Saturday, September 8, 2018

HOW TO CLAIM PACKAGE AT THE POST OFFICE | Quezon City Post Office

If you have recently made a purchase online or are simply fond of online shopping, you're probably reading this post because you want to know how you could claim your most-awaited parcel at the post office. To be honest, it could be intimidating and tiresome to claim packages, especially if it's your first time. 

So here is a step-by-step guide on how you could claim your package at the Post Office.


Last time, I made a YouTube video sharing my honest experience online shopping at some famous sites like Lazada, OLX, Shopee and few Instagram shops. Be sure to watch the video so you also have an idea how the system works!



Now that you have made your purchase online, it's time for the waiting game to begin!



WHERE DO YOUR PACKAGES GO?

Depending where you live in the Philippines, your package may be sent to a P.O. near you. For complete information on post office locations, click this link to go to PhilPost's website.
Items bought from known sites or sellers that use express couriers like FedEx usually get sent straight to your home. But from my experience, sites and sellers that are less-known and use standard cargo or vessels to send items are the ones that usually end up at the post office. 

In this blog post, I will be focusing on parcels that go to Quezon City Central Post Office since it's where my packages get sent to.

QCPO Address : NIA Road, Diliman Quezon City
Operating Hours : Monday to Friday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Once you have made your order and the seller/website have confirmed that your package has been shipped. you will get a notice from the QCPO about 2 weeks up to a month after your parcel has been sent out by the seller.

STEP 1) NOTICE FROM THE POST OFFICE
You will now receive a notice from the post office declaring that they have received your parcel and it is now ready for pick-up. The address you gave the seller/site for your delivery address will be the same address the notice will be sent to. If you think you missed the note or have misplaced it, fret not because the post office is kind enough to send out maximum of 3 notices until the LAST NOTICE.

 STEP 2) GO TO THE QUEZON CITY POST OFFICE

 STEP 3) PREPARE TWO (2) VALID IDs

 These are the valid and accepted IDs when claiming your parcels. However, since I have been claiming my packages at the QCPO since I started blogging in 2011, clerks only ask 1 valid ID from me now. I present my valid and updated Passport ID.


STEP 4) PREPARE PAYMENT
The standard rate for claiming of a package is Php 112 per parcel. 

These days, customs and personnel at the QCPO do not open packages anymore. But few years back, I remember how I used to dread going and picking up my items because each and every parcel were to be opened and inspected by customs personnel. Aside from the standard handling fee, I remember how I used to pay thousands just to claim bags and cosmetics sent to me by sponsors. I am glad that these days, they never open packages anymore and never ask for any additional customs duties and tax.

 HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED TO PAY FOR CUSTOMS DUTIES?
I remember I was sent a designer bag by a sponsor. The bag costs around $500. The parcel didn't go to the QCPO instead I was instructed to claim it at the Pasay Post Office. When I got there, I was asked to pay around Php 4,000 to claim my parcel!!!

 Generally, the Philippines customs apply a value added tax (VAT) for imported goods at 12 percent The Philippine Customs levy no tariff or tax for goods worth less that Php 10,000 or US $200. To put it simply, if the items/s you bought costs over Php 10,000, you will most likely have to pay for additional duties and tax.

 TIP! If you are shopping for more than 1 item and you think it will come down to more than Php 10,000, I would suggest splitting your order so each parcel/box would only show lesser value. 


 STEP 5) PROCEED TO WINDOW 37 
The post office is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM. It would be best if you could go in the morning or right after lunch break  to avoid long lines. Queuing happens mostly during lunch hours or right before the post office closes.

 STEP 6) WAIT IN LINE with your NOTICE cards, IDs and MONEY.

STEP 7) PROCESSING
Depending on how long the line is before you or how fast the clerks process pick-ups, you will need to allot at least 1 hour for package pick-up. Proceed to STEP 1 for the verification of your package. The clerk will manually look up for your name among their thick notebooks and will ask your to sign. Once you're done with it, you will have to proceed to STEP 2 for the payment. Each parcel pick-up costs Php 112. 

 STEP 8) WAIT FOR YOUR PARCEL

 Depending on the number of parcel/s you have to pick up that day, this could take 5 up to 20 minutes. Once your name is called, present your receipt to the personnel. 

You will be asked to signed another piece of paper. After that, you are now ready to get your parcel/s!

This is the best part of them all! After all the waiting from the day the item was shipped by the seller until you got the notice from the post office up to the time you fell in line and waited for your turn at the counter, you now have your most-awaited package!!!


CAN I ASK SOMEONE TO CLAIM MY PACKAGE FOR ME?
Yes! You may ask someone to claim the package for you. All you need to do it have the notice ready and sign it at the back. Prepare a hand-written or computerized authorization letter. Be sure to include your name, your signature, the name of the authorized person along with his/her signature. Allow the person to carry TWO(2) of your ID's and be sure he/she also has a valid ID with him/her. The steps are same if you are sending someone to claim the package. 

 Now it's time for you to unbox and haul your items!

 I hope you found this post helpful! Check out my other blog posts or visit my YouTube channel HERE for tutorials, hauls, products reviews and vlogs.
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♥
Kristine