Sunday, August 27, 2017

How To Find The Best Balikbayan Box Forwarder

By Douglas Price


You are reading this article right now because you are probably married to someone from the Philippines. And since you are married to someone from this country you will know what balikbayan means, which means someone who returns to his or her country of origin. In addition you will know what balikbayan box means and its cultural and social importance, and you want to know which forwarder to use to send this box home to the Philippines.

This box basically contains various items, knick knacks and other things that the sender feels that the receiver will enjoy, whether or not these items are also available in the Philippines. In this case it is very much not only the gift that counts, but the thought as well, since many will send things home that are financially out of reach to the ordinary family member left in the Philippines. Most common items sent home are canned goods, designer clothing, toiletries and household items. Sometimes electronics and toys are also included.

For you to best be able to find the appropriate cargo forwarder for your needs, it is a good idea to have a checklist on hand. This checklist will include things that you should consider in looking for the best forwarder to ship your box home to the Philippines. Remember that when it deals with money, always use a checklist to aid your decision.

Getting a reliable forwarding service and outfit is something that is important to find. Get a list of possible forwarders from Filipinos you know who may have used this kind of service for their own boxes just recently or regularly. Word of mouth referral is sometimes best when looking for reliable service providers. If you are in an area where you are spoilt for choice, then try to get as many referrals as possible.

Compare prices across providers as regards their services. Usually prices can be compared as to what they charge, usually based on sizes of the boxes, which can come in small, medium, large and sometimes extra large. Sometimes some providers only have one standard size. However, just be informed that on average freight charges usually begin at around USD 60.

Compare also each of these forwarders as regards the services they offer. Inquire if they will pick up the items at your house and deliver it to your recipient or if you have to bring the box yourself to their receiving office. Not many of these providers will provide a pick up service, and if they do, there could be an extra surcharge.

Do check if the providers you have in mind have representative offices in the cities of the major islands of Luzon, Mindanao and the Visayas. If they do have a presence in all major islands, then you can breathe a little easier for you know that they are better organized and your shipment will be easier to track from their central office, wherever that may be.

This article has thus looked at some considerations when you are looking for a forwarder to ship your balikbayan goodies back home. There are other factors to consider, such as history of theft and other items that would be worth your while to research.




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