Phillipines post office increase rates almost 100 % !!!!

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

This isn't reported in the news yet but Philpost have hiked their rates almost 100% in some cases.

Yesterday 1kg to the USA cost 685 pesos (about $15). Today it costs 1259 ($27) :Eyecrazy:

1kg to the UK was 792 pesos (12 GBP). Now it's 1,412 (21 GBP) :Eyecrazy:

This upsets me on numerous levels.

I went to the local postal station today thinking the rise would be 5% or 10% at most. Silly me. That would make sense :(

I guess local businesses who rely on stable prices to send goods outside the country don't matter.

I am waiting to see if any local newspapers pick up this story or not. If it happened elsewhere there would be protests and questions asked at the highest levels. Here it seems par for the course.

Now, where did I put my passport again :(

(Stamps off looking for his "I will survive" CD... :( )

[patrickdpr]

....looks like the good deals you give me are going bye-bye

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

Maybe Patrick, maybe. Maybe our livelihood too and I will have to go back to being an accountant :( :( :(

There is talk that some organizations in the Philippines (power, post office for example) are squeezing as much as possible out of the public during the hand-over of power to the new President.

The shipping prices may come down in future but I'm not waiting with baited breath and am exploring a few possibilities....

To get and idea of how the logic of Philpost works they have a rule that the "Air Parcel" rates must start at exactly 2kg. So we are forever adding bits of cardboard to the packages to make them exactly 2kg (and not 1.95kg and I'll pay the 2kg rate for example).

Now I have to send a parcel to Greece. The flat cost to send 1kg to Europe / USA is 1,600 pesos odd ($35 / 28.5 Euros). Or you can send 2kg for P1200 / $28.

It wears me down - it really does :(

Simon.

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

Well, I started a protest group on facebook and have written an article to submit to an online news group. I doubt it will do any good but it's better than nothing as long as it gets picked up by google (like this thread which was then referenced on the Ebay Philippines board)/

Here is the article:


Philpost increases international Airmail rates by over 50 %

Service is now twice as expensive as it’s US / UK counterparts

By Simon

In a move that was unaccompanied by any adverse publicity this week the Philippines Post office (Philpost) increased their International Airmail prices across the board.

Prior to the change on Tuesday a 1kg parcel sent to the USA or UK cost 1,100 peso. That same package now costs 1,680 pesos - an increase of over 50%. The cost to send the same 1kg package from the USA is $13.45 / P618. The cost to send 1kg from the UK is 12.37 GBP / 841 pesos. The Philippines mail service is now twice as expensive as it’s Western counterparts.

Part of the reason for the high costs is that the company does not offer “Airmail Rates” until the package weighs 2kg. Customers who wish to send a 1.5kg to the U.S.A must either pay 2,420 pesos ($52) at the “Small Packets” rate or add exactly 500g to the package to qualify for an airmail rate of 1,744 pesos ($38). The Airmail price before the recent increase was just 1,164 pesos – an increase again of over 50%

Despite quoting a price for 1kg of Airmail on it’s website postal offices and stations will not accept airmail unless it is 2kg or above. A memo was sent to all offices last year prohibiting customers submitting 1.5kg and paying the 2kg rate.

It is this kind of logic that is leaving Philpost customers bewildered at the new pricing structure and practices. Some are now adding cardboard and other bits of junk to qualify for the cheaper 2kg rate.

The price rises seem set to curtail the burgeoning online retail industry which many local entrepreneurs use Philpost to send goods overseas. International customers will now be tempted to buy locally rather than wait 2 – 3 weeks for a package which may or may not contain up to 1KG of cardboard to reach them.

As of this time there is no official comment from Philpost on the recent pricing restructure.

[patrickdpr]

I hope it goes back down for you Simon, I feel bad for your fam and you

[eskrimakaliarnis.com]

Thanks Patrick.

It's not the end of the world but it's sickening to have worked hard at something for 3 years or so and make plans for the future to see them threatened like this.

Still, I guess that's life I suppose and it happens to people everyday.

Strength in adversity!

Simon.