The shipping system for Amazon is pretty reliable, even if I opt for the Super Saver Shipping (which is free). They have an online tracking system with email notification, that let's me know exactly where my parcel is located at any given time.
With Book Depository, their tracking system only goes as far as the date when my order has been dispatched. And they do ship anywhere in the world for free with a 6-8 week delivery time, but they use the local postal system. And therein lies my problem. I have absolutely no trust in the local postal service. In the past, my Victoria's Secret, LL Bean and William Sonoma catalogs always arrived tampered. Tampered in the sense, that the clear plastic bags have been slit open, and then taped to re-seal.
I feel violated because someone else has opened my mail.
On another occasion, Mitzie sent me a birthday card with a bookmark from Egypt. I never received that mail. Mitzie was so sure that some postal worker filched the thick envelop, convinced that there was money inside.
Clearly, we do not trust the Philippine Postal Service.
So you can imagine, my trepidation when I first ordered from The Book Depository. Three things made me decide to push through with TBD. First, I had to order from them because the macaron cookbooks I wanted to buy was unavailable locally and it was dirt cheap with free shipping from TBD; second, I read a blog entry from another Manila resident who has had successful purchases from the site; and last, TBD had a full refund policy for ordered items that failed to reach the client.
So I put in my order last 3 March, and started counting the days. I expected my books to arrive first week of May, expecting that I'll get the whole 8-week wait.
So I was surprised when my sister arrived yesterday with the mail from our box in the lobby, which included the two books I ordered from TBD.
I was so giddy I did a little dance. Until I noticed that one of the parcels was open. So open, I didn't even have to rip the tab that says "to open, pull here."
I effing hate the Philippine Postal Service.
So what's the take away here from my experience: Yes, if you're a Philippine resident, you can order from The Book Depository and you will get it. BUT expect the package opened (baka may libre pang fingerprints) upon it's arrival on your doorstep.
May binabayaran pa ba sa post office? baka mamaya may tax chorva pa yun, mas mahal pa sa halaga nung oorderin kong book.
ReplyDeleteNakakainis dito sa Pilipinas.
Tapos ganyan pa? Binubuksan pa pala nila.
Hi J.A.! Thank for your comment. So far, I haven't paid for any taxes on my TBD purchases.
ReplyDeleteBy law, if they have any intention of checking the content of your package, I should have received a claim stub for my items. And only upon claiming and in my presence that they may open the package.
i'm worried right now. i ordered a manga last march 27 but it was dispacthed last april 3, now it's may 2 and i'm anxious that it might not arrive. it's a thick book (which makes me worried that someone from the PO might be interested to open it). i do hope it will arrive this week so i can sleep tight at night :(
ReplyDeleteHi Bimbolera! I can understand the anxiety. It may be advisable to go to your local post office to follow up if your package has arrived. It's a bit tedious, though :( Just in case, it doesn't arrive you can always request a refund from TBD.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you get your books soon! I am also planning to order Manga this month.
Hi, did the post office ask for a tracking number? I could not check if my package already arrived because I could not provide the 9-digit tracking number they were asking for. Huhu.
ReplyDeleteHi paem89! The post office didn't ask for a tracking number. It just arrived on my doorstep, so to speak :) I'm afraid it was the same for me when I ordered: the wait, with no means to track where the package is. If it helps, you can always go to the post office near your place to ask if your order has arrived. :)
ReplyDeleteHey there. I kept going back to our local post office but they just wouldn't do anything since I have no tracking number. It's sad. I finally got a full refund on my orders though. I was going to try Johnny Air but found out that shipping fee costs just as much as the orders itself. Gaaaah! I want my books with free shipping already. :(
ReplyDeleteHi heysupermomadventures! I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I'm glad that bookdepository did refund you though. Was it difficult to get a full refund? Are the titles you want available on e-book format?
ReplyDeleteHi! I landed on your blog because I was searching for bloggers who had experience buying LL Bean and having it shipped through Johnny Air.
ReplyDeleteI tried Book Depository because of the absence of shipping fees. However, it got me worried because it took almost a month before my book arrived. You were lucky because you didn't pay anything. In my case, the mailman charged me Php 50 when my book was delivered to our doorstep. I'm quite surprised because for all I know, books and educational materials are free from customs and other taxes.
Here's my query, which I hope you could help me. You mentioned ordering from LL Bean and using the Post Office to have it shipped. Were you charged additional fees like taxes?
When I emailed LL Bean, they said I might be charged. :( If I will try Johnny Air, I'm afraid the shipping cost will already equal the price of the bag. I'm torn but I really wanted the bag heehee
Hope you can answer my question re: additional cost of LL Bean bags from the post office.
Thanks. Have a great day ahead!
Hello Dianne! I have never actually tried having LL Bean items shipped via our local post service. I only ordered catalogs via snail mail, but the items I bought I course through family or friends coming home from the US. To date, I've only had to pay for additional taxes (also PHP50) for a boxed DVD set that I received from the US through the post office. I agree with you, Johnny Air is so expensive! The only time I use them is when I have small electronics (like a Kindle) shipped from a US vendor.
ReplyDeleteThere are two couriers that I will try this month: PO Box PH or Forex. I have not tried them personally but, I've read quite a few reviews online. They have affordable charges based on the size of the box and not the total weight of the items. They also consolidate items, if you're buying from different online merchants. The cons are the long wait time (6-8 weeks) and the occasional pilferage. But both couriers offer insurance (either refund or replacement of lost items) of up to USD100.
Hope this helps! :)
Thanks a lot!!! This really helps. I might consider PO Box, their explanations are more detailed and specific than Johnny Air. And yes, minus their 6 to 8 weeks shipping time :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the prompt response. I really appreciate it.
Hi again! :) I tried Johnny Air for the first time. My purchase arrived within 8 days. Everything went fine not until I discovered the shipping rates. For an item bought for Php 1900, Johnny Air charged me Php 2,087 shipping fee. Woah! I almost got a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wallet wrecking experience. I have another item that will be delivered by Pobox.ph. Shipping fee is way lower but as you said, I have to wait. Hopefully my purchase will be delivered mid March.
Thanks for your response.
Hi Diane! So nice to hear from you again! :)
ReplyDeleteJohnny Air always gives me an embolism every time I claim a delivery. It's so inconvenient too, that you find out about the steep costs only when you're at their counter. The only thing they've got going for them is the assurance and warranty they give on the safety of your parcels.
I'm excited to hear about your Pobox.ph experience! I do hope you can keep us posted. :)
Hi again and again ;) I tried Pobox.Ph and my package arrived! I actually blogged about the entire experience in a very looong post http://www.dianewantstowrite.com/2014/03/ll-bean-and-poboxph-my-shopping-and.html
ReplyDeleteBottomline of everything, Pobox.Ph is way cheaper than Johnny Air. I also appreciate that they delivered the package right to my doorstep. The one time payment is already inclusive of door to door delivery. Except for the longer waiting and period and minor problems in their online system, everything went well.
Diane
Hi Diane!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so so ever glad to hear that!! I shall nip over to your blog and enjoy your entry :)
I've got a question... in what currency did you pay? Philippine Peso or US Dollars? This one question is what has been bugging me before ordering a book.
ReplyDeleteHi J.D.!
ReplyDeleteThey charged my credit card in USD, but the credit card company billed me in PHP. plus a reasonable forex conversion fee. The conversion is based on the exchange rate at the time that the card got charged.
I hope this helps! :) Good luck with your purchase!
Any credit card basta may Visa or MasterCard na logo di po ba?
ReplyDeleteHi Deelirious Perhaps!
ReplyDeleteI used a Visa card. I think they also accept MasterCard. Just to be sure, kindly check on Book Depository. I think they have a page devoted to various modes of payment :)
Hi Dianne, I read from your previous post that you ordered from the book depository website. I purchased some books for a friend as a gift but we live in different countries so the shipping and billing address are different. I was wondering how did the people from the post office contacted you? Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Rafaela!
DeleteKindly see Diane's reply below.
Thank you!
Hi Rafaela! I initially thought that Book Depository will ship via registered mail. In my first attempt with Book Depository, I received the book right at my doorstep. I had it shipped to my home address, although I got a bit surprised when the mailman was asking for a Php 50 fee. When I had it shipped to my workplace address in Manila, it arrived like a regular mail. It was delivered door-to-door, but this time, no charge at all. I got everything for free.
ReplyDeleteYou can probably give a 1-month allowance. Should the book does not arrive to your friend, you can email book depository. They have an excellent customer service.
Hi can you help me out? I really want to order a book from TBD but i dont own a credit card i do have a debit card though. Is it possible to pay them using my debit card?
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff! I'm not sure if you can pay via a debit card. I only used a credit card. If you visit their help page: http://www.bookdepository.com/help, they list all their accepted modes of payment.
DeleteI hope this helps! :) Good luck with your purchase!
Hi Aggie! I'm here again after more than a year. I hope you still remember me as the girl who first tried Johnny Air and PoBox.Ph :D
ReplyDeleteI recently tried another cargo forwarding company, LBC Shipping Cart. I remember your blog and I took the chance to check if you were able to avail of it too. My items have not yet shipped... crossing my fingers, I hope everything will arrive in the best condition.
Happy Holidays :) I wish you could still continue blogging
Hi Diane! Of course I remember you! :)
DeleteThanks for keeping me in mind! I would really appreciate it if you can give me feedback if LBC Shipping Cart is reliable. I do hope your items are in the best condition and on time.
I've been meaning to blog, but work has kept me away from writing. (boo!)
Happy Happy Holidays! :)
Hi Aggie! I remembered my promise when another person sent me an email re: LBC shipping cart :) I think I found a cheaper alternative for Johnny Air ;)
Deletehttp://www.dianewantstowrite.com/2015/12/my-lbc-shipping-cart-experience-and-how.html
PS I would still hold on to my hope that you will blog again haha
Hi Diane! I'm so sorry that I only saw this comment. For some reason, my notification was marked read so I didn't see it :(
DeleteThanks for sending me the link! I'm so looking forward to reading it.
I haven't been able to blog at all because I'm busy with a new project: facebook.com/knitmanila. If you're interested in knitting, please do check it out :)
Hi! Have you tried ordering a box set from TBD? And if so did they had additional charges sainyo? I'm really nervous. I heard na may mga bumili kasi ng box set that charged them 100 per book or 1000 daw..
ReplyDeleteHi Justine! Thanks for visiting this page :) I have not tried to order a box set from TBD. I didn't have additional charges for my orders, but it's possible that the post office may impose additional tariffs on your package. I once had aa laptop charger cable sent via snail mail, and I had to pay Php500 when I claimed them.
DeleteHope this helps!