Most Filipinos, especially those who don't have any idea as to how claiming parcels in PhilPost go are very curious about this one. And today, I'll be sharing my first ever PhilPost experience.
Before you continue reading, I would like to inform everyone that I will be sharing my experience in claiming a parcel. As for claiming mails, I'm sorry but I don't have any idea how it goes as I haven't experienced it yet. Another thing, this will be an experience in Quezon City and not in a provincial area.
So yeah, my first PhilPost experience just happened two days ago, December 27, 2016.
I've already mentioned on my About Me blog post that I love buying things online and this time, I bought a set of lippies on ColourPop when they had their free international shipping for the first time last November 24th. It was my first time buying something directly from the US so I literally don't have any idea how to goes. I read the comments on ColourPop's Facebook post about their international free shipping where to my surprise, most comments I saw where from Filipinos also asking how the shipping goes, the process, and such.
On there, I read comments from people who have already experienced buying from them. At first, I really thought that it would be a door-to-door delivery until I read one of the comments saying that it's not and you will be the one getting the parcel in PhilPost. It didn't really bother me that much since I'm assured that I'd be able to get it.
What actually bothered me was when I read that before going to PhilPost, I will first need to wait for the notice card to be delivered in my preferred shipping address (the address which I put when I ordered on ColourPop's website) because that will stand as a proof in PhilPost that I have a parcel waiting to be claimed. I had my own address as my shipping address for the first time. I usually use my friend's because I'm not at home most of the time since I'm also working. I got worried as to whether I'll receive it or not because if not, I won't be able to claim my parcel (that's what I was thinking that time). But yeah, I already made my order and it's already finalized so it's not like I can still do something about it.
I purchased the set of lippies on ColourPop last November 24th and had it ready for shipment three days after that (November 27th). ColourPop provided me a tracking number where I could check the status of my order. The next day (November 28th), it had already departed it's facility and was already on it's way to the Philippines.
ColourPop uses USPS as its local courier when I had my order and that's where I tracked it. For those who don't know, stuff delivered through USPS will always be claimed in the PhilPost branch that will be seen in the notice card you will be receiving.
ColourPop already indicated on the email they sent me that for international orders, it usually takes 7-21 business days for it to arrive in your country. I have already expected it since it came from the US so there was no problem with it.
On December 24th, I already received my notice card. I happen to saw it in my mailbox when I was checking it with the hopes that the mailman will put in it there, I was lucky enough that he left it in it because based on what I read when I was doing a little bit of research about claiming parcels in PhilPost, mailman's won't leave the notice card unless there's a representative who'll receive it. But well, I guess it doesn't really apply to all.
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| This is how the notice card looks like |
Just like what I've mentioned earlier, you will know where and what branch you'd go at to claim your parcel on the stamp that you will see above in the middle part of the notice card. As for me, I went to Quezon City Central Post Office, as that's also the nearest place where I could claim my parcel. At first, I thought I would be claiming it at Cubao branch since the place is way near than Diliman, but not until I knew that Cubao branch only accepts mails or parcels going abroad, and they are one of those branches where claiming mails or parcels isn't available.
On the right side, the stamp inside the "Delivery Office" box states the date your parcel arrived in PhilPost. In my case, it took my parcel one week before they sent me the notice card, and I'm guessing it's because the Customs' staff had to do further checking on it, which was understandable. I'm also thinking that it really applies to every package going through customs.
The stamp on the left side indicates where you should go first to claim your parcel. As for the stamp below stating that if your parcel was something bought online, you should have a copy of your invoice or PayPal. In my case, I didn't bother bringing or printing it out. I paid through PayPal when I purchased my lippies but when I went there, I just have the screenshot of my invoice on my phone just in case they ask for it. Luckily, they didn't do so.
In the middle, under the "Registry Notice" text, you'll see a handwritten PHP 112. That's the amount you have to prepare and pay before you could claim your parcel. Based on what I read (which were posts from 2010-2012 PhilPost experiences), it used to be just PHP 40 which after a couple of years, grew into worth PHP 112. You don't have to worry about paying for such amount, and nope, it's not the tax (which I also thought at first). This amount is for the storage fee plus 12% VAT which the government charges to people claiming their parcels. So to those who are complaining and saying that it's tax. Yes, you are wrong, dear.
I was excited and at the same time worried about going to PhilPost because most of the experiences I read online were all bad. Most people shared how the staff in there asked them to pay for a huge amount of "Unknown Taxes" most especially once the staff in there discovers that your parcel is worth $$$. They also share that usually, they ask the one claiming the parcel how much it cost s because that's where they would base the amount of "Unknown Taxes" they'll put.
As for my case, I have already prepared myself and was briefed that if someone in PhilPost asks me how much my parcel was, I should tell that I don't have any idea because it's a gift sent by a friend. They said that if I use that as a reason, they won't tax me anything anymore. But still, that didn't end my worries. I was scared that if I lie and they discover that I was doing so, they'd bring me to jail (LOL. Yup, that's how my imagination goes).
Anyway, since it was a holiday and President Duterte also declared that December 26 will be a non-working holiday, I had to wait until 27th to claim my parcel. And when that day finally came, I only brought PHP 500 with me so that in case they would ask me to pay for you know what I mean, they'd have no choice but to let me go since I only have limited money.
I took Grab car when I went to the PhilPost office since I don't know how to get there from Cubao. I only paid worth, PHP 109 for that ride. When I arrived, I was shocked and saddened with how the building looked like. I've already been to a lot of government owned buildings but I think that was already the most pitiful building out of all I've been to. A huge part of the ceiling was broken, windows were very old and such. The government didn't even bother putting an air conditioner in the place just to make sure people working and claiming their parcels and mails would feel comfortable.
My eyes had already been opened about the widespread corruption in my country, but despite knowing that, there was still a little hope in me that the government would still give at least a little care if it's for the Filipinos convenience but yeah, I should've also known that it doesn't apply to everyone. And as an employee who pays high taxes, what I saw was indeed disappointing.
I was not able to take pictures because I busied myself with ranting about what the government is doing with the taxes they're getting from me, in my mind.
But yeah, getting back to my experience. The moment I arrived there, I went ahead to Window 37 just like what it says on my notice card. Most of the experiences I read on some blogs tell that the process was fast, though, in my case, I'll say that it took me a while to get my parcel because there were lots of people who's claiming theirs, and I'm guessing it's because it was holiday for three straight days. The line was a bit long for me that I had to wait for 30 minutes before I got my turn.
An old lady assisted me that time, I gave her my notice card together with the valid I.D. (which you should also bring once you claim your parcel) that I have. I was actually surprised by how friendly she was, being someone who's informed that PhilPost staff aren't really that friendly. She even said the moment I handed her my PRC I.D., "Bata ka pa pala." (You're still young), and then I smiled at her. She continued doing her job as she started a little conversation with me by asking if I was already teaching. Of course, I answered no and laughed. She was so kind when she assisted me which left me with the impression that I won't be having a bad experience with them.
I had a fast transaction with her. She just asked me to sign on their record book and then told me to go to Window 39 right after to wait for my parcel.
In Window 39, there was two staff who assisted me. One was from customs (I could tell from his lanyard), and the other (I think) was a PhilPost staff. The guy from customs was the one doing some record on the only computer that I saw in the place since most of the windows do record manually (you know, the usual record book where you write everything down). While the other staff was the one issuing receipts for every people claiming their parcels.
This is also the part where you have to show the invoice or PayPal print out receipt if you're claiming a parcel bought online, but just like what I said earlier, they didn't ask me to show it.
I think it took me another 30 minutes to get my parcel which was fine considering there were a lot of people that time. The customs staff calls the name of the person claiming their parcel one-by-one, and when it was already my turn, he told me that he will open my parcel. Another thing which I think was normal, though, I also thought they won't do so anymore as it was already checked when it was still under customs. But I guess they're doing it just to make sure (you know, double checking or something), especially because I think he already had the idea that it was something bought online.
Right after checking it, he reminded me not to go beyond 10 products the next time I will buy online as they would have to make me pay for a tax. I only bought a set of lippies which contains 5 different shades that's why I never paid for their so-called, "tax". And I felt bad for not asking if they would consider a set of lippies as 1 quantity since that's what's showing in the invoice or they'll count it as 5 quantities (ugh).
Anyway, after opening it, he taped it again and said, "Ito na ang lipstick mo." (Here's your lipstick), as he reaches it out to me. I just smiled at what he said as my eyes formed hearts upon receiving my parcel. Then I went to the PhilPost staff who was in charge of issuing receipts to pay for the storage fee worth, PHP 112.
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| This is how the receipt looks like |
And that's it for my whole experience! I can say that as a first timer, it went well and I didn't have any problem claiming my parcel. Even the customs staff was very friendly that time. And you know what? That experience wiped all my worries away about PhilPost. I'm just hoping it will continue as it is and I won't experience something or anything bad next time.
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| Tadaaaa~ My lovely package exhausted from L.A. haha! |
xx
