POBox PH Updated Review 2016 and 2017

My previous review was back in 2014 so I'm updating it with my recent box with them.

POBox.ph

Even though The Bureau of Customs has increased the de minimis for imported goods to 10000 php, there is still a lot of demand for forwarders. If you are planning on buying from different online stores, forwarders consolidate all your parcels for you and deliver them straight to your doorstep instead of waiting on the items individually and going back and forth the post office to pick up your package (and paying 100php for the storage fee), 

The forwarder I use the most is POBox PH. Almost all of my transactions with them went smoothly (except during the time there was a truck ban in Metro Manila that resulted in cargo ships getting stranded in the port, which isn't POBox's fault). Since the first time I used their services last 2013, they have revamped their website and they are now offering air shipping which I haven't tried yet (at $6.50 per lb, with a 3 lbs minimum package weight and a clearing fee consisting of the 10% of declared value of the items; please note certain items like electronics also has additional charges). 

If you don't have a credit card or if you want to shop on online shops that don't allow using credit cards with a billing address outside the U.S., you can also request POBox to shop on your behalf (they charge a 5% service charge for your total purchase price). You have to fill up a request form first, then they'll give you a quote and wait for your payment before they purchase the items. I asked for a price quote before and it took them more than 1 working day to respond so it might not be best to request for sale items because the sale might be over before they even process this.

Anyway, I shopped on some websites for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2016 and had some last minute Amazon purchases on late November. I requested them to bill me for the box sometime December because I wanted to have my box shipped before they go on a break (not entirely sure, but I think they go on a break on Christmas-New Year).

They billed me on the second week of January but they told me that they loaded my box on the cargo ship last December. According to the tracking number they gave, here is the timeline of the shipment

December 24 - loaded items into the cargo ship
December 29 - received/loaded at the port Long Beach - CA
January 2 - ship sailed from port
January 31 - unloaded to warehouse here in the Cainta Rizal - PH
February 1 - loaded to truck
February 2 - out for delivery / delivered at my home

On average it takes about 5-6 weeks after it has been loaded to the truck before it gets delivered. It's not that long to be honest, as even air shipped items takes an average of two weeks (might even take 3 if the parcel gets held at the post office). You'll save a lot on shipping by just having to wait a little bit more for your items.

They have insurance available, but the insurance only covers lost boxes (individual items that are lost are not covered by the insurance).

One more reason why I keep using their service is their response rate. Every time I have a question, I just send them an email and they respond promptly and satisfactorily. I hope this level of service will remain consistent.
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Goods Sale said...

I am very disappointed with PoBox. Their partner courier which is forex cargo delivered my box to their Quezon City address which PoBox has acknowledged. I wonder why they had to address my box to their office and not my house. Its been 2 weeks now since they said they will have it delivered to my address via local courier and I still have not received it.

Anonymous said...

Same! I am very very disappointed with POBox and I would never try their service again. Note to all: You've been warned.

Anonymous said...

I used to like their service but this time I’m very disappointed. Upon payment, I already reminded them to have my box delivered to an address in Manila. They never even bothered to acknowledge the email so I thought everything was ok since they confirmed having received my payment. After waiting patiently for 2 months, I emailed them to ask for the status of my box. They said there were several attempts to deliver but no one was around to receive it. I knew right away that they didn’t deliver my box to the Manila address that I specifically instructed. They claimed that they in fact informed forexworld of my Manila address so I just asked them to redeliver the box ASAP and to remind them that delivery should be between Monday to Saturday ONLY since that is an office address. Afterr waiting for another 2 weeks, box still hasnt been delivered. So I sent them another email to follow-up. It took them 4 days to reply to my email! And all they said was that the box hasnt been delivered yet. I got a call today (Sunday!) from forexworld because they’re trying to deliver my box but no one is around (duh!). I’m really pissed because ALL my instructions were not followed. I don’t know if POBox really relayed my instructions to the delivery team or not. So this will be my last time with them.

Trust us, don’t even bother trying to use their service to spare yourselves from the stress.

Anonymous said...

i requested my stuff to be boxed up since feb 15. until now there’s no word. what were your experiences like regarding the length of time?

Anonymous said...

i requested my stuff to be boxed up since feb 15. until now there’s no word. what were your experiences like regarding the length of time?

Anonymous said...

Same experienced! Poboxph sucked!!!

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