Thinking of sending gifts to your OFS?
Want to get them a computer because buying it there is cheaper than in the Philippines?
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know when buying and shipping gifts and electronics to the Philippines.
TL;DR What do we recommend when gifting your OFS? Click to scroll all the way down.
If I send something to the Philippines, will it get stolen?
If you send gifts or electronics to the Philippines, there’s always a risk that they will be stolen.
It’s not as prevalent as before because tracking packages is easier now, but the risk remains.
The theft usually happens at the last leg or customs. The longer it takes for a package to be delivered, the higher the chances of theft.
So, what’s the best option to send my OFS a gift?
If you want to send something, the best (and most accessible option) is to order through online shopping platforms with a presence in the Philippines.
Just be aware that you can’t do this with all Philippine online shopping platforms. Some Philippine online stores are region-locked (like Shopee), meaning they won’t take orders from your country, or their online payment system, including credit card processing, won’t allow you to pay from your country.
You’ll find almost anything at Lazada.com.ph, one of the Philippines’ most popular shopping apps. Even sites like Temu, Shein, Ebay, and Amazon are in the Philippines. Giving them a gift card to their preferred site would be the easiest option.
If you access these websites from your country, they will default to your local sites. You’ll want to access the Philippine mirror sites because these sites have a presence in the country, which more or less guarantees that your gift will be sent to your OFS.
- Shein (https://ph.shein.com/)
- Temu (https://www.temu.com/ph)
- Amazon Philippines
- Ebay Philippines (https://www.ebay.ph/)
Thinking of sending groceries? Check out the local malls in your OFS’ location.
Malls are thriving in the Philippines. That’s where most of us buy almost everything, from groceries to furniture. Most malls and grocery stores now offer grocery delivery services.
SM, the biggest shopping mall in the Philippines, owns Shop Suki. They have stores in most places in the Philippines and an online grocery store. You can choose the food and other grocery items you wish to add to your gift package. Add them all to the cart, then hit the checkout button.
Ask your OFS if they have an SM close to where they live or which online grocery store is available in their area.
But what if you buy from a shopping platform in your country and have the seller ship your gift to the Philippines? Would that work?
There are several problems with that.
First, not all sellers ship to the Philippines.
Second, you could encounter customs issues, especially if you send something expensive. If you’re shipping something that costs less than $200, it’s not a problem.
But anything over $200 can cost you up to 32% in taxes, tariffs, and fees, depending on the item and what you’re sending.
Long story short, the best way to send your OFS a gift is to buy them something from a shopping site with a presence in the Philippines.
What if I want to get my OFS a computer /laptop/tablet/cellphone/ headphones for work?
Computers and laptops are more expensive in the Philippines than in the US. So, at first glance, it makes sense to buy it locally and have it shipped to your OFS.
But shipping something expensive to the Philippines, like a laptop, isn’t recommended because it’s easy for thieves to steal.
Even if theft is not an issue, you’ll have to deal with customs since most electronics cost more than $200, which means they’re subject to taxes and tariffs.
There’s also the issue of warranties, repair availability, and cost of parts.
Imported items may not have their warranties honored since some companies have localized warranties based on their SKUs (stock-keeping unit numbers). Some brands may not even be sold in the Philippines, making them more challenging to repair.
The best option is to have your OFS purchase the computer from their local store, and you reimburse them.
Is this more expensive than buying it from the US? Yes.
But it comes out cheaper if you consider the shipping cost and the risk of it being stolen (which is pretty high).
It’ll also make things easier for YOU. Your OFS would know
- what’s available,
- where to buy them, and
- what kind of computer they need.
All you only need to reimburse them when they send you the receipt.
Another advantage of your OFS buying their computer from a local store is it gives them access to store or brand warranty.
The climate in the Philippines is harsh. Warranty is important. If the laptop is damaged in any way, it will be easier for them to have it fixed or replaced.
But if you want a specific laptop or tablet, you have two options:
- you can buy one from a reputable online store that caters to the Philippines or
- have your OFS find a computer with similar specs at a local computer shop.
The problem with # 1 is that not all online computer stores accept orders from outside the Philippines. These are the only ones we found that accept international orders and ship anywhere in the Philippines.
PCWorx – Their support team says that they accept international Visa and Mastercard on online orders.
Villman – One of the oldest running computer stores in the Philippines. They ship nationwide and accept credit cards, but according to their support team, they will require an authorization letter from the foreign credit card holder before they ship out the items ordered.
Benson Computers – They accept single orders from UK, EU, USA, Canada & Australia.
Shoppable.ph – They’re a B2B supplier of laptops and computers in the Philippines. They also sell to virtual assistants and independent contractors.
The problem with #2 (your OFS looks for a computer with similar specs) is there’s a chance that the exact computer you want might not be available.
The best way is still to have the OFS look for and purchase the device themselves.
The advantages outweigh the potential savings upfront. It’s more convenient for everybody.
They’ll know what’s available and where they can have it fixed. It’s easier for everybody. They only need to send you the receipt, and you can reimburse them for the purchase.
If you’re not sure what kind of laptop your OFS should get, you or your OFS can use this guide: https://blog.onlinejobs.ph/pc-buying-guide-for-virtual-assistants/
But what if I really want to send them something from here?
If you really want to send your OFS a gift you’ve bought locally, the best and safest option is to send it through a Balikbayan box.
Balikbayan boxes are oversized box care packages that overseas Filipino workers send to their families back to the Philippines. They’re less likely to be stolen because they’re legally protected at customs and harder to steal because of their size and weight.
When Filipinos want to buy something only available abroad, they ask a family member or friend in that country to buy it for them, reimburse that purchase, and send the item through Balikbayan boxes.
If you have a Filipino community where you live, your local USPS, FedEx, or DHL would likely already have a system for it. Like the one you see below. That’s a balikbayan box loading and sorting facility in Kentucky.
They’ll show you a selection of boxes you can use and instruct you on how to fill it up and what you can or can’t send using the Balikbayan box.
Because Balikbayan boxes are the cheapest and safest option, people cram a lot of stuff to make the most of them. Most of them look like they’re about to burst because they fill these boxes with as many non-fragile, non-perishable items as possible and pray that the box gets to the Philippines (mostly) intact.
Even though Balikbayan boxes are cheap and safe, we still don’t recommend them for sending electronics.
That laptop or tablet will be crammed in the box with a bunch of stuff, so they might get rid of the box to save space.
The Balikbayan boxes themselves will be tossed around and handled roughly.
When it gets to the Philippines, it can get damaged, and they won’t have any way to fix or replace it.
So what IS the best and easiest gift option?
Money
I know that sending gifts seems more personal, but sometimes, it takes too much time, effort, and even heartache (when things get lost or stolen during shipping).
It doesn’t really take much to make your OFS happy. Your OFS will appreciate it if you surprise them with money. They can use money to buy the same stuff you were sending anyway. They’ll be more than happy to receive it.
Ok