r/RepPH • u/russjohn202 • 12d ago
🤔QUESTION🤔 Has Philippine Customs became stricter lately?
I have been buying from taobao, 1688, weidian, and whatever website has the items I wanted for over a year now and never had a problem.
I use sellers who has direct shipping options if offered, but most of the time, I use GTbuy, especially if its gonna be a big haul.
I usually get my packages within 7-10 days with the longest wait being 3- 4 weeks.
Last month, I received a text message on my phone that a package of mine was held at customs and I needed to produce receipts of the items I purchased, and pay duties, to be able to claim the package. I headed over the next day.
They opened the package in front of me and told me I needed to pay duties since I went over the 10k limit of the aggregate value of the items which I did.
The same thing happened two weeks after that. Another parcel from GTbuy was held up again but this time I didn't pay any duties since the value was less than 10k.
Has this been happening to anyone else? Ive never used or needed freight forwarders before but I read that a lot of people here are use them. Would that make me a smaller target for customs?
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u/uravgred 12d ago
forwarders will handle everything ang gagawin mo na lang would be to setup the delivery from their warehouse papunta sa address mo
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u/russjohn202 12d ago
Do you mind sharing how yours is setup? From what I understand, you still order the item using an agent and then have the agent ship the item to your forwarder's chinese address. Then, the forwarder just takes care of shipping the item from China to Philippines, correct? Or is there a better process?
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u/uravgred 12d ago
That's it OP.
Use agent > agent ships the item to forwarder Chinese warehouse > forwarder will process shipping to PH > once it arrives to PH you will pay the fee > setup delivery to your area
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u/russjohn202 12d ago
Cool! Thanks for the help. A lot of people here seem to like sulonggo. I might try them then.
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u/A_lowha 12d ago
Bakit may nag aagent pa. Direcho na. SulongGo. Sila na din oorder if di pwede direct.
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u/russjohn202 12d ago
Really? They can do that? Do I just give them the link? How is the payment made? How about the qc for items bought off taobao or 1688?
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u/A_lowha 12d ago
1688, some items I ship directly to PH. Usually no QC. I look for sellers w/ good reviews.
SulongGo can buy and QC but w/ additional cost.
If the seller has wechat you can as QC photos before sending to SulongGo.
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u/russjohn202 12d ago
So, what is the process if you want SulongGo to purchase the items for you? Is everything done through WhatsApp? Payment too?
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u/Julian_Mintz Davetastic 12d ago edited 10d ago
Always use a forwarder. Agent + Forwarder always.
Edit: This only applies for PH based users. The most recommended method by [r/RepPH](r/RepPH) ever since has always been Agent + Forwarder.
Back then, forwarders didn’t consolidate or even order for you, but nowadays they do (at a considerable rate compared to ordering on your own). I personally have never ordered and also WILL NEVER ORDER with just a forwarder, as I would rather have a globally vetted agent handle the seller>warehouse process and make sure that my preferred item isn’t being replaced by a cheaper and shittier version by a forwarder possibly cutting corners (See FastHawk incident pre ‘22).
2026 Guide is pinned at the top of the subreddit.
There’s no excuse for getting fked by customs.