Online Buying in the Philippines
Safe places to make online purchases in the Philippines
If I need to buy something, I would much prefer online buying! It seems that most people feel that way too, online shopping is just so convenient. Given the recent popularity of online buying venues! eCommerce seems to be the way of the future.
Online buying in the Philippines has not always been the best of experiences, but things seem to be catching up to some extent. There is still a long way to go, but it is getting much better than it was in the past.
Online Shopping convenient in the Provinces
Online buying is particularly important for those who live outside of Manila. Manila, as the capital of the Philippines, has a much broader selection of goods and services than we do “out in the provinces.” Basically in the Philippines, if you are not in Manila, they consider you to be “out in the provinces”. I consider that to be somewhat of a put-down, but that is how it is thought of here.
In today’s Expat Answerman vidcast, I address the topic of online shopping in the Philippines, and I particularly look at two online vendors that serve the Philippine market: Lazada vs. AliExpress.
After the talk about online buying, I take a Viewer Question from Tim. Tim is a dual citizen of Nigeria and Lesotho, in Africa, and he has a question about which passports he should show when traveling around Asia, especially when traveling from the Philippines.
I hope you enjoy the show today!
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Thanks again for watching, everybody!
So who wins, Lazada or AliExpress?
Hi Alex. As I said on the video, I prefer AliExpress.
Really? Why?
Just curious, did you watch the video? I spent more than 10 minutes explaining why. Mostly the selection of merchandise, and reliability.
Thank you for the information, my wife has used Lazada but I have never even looked at them. I am going to see what they have..
Thanks, Luke. Personally, I prefer shopping with AliExpress, but Lazada has also been fine for me. I just like the selection at Ali better.
I understand and I think I will look at what is offered to see if there is something I want Then try it out..
Good luck, my friend! I think either of them can serve you well.
Thanks Bob I had never heard of Aliexpress, I have had a browse and already I found an item I must get for medical reasons and the price varies from $1,400 to $450 which is about 10% of the usual outlet prices.
You’re welcome, Trevor. I hope you find what you are looking for there, I find that they have just about anything you could want. Wow, 10% of the usual price? That is a real value!
Hey Bob, any experience with ordering from Banggood and having delivered to Philippines?
Hi Joseph – No, to be honest, I had never even heard of Banggold until you mentioned it. I looked at their site and it looks pretty good, but I have no experience with them at all.
I use Lazada a lot. Its often not cheaper than buying on Amazon and shipping thru LBC, but it may be a little quicker. But even living in Manila, have had two or three fulfillment issues with them and they had to eventually credit me for non arrival of items. That takes a lot of time cause they use 3rd party sellers that are often in China so you have to chase them a lot to get any action. At least the lazada help desk is in Manila so can call them up.
Interesting, thank you for sharing your experience.
You will find that most of the larger sellers on Aliexpress and other large Chinese retailers actually provide drop shipping services. Drop shipping services are where another business takes your order and then order the item you ordered from Aliexpress, with instructions for the Aliexpress seller to deliver it directly to you the customer in their name. Many sellers on Amazon (and I bet it it is the same on Lazada) are using Drop shipping services from Aliexpress.
Yes, i am very familiar with what drop shipping is. Ru services like that myself cover my businesses. You are correct alibaba and aliexpress do that sort of thing too.
aliexpress is cheap but philpost here I think is not reliable, been an aliexpress shopper back in Qatar for advertising materials. Here in Phils I use Lazada…
I have made many orders from aliexpress, all orders have been delivered by philpost. I have never had a single problem.
How much does philpost charge for aliexpress items delivered to Philippines? Are there payments when they are delivered to your doorsteps?
I have answered this question dozens of times in the comments.. nobody reads, just asks. P112 is the charge from customs.
good to hear that Bob, I’ll shop at aliexpress again ? diy solar panels are cheap there almost half the price of the assembled available here
have you seen what online buying is doing to people here in America? many are maxing out their credit cards…. be careful people… if you really need it pay with cash card….
Not a wise thing to do.
DONT use cash/debit cards. High risk as once the money is out, its gone and you cannot go back to the bank to get a claim such as non receipt of goods. A credit card you can request bank to return money as they will get it back from the merchant.
I totally agree with you, Don.
don’t know where you shop but, most merchant’s here give confirmation numbers and you must sigh you received… you know years ago when credit cards cam out they were mainly for emergency’s but now used for everyday crap…. like Grandpa said ” use cash to pay for it and if you really want it save for it” try living debt free it’s an amazing feeling.
I use credit cards for every transaction, including my electric, phone, cable. You get cash back points and I probably get back pesos15k every year. Just pay the bill at month end. If you cant control your spending, fine. But your living in the stone age if you dont take advantage of the free money/points some banks give.
And I dont think you understand the difference between a credit card and debit card. They look identical and process through the same terminal. One (debit) means they take your money straight from your account and you cant get it back. A credit card allows you to dispute the transaction.
I have also had very good luck with AliExpress. So far, I have not gotten anything of inferior quality from them, although I am sure some are. I am very happy with their service.
I used to be both a big buyer and seller on eBay, but I have not used them for the past 10 years or so.
Morning paano po mag inquire ng order KO
Sorry, I don’t speak Tagalog.
how I inquire my order?
Your order from what company? From my company, WowPhilippines.com?
From Lazada clown costume
My friend, I made a video comparing the online shopping experience of Lazada vs AliExpress. I am not connected with either company. I suppose that if you want to inquire about your order with Lazada, you should contact Lazada. Their website is at Lazada.com.ph
Tanx
can i ask about what is lazada business model ?
Sure, you can ask, but I don’t know the answer.
HI Bob,
Hope u are doing well and back on ur feet once again and the rest of ur family is doing well.
Question, when you order through Ali Express are you charge custom charges in the Philippines ? Also, not expensive shipping Cost from China?
I currently purchase through Lasada always a good expereince but after reading your thought I will try it next time.
Thanks ,
Lloyd Isbell
Shipping from Ali is usually free, no charge at all.
Customs charges in the Philippines are P112 per package.
@bob
i tried ordering from aliexpress today. im excited to get my stuff. and yes i agree that you can order a lot of stuff from aliexpress, most hard to find parts. lazada has been reliable for me too but the prices are higher on small objects compared to the same products on aliexpress. anyways its my first time on aliexpress.
have you been still ordering on ali this april-may 2018? have there been any changes in the quality of service/delivery since you the video?
Good luck with your order! I have enjoyed doing business with them and getting things that just are not available here!
Have you tried free shipping with china post registered mail? if yes, do you pickup the item from the post office or deliver to your doorstep
If you read the comments you will see that I have answered this question many times already.
Yes, I have used that shipping method. Sometimes they deliver it to my house, other times I have to go pick it up.
Hi. Just wanted to ask if what did you choose for shipping here in the PH? Did you choose DHL or any express shipping (with extra fee) or free shipping? (I suppose the free shipping is the one via sea freight? Not sure, that’s why Im asking)
For shipping within the Philippines, I always used LBC.