Balikbayan Box- How To Ship the Heaviest Possible Box

This video is about how to ship the heaviest possible box to your country with the least amount of worry and damage. In 2016 I had to discover the hard way, how to ship my heavy tools to the Philippines from the USA using the Balikbayon shipping option. It is the most popular option for shipping , as it is what the Filipinos use to ship direct. I hope this is helpful for your future shipping ideas and also I provide some basic costs to prepare you for what that will look like. Thanks and please leave me some feedback if this was helpful for you ,so I know to make more similar future videos. Thanks!

[@Mari443Garrett1]

I've been shipping a bunch of Balikbayan boxes for years. Yes, those totes are a good idea if you can find one that's small enough to fit in the box. I've also used coolers to ship breakable bottles. Even Lowe's buckets to ship in Whiskeys. It made it there without any damage at all. These balikbayan boxes are great.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Good ideas as well thanks Mari!

[@mikes352]

Thanks Vern. Balikbayan boxes are mentioned often but you are the only one to explain it.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Glad to help, thanks Mike S.

[@goodzirra1952]

@@HeyVernTravels balik = return, come back. bayan=country originally designed for Filipinos to move their belongings home when they retired

[@jesuscatangay2856]

Thats true.

[@BeerBikes]

was going back and watching your old videos: sending money to the PI part 1 & 2 and now this. I've seen them before but seeing them again, made a lot more sense and so practical. love the tote in the box idea, I'll have to try that next time. I've already sent out 4 boxes so far but will be using the tote example when I send my belongings. thanks Vern.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Thanks my friend, learned many things the hard way glad to be of assistance. Tote is the magical formula ;>) Never heard of it before, wonder if it has caught on yet?

[@fernandomofreita79]

Hello Vern, It would be nice if one day you could show pictures to the general public of your artwork. Stay healthy and safe thank you. Fernando

[@HeyVernTravels]

Is a great idea. I will have to make a print for you guys. Thank you Fernando.

[@FindHaps]

Hey Vern, Thank you for covering this topic! I was researching this type of shipment a few weeks back but had no idea how Balikbayan was spelled.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnschmalzried1343]

Really good info on something so important. Well done. And at least you more than likely have a use for the totes at your residence. 👍

[@HeyVernTravels]

Thanks John Schmalzried...Can always use a tote for sure!

[@kitkatz9984]

I emjoyed this video..useful information😄

[@HeyVernTravels]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pubwvj]

What about wrapping things in towels in the bin? Towels are always useful and great packaging.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Towels work great , yesss. Also used that method for my electronics with knobs.

[@kitkatz9984]

Hello. Can you do more videos and share more of your thoughts of deciding to permanently live in the Philippines when you went back and decided to get rid of every thing and what you werr going through on your first 30 60 3 mos 6 mos in the Philippines...thinking of making the move myself to retire to the Philippines....God bless you😄

[@HeyVernTravels]

That is a great Idea Kathy, sharing those perspectives. I will try to do a future video. God Bless also!

[@TheBuddyShowWorldwide]

Great video. Very informative, can't wait to move there if the country opens for Americans. Otherwise it's Mexico until then.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Thanks Buddy Tripp, glad to help..be safe in Mexico!

[@Anthonyjish]

Hi i am ANTHONY FROM USA..NICE BLOG TY

[@HeyVernTravels]

Glad you enjoyed it Anthonyjish and welcome!

[@josephinebantigue5908]

Regardless of weight door to door box or balikbayan box.

[@philipdauzat3377]

Thanks Vern

[@HeyVernTravels]

You are very welcome Philip Dauzat.

[@davidkaiser810]

This video is very timely for me as I am packing my boxes as we speak. I have a couple of questions. Are you sure that you can only ship three boxes at a time? I will have five. And did you know someone in the Philippines that you could use there address to send your boxes to ?.....Thank you for the video, not to many people talk about this subject

[@HeyVernTravels]

Hey David Kaiser, One person mentioned today that the shipper they used had no limit. Maybe this has changed, hopefully so. Best to inquire to those you are using. I was told if I had more then three boxes ,the next three would ship on the next container etc. Hope that helps. Very welcome.

[@goodzirra1952]

@@HeyVernTravels when we sent boxes last time there was no limit to the number you could send. That was 2014/2015 so things might have changed.

[@ahood2959]

Vern, really like your videos and content. One constructive suggestion. The background you have of the Phil flag is the same color red that shows when I have viewed you rviews. Its makes it real difficult to scan them to see which ones I have viewed. Causes one to have to read the tile and try and possibly remember if it has been viewed. Honestly a very slow task and causes me to move on to another channel. Maybe its just me but just trying to help as I know you but alot of effort into your channel. It shows! Perhaps a small gap of white between the red flag and the viewed line.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Thanks Lake Life for that. I wasn't aware of that. Hmm ...will consider that in my next thumbnail . thanks!

[@goodzirra1952]

The price you give for the balikbayan boxes won't necessarily be the same through out the U.S. You shipped from the West Coast...prices from the East Coast can be a little higher. Plus, shipping from "fly over country" can add to the cost because the boxes need to be shipped to the coast. There's also a way to create a "double box" so you can ship items that won't fit inside a regular box.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Agreed my prices are ballpark on the low side, as people will want some idea as to what they might be paying ahead of time for shipping and such.

[@jerrymccullough2941]

Sorry Vern, rules Just changed. There are weight limits on BB boxes that have just been implemented. 170lb on 6 large boxes just shipped. Evidently too heavy for PIs to deliver

[@HeyVernTravels]

Oh they did...ahhh ...Thanks for that info. Kinda doesn't surprise me as in everything else. What is the weight per box? I wonder if this is across the board or just with certain shippers?

[@HeyVernTravels]

Trying to find more info, and best I can tell it depends on the shipper. most say "No " weight limit, if it moves we can ship it. Maybe your shipper doesn't want to deal with that. Thanks for mentioning that.

[@jerrymccullough2941]

Hey Vern Philippines my shipper, and internet info I see is because they are too heavy for the PH that ends up having to do final delivery

[@pubwvj]

Today I sent a box. For tracking I put in an AirTag.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Let us know how that worked, would be interesting for sure.

[@pubwvj]

@@HeyVernTravels so far it has been fascinating. I have checked periodically and send the box tracked down the highway from VT to NH to MA to CT to Long Island NY near JFK.

[@farmersfarmers186]

Hi, can i send building tools like electric drill, grinder etc.? How many tools are allowed to send in a balikbayan box? Thanks.

[@HeyVernTravels]

I don't think there is any limit, some say also up to $100 claiming limit. But I wouldn't claim over that per box and best to claim a little less. Just remember it is 220v here and will need to get a transformer to step down the voltages to 110. Is a pain and easily forgotten and can blow something up if forgotten. All my tools were used...So I just say little to no value etc. Most boxes won't be any issue. No weight limit if it fits it ships..Can check too verify but that was what I was told last time.

[@farmersfarmers186]

@@HeyVernTravels Thank you for the infos. Stay safe.👍

[@150RCM]

Good video vern. I been planning to move here to the Philippines permanently and balikbayan boxes are something i plan on using later. I could use your help sir, as far as planning my move here to the Philippines, advice is what i would ask you for. The problem is im only 44 and still too young to receive retirement.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Thanks Roberto Medina. Best I can say is if you're too young to retire is to plug into the digital nomad community and see what types of jobs you could be able to do overseas. Or think of some type of small business to start here ( which is big risk) but is possible. Some guys work a half year at home then live here and go back every 6 months or evey 3 months.

[@williamhill2987]

Hey...Vern, where are you currently living in the Philippines....Dumaguete area? William

[@HeyVernTravels]

Around there yes.

[@ralphstewart4025]

How specific are you on the inventory? What value do you normally state? I "lowball' them so they don't become too attractive for the thieves. We just had 2 boxes arrive last month, I sent them in January. Took so long because of the crisis, they sat on a boat 2 months extra.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Hello Ralph Stewart. Not super specific...you are right...ie "used hand tools" clothes ,and misc ,(Value $75.00 ). Was told best to keep boxes not to exceed $100 USD in valued goods etc. I bet that was a waiting game huh. I was told the mail delivery stopped in March and just started 2-3 weeks ago...ugggg. I can imagine the back up at the ports.

[@nildamerones2646]

Where can I contact this forex balikbayan box

[@HeyVernTravels]

Hello Nilda, where are you shipping from?

[@davidkaiser810]

I checked with my Balikbayan box shipper and he said that I can ship as many boxes as I want at one time....

[@HeyVernTravels]

Thats great! Maybe they changed since I was shipping.. That sure makes things easier, what shipper will you be using/location etc?

[@davidkaiser810]

@@HeyVernTravels Star Kargo, Phoenix AZ. Regarding packing I use 1/2" rigid foam to reinforce the box......

[@xx2108abc769]

2012 we had our 15 balikbayan LBC boxes shipped here to Phils. It took a month. Per box (have to measure dimension later) we paid 50usd regardless of weight. Just be very careful bc they r thieves. The earlier you send them to lbc the more chances and time they cld go through it and retape it. It happened to me. One of the boxes that arrived was ripped and rewrapped with black packaging tape. Cnt figure out what was stolen until 2 months had passed when I was looking for my curtains and other work out suits. I'm so upset! It doesn't happen to everybody, I'm just one of the unfortunate. We had our boxes picked up from our home Oly Wa. to Tacoma WA. where one of the LBC ofc/storage is located.

[@HeyVernTravels]

Sorry to hear that , so frustrating. Did they ship all of your boxes at once? Because they told me that only 3 could ship at a time. How did that work for you? So you recommend only shipping to a shipper that is just about ready to send off the container, as apposed to one that is filling a new container waiting for it to fill, before sending it off, makes good sense. I used the main LBC in Portland Oregon, they seem honest there. All it takes is one dishonest person to give a company a bad rap. Thanks also for that tip.

[@xx2108abc769]

@@HeyVernTravels yes they did but one of the boxes was ripped opened and of course stole my prsnl stuff. And that was gracious of them to rewrapped it with packaging black tape. 😡

[@xx2108abc769]

@@HeyVernTravels that was 8 yrs ago. They might have changed their system now.

[@xx2108abc769]

The good thing about shipping yr stuff by boxes via lbc is less hassle and cheaper at least when it gets to you, no more docs for release to pay like custom duties.

[@HeyVernTravels]

@@xx2108abc769 Great points thanks. I can agree with that. Less red tape a huge plus!

[@jbbad80]

Ok Vern, confused, how do you get the boxes to the us or are you just looking at dimensions? Does the US Postal Service know about this special box?

[@HeyVernTravels]

Any shipper that ships LBC(Balikbayon) has specific empty boxes ,that they sell, that I used. Each box size has a specific shipping cost when filled. Is that what you mean? USPS would have their own boxes and weight system. The two wouldn't mingle together.

[@jbbad80]

@@HeyVernTravels Ahh gotcha, thanks Vern

[@WelcomeHome76]

What did you end up doing with all your stuff you shipped over?

[@HeyVernTravels]

Most of it sits in a corner ... Still waiting to have my forever home(with future wife) where I can set up things again. Some day.

[@WelcomeHome76]

@@HeyVernTravels you thinking of having kids? Be cool to pass your skill down to someone.

[@HeyVernTravels]

@@WelcomeHome76 Yea would love to have a kid or two. Find the right gal at a stable moment in life and will make it happen.

[@WelcomeHome76]

You mean inches right?

[@HeyVernTravels]

Inches..right but it was a general eyeball guestimate.

[@HeyVernTravels]

It's why I suggested to get your box first as sizes may differ or change per shipper. Also someone commented the place that he shipped from had a limit on weight.. This could be across the board or just with that shipper so best to enquire where you plan to ship from. Here everything changes so often, and quite often there aren't enough people to enforce, or to regulate all of those changes, so some happen and some don't. I am leaning towards being just with that shipper, but please enquire first.

[@WelcomeHome76]

@@HeyVernTravels spoke to a shipper today. From norther ca 65 dollars if I drop the box off to the shipper myself. Box costs 6 dollars. Takes 2 to 3 months. They said they are experiencing a high volume rn as the shipments are finally being slowed to be transited. The issue was once the boxes got to pi, they couldnt move freely around pi to deliver them.

[@HeyVernTravels]

@@WelcomeHome76 Ahh thanks for the update Welcome Home! Is that cost for the large box or small box, do you know? The lockdowns sure altered things here.

[@WelcomeHome76]

@@HeyVernTravels they quoted me for a large box though they did mention there is a jumbo size as well. They have a shipping outlet in the city im in so I'll check them out in a few days.