box.

http://ircalc.usps.gov/MailServices.aspx?country=10355&m=13&p=0&o=1&mt=13

Did you pack your own box?

For comparison, I can send a large balikbayan box of unlimited weight for $65 door-to-door to Mindanao. But it takes longer because it goes by sea freight.

Ray

[thekfc]

Yes Ray your are right.
You can send any package up to 20lbs in a flat rate box as long as it fits for between $13.45 ( small box - 4lbs max) to $55.95 (large box - 20lbs max) via priority mail international.

The search I did on was for a non USPS (non rectangular) box  &  I checked was for Express and Global Express & I was doing a comparison between, USPS, Fedex, UPS & DHL. I may have gotten the rates mixed up.

Sorry for the confusion.

[piglett]

The price doubled for 4-8 lbs?
I did a quick check on the USPS Web site and it seems that a 4 lb small flat-rate box is $13.45, a 20 lb medium flat-rate box is $43.45, and a 20 lb large flat-rate box is $55.95. Those are maximum weights and the price includes the box.
http://ircalc.usps.gov/MailServices.aspx?country=10355&m=13&p=0&o=1&mt=13
Did you pack your own box?
For comparison, I can send a large balikbayan box of unlimited weight for $65 door-to-door to Mindanao. But it takes longer because it goes by sea freight.
Ray

I had my own box , but i would have been glad to have used theirs if they had have told me about it.
Guess they didn't need my money that bad.
I will remember this in the future though. Marily just loves real maple syrup & i think the airlines now have restrictions on you carrying liquid in your lugage. So i guess I'll be sending a 2nd care package to the Philippines B4 i go there


piglett

[Ray]

Marily just loves real maple syrup & i think the airlines now have restrictions on you carrying liquid in your lugage. So i guess I'll be sending a 2nd care package to the Philippines B4 i go there

The restrictions on liquids are for carry-ons.

It will be OK to put it in your checked baggage and that will be MUCH cheaper than mailing it.

Ray