So I was browsing over at Amazon.com randomly checking out items as I usually would–call it digitally window shopping heehee–and I figured since Father’s Day is coming up, this might be a good excuse for me to shop for Mr. JG.
So after a few hours browsing and adding tons of things to my cart, I managed to finalize my order. Grabe ka Amazon, you really want our money no? Hahahuhu. So how do I get my items shipped? Well, even before I started browsing, I already signed up at My Shopping Box to handle my shipping needs.
HOW MY SHOPPING BOX WORKS
MSB is a package handling & reforwarding service. How it works? Once you register (which is for free) MSB will give you a US or a Europe address so you can shop on US or Europe sites. This is not limited to just Amazon but so far this is the only site I’ve tried.
The thing with Amazon is that if you order from different merchants they get delivered on different dates too. So I had different email confirmations stating my package is in transit to my US address via My Shopping Box.
SHIPPING RATES
Here’s a guide of their shipping rates. It would still depend on the actual size and weight of the package. If you want to know more details, check out their FAQ page.
My biggest package weighs 10 lbs and I was charged with $59.90 since I chose air freight but if it’s by sea I would’ve been charged only $29.90 but it would take longer for my package to arrive.
Check out my US shipping address on the left and my package on the right.
Once your packages have been received at your US address (by My Shopping Box) you can view it on your My Shopping Box account. You can then authorise MSB to have it shipped here in the Philippines. Since my New Balance Studio Skin was delivered separately, I had to pay a separate shipping for it.
All smiles because I finally got my packages! It took longer for Amazon to deliver my packages to my US address 3-5 days per package–I had a total of three packages and they were dispatched on different dates. But it only took a few days (less than a week) after I had my packages shipped from my US address to my Philippine address to arrive.
We were in La Union when one package arrived on my doorstep. Our receptionist kept if for us and I’m glad that it was packed neatly and securely.
Here’s some of the items I ordered via Amazon.
I got a few skincare products for myself. The well-talked about Indian Healing Clay, rosehip seed oil and COSRX products. The COSRX were also shipped separately so I was charged $5.99 for it as well.
I also got a New Balance studio wrap. I’ve been wanting to get one since I saw Michelle of My Mom Friday’s pair.
I immediately used it during my Pilates session the day after I got it. Love how lightweight it is and gives a good grip on the balls of my feet.
I also got a back massager for Mr. JG and a digital ear & forehead thermometer for my kids.
Aaaand the gift I plan to give to Mr. JG on Father’s Day, his very own Echo Dot! Ssssshhh. I hope he doesn’t read this before that day so it’s still a surprise! Heehee. Usually gadgets have different shipping rates and add on tax but since Amazon packed it along with my other orders, I wasn’t charge any other tax naman for it.
HERE ARE SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE USING MSB:
SHIPPING FEE FROM THE ONLINE STORE TO YOUR US ADDRESS
Just to remind you if you’re shopping from a US or Europe online site that you still have to pay for shipping to your US address. One thing you can do to get free shipping is if you qualify the amount like what I did when I ordered via Amazon. So if you don’t wanna pay for that shipping try to maximise shopping from your chosen site.
Quick tip: I usually consolidate orders from friends or family so I get that free shipping especially from Amazon. Heehee. Usually it’ll take longer but I don’t mind especially if I’m not in a hurry. 🙂
NO ADDED TAX
If you’re used to shopping overseas and it goes through the post office or customs, you know that they charge you with additional tax once it’s here. With My Shopping Box whatever shipping fee is indicated on your account, that’s the only amount you pay, no added ones.
Quick tip: Always, always check the tax you need to pay upon checking out. Some sites they already add the tax to the price of the product you’re buying, some they add it upon checking out.
SHIPPING UPDATES
Usually Amazon sends an email on the whereabouts of your package. For My Shopping Box, it took an additional of 3 days for a package to reflect that they’ve already received it. It’s the normal time for them to upload this update on their client’s MSB account. Don’t worry, they’ll update naman as soon as they can just don’t expect na your package will pop up on your My Shopping Box the day you get a confirmation from the online site/merchant that it has been delivered, just give it 2-3 days.
VOLUMETRIC VERSUS ACTUAL WEIGHT
How do you compute for your MSB shipping fee? Unfortunately even if you try and compute ahead you wouldn’t get the exact amount (but you can check the fees indicated above) because it would depend on the actual weight or the volumetric weight of your package. And My Shopping Box will compute it for you and after 2-3 days they upload your package on your account along with the shipping fee rate.
For international shipping, the weight will be strictly based on either the actual or volumetric weight of the package – whichever is higher. Package received at your MSB address for international shipping shall then be based on international shipping standards.
THEY DON’T CONSOLIDATE
If you’re planning to shop for a lot of things and from two or more online sites in the US or the Europe, don’t expect a single big box to arrive at your doorstep because My Shopping Box does not consolidate packages. So if you order from Amazon like I did and you got a few items and they get delivered to your US address on different days, expect that you will pay separate shipping fees for each package. If you’re lucky and all your Amazon order arrive in one package, then you don’t need to worry about paying multi-shipping fees.
Say you shopped an item each at Amazon, Net-a-porter and Lululemon’s website. Expect to get three different packages to be uploaded on your My Shopping Box account. This means you have to pay three different shipping fees for these three packages.
THERE’S A STORAGE FEE AFTER 15 DAYS
If you haven’t had the time to authorize My Shopping Box to ship your packages from the US to the Philippines, what happens to your packages? Well after 15 days you’ll be charge with a storage fee. This is because My Shopping Box wants to have enough space for their storage to receive more packages from their clients and of course they also want you to get your packages right away.
After the 15th day you have yet to authorize the shipment, you shall be charged $0.20 per lb., per day, from the 15th day until the 60th day. If after the 60th day you have yet to authorize the shipment, My Shopping Box reserves the right to dispose of the unshipped goods/merchandise, with unpaid storage charges to pay for the costs.
Overall I am happy with the service of My Shopping Box. I wasn’t in a hurry to receive my packages right away so even if my packages arrived on different dates (because it was shipped by Amazon to my US address on different dates as well) I really didn’t mind. I also think that the shipping rates of my packages were fair but I really wished My Shopping Box consolidates packages so shipping would’ve been cheaper than what i paid for– I could’ve saved probably $5.99 or $11.98 for the two small packages that arrived separately. Other than this I think I’m gonna use My Shopping Box again should I decide to order anything from Europe naman. 🙂
Sign up for FREE on My Shopping Box here: https://my-shoppingbox.com/register/GOJG1FP3
Enjoy shopping! 🙂
Hi Jackie!
I ordered a lot of maternity and baby stuff and had it shipped via MSB. Yes, you are right, its cheaper if they consolidated orders. I regretted using them for parcels i was in a hurry to get. I think My Shipping cart is better even if its expensive by a dollar. They give you pictures of your parcels and they consolidate orders and shipping is fast. I remember checking out October 14, and getting my package (air freight) by October 19, and i have a provincial address at that. For MSB, they only reflected a generic description and you’d have to crosscheck it with your personal monitoring again and again. There was one item missing and i’ve been emailing them since per amazon it was already sent to them. Since i was in a hurry, i just checked out and prayed its just an issue with their package update. As of this writing, i am still checking with Amazon so they can ensure me that indeed, the MSB warehouse got the said missing package. Plus, their customer service takes ages to respond and is selective with the items they respond to. 6 days after checking out my parcel, (January 21), they said that expected time for my package to arrive is Feb 1, then i have to wait for an additional 2-3 days since i have a provincial address (weekdays only, holidays not included). So that means they will really max out their SLA (Expected delivery is 13 days from payment). Will definitely use MSC next time. Both their air and sea freight are fast (vs SLA) and they provide you with routine updates too.
Is MSB allowing to ship electronic gadgets such as smartwatches? Thank you
have many packages sent to them and it advised pay per pound, every single package was over charged. 1 package was 3lbs and was charged for 15lbs. Others were double or more like 0.5lbs for a pair of shorts and charge was for 3lbs. The cost was as much if not more then shipping directly from places like Amazon. BIG RIP OFF