I'm sure this subject has come up before, and I did search, honest... but apart from the LBC, does anyone have any recommendations for a balikbayan box shipper? Looking for door-to-door service if possible as we are moving house soon, so the less I have to think about, the better! We need to get our skates on as I think the Christmas deadlines are rapidly approaching. The good news is that Lenny has recently relieved Primark Oxford Street of all their stock... so we have stuff to send Any recommendations or advice very gratefully received.
I did John. Seems the whole Balikbayan business is very hit and miss. Strange given how competitive the general delivery market is in the UK. It doesn't really seem a difficult thing to get right. I'm pretty sure someone could bargain with one of the national carriers (who would guarantee domestic reliability and domestic tracking), after all, they seem to be using national level carriers at the other end. A business opportunity for someone!
From what I gather, LBC runs its UK business from its offices in Manila and may not be that good at paying its local (UK-based) employees/sub-contractors. This is not a business that a UK company can engage in easily unless it has its own joint-company and facilities here as the Bureau of Customs will only give import permits to Philippine-registered companies.
Agreed. My impression and I have to admit it is an impression, is that it can be a bit of a gamble, across the board. At least, I felt like that on our second box. The experience has put us off. And there was the hassle and worry. We had put a leather handbag in for the mother in laws birthday. It got there but more on a wing and a prayer.
When we ship our stuff back to the Uk we will be using LBC. After the hassle I had with B&N Lilley (I did post a thread on it somewhere) I feel safer using a national outfit. Obviously its probably safer posting from the phils to the Uk rather than the other way, atleast thats what I'm hoping
Maybe, if I remember I'll call into one of the branches when i'm home and get some prices and post for information.
