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The title and the idea behind this site was to provide people with the answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQS) about the Philippines. Sometimes a resource that answer many questions and needs just pops out. Manila Forwarders LLC is one of those resources. Originally a company that provided yet another way to send the ubiquitous Balik Banyan box to friends and relatives in the Philippines, Manila Forwarders has evolved into a whole lot more.
Just to set the record straight at the beginning, I have no financial or business connection with them. I have known, via email, the founder and CEO, Manny Paez for some time and I believe their services to be reliable and a good value, but I make no other representation.
One piece of administrivia always causes a problem as well … the company’s name is Manila Forwarders. Their web site is www.manilaforwarder.com (note no ‘s’). http://manilaforwarders.com (note there is an ‘s’) is a totally different company. This is a good lesson for anyone interested in doing business on the Web … be very careful what URL you chose and look for others that are commonly misspelled or mistyped … once someone else grabs a similar URL it’s not going to be easy to make sure you business doesn’t get diluted.
manila Forwarders LLC has been sipping Balik Bayan boxes and other freight since 1998. Two services they off in this area are pretty unique:
- The Jumbo Boxâ„¢ service allows you to ship outsize boxes instead of making everything fir in the standard 4.5 cubic foot box.
- The E-Balikbayan Box™ is a service for those folks located in areas where there are no Filipino stores and no one ever heard of a Balik Bayan box. You can order an empty box anywhere in the US, or use you own box and then have it shipped to Los Angeles for standard Balik Bayan container shipment.
Aside from balikbayan box shipping, Manila Forwarders also arranges shipments of:
- Â full container loads of household goods
- automobile shipments to any part of the world
- returning resident shipment to the Philippines
- commercial import / export for US or Philippine based businesses
- Philippine-based Internet users can order on-line from US merchants for Philippine delivery
- Through their sister company, TravelPH.com they offer budget airline tickets and vacation packages from any point in the world.
- Instant gift services
- for US companies who would like to tap on the growing Philippine market in the US, the company accepts advertisement on our nationally circulated Manila Magazine
I have had many, many queries over the years about shipping Philippine goods back to the US. Manila Forwarders does that too. My recommendation is take a look.
Popularity: 32% [?]
“Their web site is http://www.manilaforwarder.com (note no ’s’). http://manilaforwarders.com (note there is an ’s’) is a totally different company. This is a good lesson for anyone interested in doing business on the Web … be very careful what URL you chose and look for others that are commonly misspelled or mistyped.”
Philly -
You are absolutely right that Manila Forwarders Corporation (MFC) is a totally different company from “Manila Forwarders”!! Have you asked Manny Paez where the name of “his” company originated? I can tell you that MFC actually stands for “Mariano F Castro” who owns Manila Forwarders Corporation. Anyway, did you ask him if he was ever affiliated with this different company? And do you know where all the ideas of Jumbo, Large and ALL if not MOST of his business “ideas” came or COPIED from? I believe the good lesson to say is that always have a written contract with your business partners and that gone are the days of the Filipino “palabra de honor”. …
Hi Erma, nice of you to stop by and comment.
Looks like you have a bone to pick with Mr. Paez, though … so please deal with him, and not me. Your comments are very accusatory in tone and not at all in the style we usually use here.
One of the things I kind of get a kick out of in business, especially in online business, are the number of people who make a career out of arguing over “ideas”. “I had that idea first” sort of staements.
Ideas mean nothing. The implementation of ideas mean business. Ideas are not covered by copyrights, trademarks or patents … we all have “ideas” and most of us never get anywhere withthem.
I have no knowledge who originally thought of a “jumbo” box, for example. Nor do I really care. How many other people might or might not think of the idea of offering a different sizer box? It’s hardly an earth-shaking concept.
I only care about who offers the service, not who thought of it . When I find someone who gives good service … which I have personally verified … I give that person credit.
If Mr. Castro or anyone else who offers services similar in scope to Mr. Paez would like to inform me of their offerings, I’d be happy to write about them as well.
As I think I already mentioned, I have no connection with Manila Forwarders except as a satisfied customer.
You’re welcome to come by as often as you like and to make any appropriate comments, but please don’t drag me into what appears to be a urinary Olympiad with a competitor. Life is far too short to spend our time arguing over the size of boxes.
Do you offer a service that is better, or faster, or cheaper? I’d love to write about it.
I read what you say about accusatory remarks, but what if they are true. On December 5, 2008 I shipped a box (80#) from Manila to Las Vegas, the box arrived 30 March 2009. After calling Manila Forwarders about 30 times, inquiring where my box was, they would say I will check on it and call you back. I think the actually returned 2 calls, but with little information. Needless to say when the box arrived in Las Vegas 2/3 of the contents were missing ($1000). The only thing that Manila Forwarders has told me is the the employee who handled my box no longer works for the company. I run my company on two things honesty and Quality. Obviously others do not.
Thanks for commenting, Arthur. I have no problem with your comment, you are reporting a fact … acusarory means makig allefgations you can’t back up … two separte things with complete,y different meanings.
I’m sorry you had a bad expereince with Manila Forwarders. Theft is a sad fact of life. I don’t know with whom you spoke at Manila Forwarders, but toiu might want to try speaking directly with the CEO, Manny Paez … email me via the Contact page here on PhilFAQS and I’ll send you his personal email. A note on box shipments in general … no company has total cntrol of boxes from your door to the delivery destination … so stuff can happen
To date MFC has not resolved this situation, in fact Manny Paez will not even answer my emails. What a sad company.
Hi, I just want to share my experience with Manila Forwarders Corporation. We have 3 balikbayan box from NC to Manila. MFC received it last April 29, 2009 for shipping and up until now (July 15) my family have no information of the box . They were advised to call MFC in Manila to check the status of the box.
I am Manny Paez, owner of Manila Forwarder, LLC headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. and Manila Forwarder Phil, Inc.
Thank you for the email and the for the opportunity to clarifiy all the matters above.
About Erma’s Comment:
Erma is a good friend of mine together with the Castro family of Manila Forwarder Corp based in Virginia. The Jumbo Box and E-balikbayan Box, and now, the new concept of Philippine-based client shipping are all my original ideas, concept, and implementation. They are very good friends until now and they are one of those who helped me with the business together with the late Mac Carino of Forex and Joel Longares of Atlas. They are all my mentors and still good friends. This includes Menchu Castro, the owner of Manila Forwarders Corp.
About Chief Arthur Bessemer’s Comment:
I have exchanged a number of emails with HMC Bessemer. Some of which includes unpleasant words that is not worth mentioning degrading the integrity of Filipinos but worthy to be placed in spam folder.
First of all, there is no documentation of his shipment. I called the alledged consignee and was informed that they received the package after numerous attempts. It was however delivered at his door step outside his house like UPS or FedEx would do.
After I told them that they should get a police report about the alledged theft, they both agreed to just close the case. Period.
Harvey Flore’s Comment:
That shipment I suppose is with Manila Forwarders Corp, a different company from mine. Please email inquiries@manilaforwarders.com. You may also check with Erma.
Thank you,
Manny Paez
Hi Mr. Paez,
I don’t know why but your website http://www.manilaforwarder.com is not working. I cannot view your site. It’s been days that I am trying to view your site from different computers and even internet cafes. I am from Cebu Philippines and I asked a friend from Fort Lauderdale Florida to ship me an item through balikbayan box. I really want to use MF’s service to ship it but I cannot get any information from your site. Is there anything you can do about this? My package is always getting delayed. I really want it shipped as soon as possible but I have no idea of what available services you have, rates, prohibited items and other info. I cannot call your office because I’m in Cebu.
I am looking forward for your reply.
Hi Christine,
I’ve forwarded this to Manny Paez. I have nothing to do with Manila Forwarders except to be a satisfied customer. I just tried the URL in your message: http://www.manilaforwarder.com/ and it works fine.
Manila numbers are Manila +011.632.356.8061
Manila +011.632.294.4891
Fax Manila +011.632.445.1192
Hi Christine,
The website is also working on my USA end.
Perhaps you need to configure your browser. From your browser, please go to Tools > Internet Options > Click on Security Tab > Lower down your security setting.
You can also email me at ceo@manilaforwarder.com
Salamat po.
Manny Paez
I have also done business with Manilaforwarders. They do deliver on their promises and have terrible customer service relations. I would advise anyone wanting to make a shipment should seriously consider another company to do business with. They are not reputable nor do they care about their customers.
For anyone wishing to view the emails between manny paez and myself can contact me directly and I would be glad to share them with you so there is no misunderstanding on my claims of the terrible service this company provides. There seems to be the claim that any complaints about their service are with derogatory remarks about philippine people. This is hardly the case. I tried to resolve an issue and found the company dialog to be unaccomodating and less then courteous. They do not care about you or your shipment. The company does not deliver as promised and is only interested in charging you more fees. My family did not receive their Christmas Presents as was implied by there representative. I highly suggest you consider doing business with a company that is customer oriented and of high integrity.
Mr. Mashall called our Colorado partner, Mr Steve Arpad last Novemeber 2 and was informed that if he send the package on that day, the package will be delivered for Christmas in Cebu, Philippines.
Mr. Marshall sent the package Novemeber 19. NOT NOVEMBER 2.
When the package was traced that it will not make it to Cebu by Christmas, He called Mr. Arpad names and demanded that we deliver it via air cargo.
I offered to do such but informed him of the air cargo rates which he refused. He want to get the service for FREE.
Also, as I am very accomodating to everyone, my cellphones are public knowledge, his girlfriend in the Philippines keeps on calling me at 2-4 in the morning, even I informed them a number of times that I am in the USA and it’s early morning in my location. I also informed them the 24 hr Customer support of Manila Forwarder but no avail, and they continiously calls me in the middle of the night.
I informed them shipping the package late and maligning the reputation of my Colorado partner, maliciously calling me in the middle of the night, and maligning the reputation of the Filipino is below the belt.
We provide service but it does not give the client the right to abuse Mr. Arpad, me and the Filipino people.
These colors don’t run,
Manny Paez, Semper Fi
Hello Manny, Merry Christmas to you, your family and the team at Manila Forwarder. To all, you’ll notice that these two very derogatory comments came in and were published on my blog less than 4 hours ago, and Mr. Paez was up in the middle of the night and answered them in a pretty polite and courteous manner, despite the nasty tone.
I have been a customer of Manila Forwarder for years now, long before I moved to the Philippines more than three years ago. They have never failed to support me and I there has never been even so much as a squashed or mangled box incident. Manila Forwarder moved our household goods to the Philippines for us in 2006, on price, on budget, and with personal care and attention. I received an email that told me the ship with my partial container load was arriving on a Saturday, so my wife and I were looking forward to a delivery on the Monday or Tuesday.
That Sunday morning I was wakened by someone calling at the front gate before 7am, and there was a truck with all our stuff, waiting. I found out later the crew had been there since 4am to unload, but didn’t want to wake us too early. When I asked why the special Sunday delivery, the foreman replied, “We found it cuts down on any pilferage or loss, so we don’t store shipments whenever we can deliver instead, it comes direct from the container to our truck to your house.” Nothing was missing or damaged, either, my large mechanic’s tool chest with thousands of dollars worth of Snap-On and Craftsman, my electric hand tools, three different computer systems, etc., etc.
Pretty darn good service, if you ask me. (I have no business relationship with Mr. Paez or his company, either … for the record, in case the FTC is watching). I recommend them because I know they are good people and will go the extra mile to get the job done, and because I know many of my readers need shipping services as well, not because there is ‘something in it for me’.
In the more than 3 years I have been actively running this blog I have received about 4 or 5 comments of a complaining nature. Since the company ships thousands of boxes _per_month_ in busy months, I personally feel that’s a pretty good record. I will continue to recommend them, even though there may be times, like with all of us who are human, there may be a mistake along the way.
In this case, I had to chuckle when I read Mr. Paez’s response. I find it pretty laughable to see that someone turned in a box on 19 November in the US and truly expected it to be in a provincial city before Christmas. It would be difficult to get a box shipped from Manila to Cebu in that amount of time, as anyone who knows what the Christmas rush here is all about would know. But then again, that’s just me … mired in reality when so many live in a dream world.
Merry Christmas to all, and Mr. Marshall, Merry Christmas especially to you too … don’t worry, you box will arrive and I’m sure the family will still love the presents no matter what day is showing on the calendar.
In the Philippines, we don’t seem to be as much of a slave to the calendar and the clock as we did when we lived in the US … perhaps that’s one of the reasons I like it here. In my family, when anyone gets a box, the news spreads like wildfire and everyone enjoys an extra Christmas celebration, no matter what the month. Christmas in January or Christmas in July, when you see the kid’s faces as the tape gets cut, the flaps open up, and there is a collective intake of breath as everyone inhales the ‘smell of America’. It’s really hard to hold on to anger and feelings of ill will at times like those.
My Christmas prayer is that all of you may someday enjoy that experience, and many times over.
Hi,
I had a bad experienced with Manila Forwarder. I sent 3 boxes from CA to Siquijor on Nov 2009 when we packed the stuff my parents were here and they got it yesterday December 26, 2009 of course, my parents knew everything inside because as I mentioned they were here in CA. The three boxes were not full and the boxes looked bad 1 box was half full, the 2nd box was not full, the 3rd box was also not full. All the new stuff inside were gone, shoes, sandals name it all the good stuff were gone even toothpaste and some tylenol, chocolates, shorts, pants with all the labels intended for relative presents were gone. The money we spent for those and the payment for the boxes were hard earned money hindi nakaw. What we expect as customers of Manila forwarder is Good service and TRUST. We were not sending stuff for them to steal. Besides this is not the first time they stole the things on my boxes. Last year we sent 3 boxes it was the same not full when it reached in Siquijor. And when I complained about it the girl asked the shipping number now I can’t provide it so they can’t check. So this time my parents took pictures of the boxes with the agent who delivered the boxes. There should be responsibility from the company to their customers. But when you talk to them as if nobody is listening at the other end of the phone.
I am thinking of filing a case or I may just go to the media in Manila so it should be on the air and the people would know. I am so mad it is not easy kung manakawan ka. Madali sa nagnakaw dahil naka libre sila ako naman ang nawalan. I hope Manila forwarder will pay the damaged they cause to their customers and be a respoonsible company. To those who are planning to send boxes think twice before calling Manila Forwarder I should have searched first before I used their service this year. I’ve been a customer of Manila forwarder since 2003, my last two years experienced were really, REALLY BAD.
Dear Jane,
I sympathize with you. However, all Manila Forwarder client have a tracking number issued to them to make our service efficient.
Even companies like FedEx , UPS, etc customer support requires those tracking numbers to help their clients.
This also screens callers as there are some client’s who thought they sent thru Manila Forwarder but they did not.
Manila Forwarder do not deliver in remote island like Siquior. Packages bound to such are delivered by subcontractors.
I will be glad to look at your complaint after providing me your valid Manila Forwarder tracking number.
Hi Mr. Paez,
My shipping number is 163542. I know Fedex and UPS because I shop online I don’t have bad experience with them, so far. I hope you have control to all the people connected to your company so my experienced will not happen to other Filipinos.
Hi jane,
Thank you very much. Please use that tracking number in all of our communications.
Initial report is:
Mr. Chito Hamoy delivered your packages intact and sealed and was duly signed by the consignee. The signed legal document will be emailed to you. Please provide me your email address.
Mr. Paez,
It was not Chito Hamoy who delivered the boxes , Chito is a man’s name. It was a girl who delivered the boxes I will post the photos when I got it. I checked your company in Better Business. This matter should not be discussed in public forum but I was so pissed off and I want the people to know about your people dealing business transactiions with your customers. Your answer about my boxes was not helping my feelings. That everything is intact??????? My goodness Mr. Paez —– I did not lied when I said the stuff in my boxes were gone and it was not the first time…..Stupid of me Manila Forwarder did it twice to me. I am not expecting money refund from your company because it is not in your rules, I think ? I am expecting that in the future people won’t experience like this. All I can say is maybe this is the end of the road of my complaint But I will keep on checking on Better Business. I am not dumb when I say it was gone. And besides I am not like other people who just keep quite when their stuff is gone.
Have a good day…. my day was not good with your feedback. Goodbye.
Dear Jane,
Manila Forwarder does not mind when you discussed this in a public forum. We are not in a business of hiding anything. We just want to depend the reputation of the company if needed to. We also accept shortcoming as we take such as a challenge to further improve.
Manila Forwarder have a system and it’s all documented. We just want everyone to be fair and state only the facts that can be supported in all forums. Manila Forwarder ceases control of the package after such was delivered. We adhere to strict accountability and control as each change of possession and responsibility of each package is well documented including the packages condition. Salamat po.
Mr. Paez:
I am writing this message because my wife, Jane, was trying to let you know that your employees, either direct employees or subcontractors are stealing from your customers!!! You said that you would look into it and said that someone signed for the boxes and that they were intact and sealed. Could it possibly be that someone opened the box, stole some of the contents and then resealed the box? You claim to have a police background as do I, I think that if I conducted my investigations the way you did everyone would be innocent and the Victims would be blamed for everything. My wife and her family are Victims in this case and it would be nice if you would look into this matter with that in mind. My wife’s family signed for the number of the boxes received and not for the contents!!
We are not looking for anything from your business, just trying to alert you that someone in your company is stealing from the customers. We also want to let other people know about the theft and what you did to rectify the situation. It sounds like you wont do anything, again creating the environment for your employees that it is okay to steal from the customers!!!!
Our recourse is easy, we wont be using your business again!!! I will contact the government agencies that you do business with and let them know about the incident.
It is hard to believe that we have to pay your company with our hard earned money only to have your employees steal from us also. But that wont happen again.
Kevin
Thank You Kevin,
Manila Forwarder does not condone stealing as this business flourishes because of trust and reputation that we earned.
There is a lot of possibilities including but not limited to the packages being delivered intact, as manifested by the signed delivery receipt, and being opened after wards.
Manila Forwarder packages are sealed for the protection both of the customer and the delivery personnel.
Please provide your email address so you can examine the legal wording on the delivery receipt, including the procedures if the seal is broken upon delivery.
Those procedures are done while the delivery personnel is still in the presence of the package as the moment they depart the premises, their responsibility to the package ceases.
Again, we take all complaints seriously as manifested by the swift investigation made on this. We punish those who err and protect those who needs one. And as always, we believe in documentation and not heresays.
Salamat po,
Manny Paez
Miss Jane,
Mr Jerry Hernane, your agent will visit you tommorrow and present to you the signed delivery receipts. Please feel free to provide him more details and air more of your concerns.
Phil
don’t know if your getting your new contact page info or not send button leads to http://www.yoursite.com/
Thanks. An oversight during the theme and server move. Fixed now. Appreciate the heads-up.