Possible Things That Account For Variations In Balikbayan Box Price

By Patrick Butler


Quite a few of us want to give people back in our home country some things of value and also of usefulness. In the case of the Filipino who is very close to his or her family, this is done by sending home balikbayan boxes on a regular basis. If you are reading this now and do know about this practice, perhaps also you might be wondering as to what accounts for variations in Balikbayan Box Price. If this is indeed the case you may want to finish reading this article for more information.

As a customer and consumer you may have noticed that when you do inquire about the balikbayan box from specific service providers that prices seem to fluctuate and others seem higher or lower for the same service. Put into your mind that the service provided is a business just like any other and will be subject to regular economic forces that will affect its pricing. In this article therefore, we will look at these forces that account for the differences so you know exactly what is going on and you will not be confused.

It is good to keep in mind that the business that you want to contract with will be transport based in nature. As such the main factors that will affect overall pricing will be access and distance. Should you be located in an area that is quite distant and also has no or very minimal access to international ports, then you may expect to pay a bit more when sending your cargo to Manila or even Cebu.

Overall pricing can also be affected by the season one is in. Basically there are two important seasons in the Philippines which you need to take note of. This is the school opening season in May, and Christmas season in December. These months will always see a spike in delivery orders and this will also push prices up.

Financial forces will also likewise be a big factor in sending boxes back to the Philippines. A stronger dollar will mean more people will send items home, and a weaker dollar will mean people will usually send less. Look at the relative currency strengths of both countries also to account for any price differences that you may encounter.

In container cargo transport and forwarding, what is usually considered will be size and dimensions and weight of boxes. Transport companies you deal with will charge you either by size, by dimension, by weight or a combination of any of the three. Thus due to differing price practices, this is where you will also see changes and variances in prices charged.

What can also affect pricing will be the final destination of the balikbayan box in question. Should the person you are sending to be located in the major hubs of Cebu and Metro Manila, then the price will not be as high. Locations in the hinterlands of course will charge a higher price as the case may be.

In sum this article has shown you what may cause differences in prices for these boxes being shipped. There are other factors such as warehousing and customs costs too to consider, but suffice to say that the items covered in this article will provide you with a base to work from in order to get a wider perspective.




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