One of the most common and most irritating problems first-time importers encounter is getting their shipments apprehended by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) because they and their suppliers are not aware that everything – absolutely everything – will have to go through the gates of the BOC, and if the necessary prerequisites are not in place, shipments will be stopped and it will be up to the recipient (also referred to as “consignee), to make sure those requirements are satisfied within a limited amount time before the shipment is considered as Abandoned.
When you buy something from an overseas supplier on Shopee or Lazada, your shipment goes to a processing facility overseas where it is consolidated with thousands of other shipments and then sent together as one big shipment going to the Philippines, where it is then sorted again into individual shipments. The reason why you never have to deal with the BOC is because Shopee and Lazada already have the special arrangement in place with the BOC that would allow millions upon millions of tiny shipments to enter the country in batches, as long as none of them are deemed hazardous or otherwise restricted.
What we’re talking about in this article is the importation of items that you can’t get on Shopee or Lazada because of their nature and/or because of the volume you’re bringing them in.
What should I do when my shipment gets stuck in customs?
You need to get in touch with a customs broker who will facilitate the release of your cargo. Do not, by any means, try to do it yourself because you will just end up frustrated and out of time. Trust us, if you try to do it yourself, you will only learn why there are specialists for this job.
Which broker should I use?
The run-of-the-mill customs broker will act as the middle-man between you and the BOC. They will ask you if you have an import license or not, and if you have the other regulatory paperwork lined up (if you’re reading this, you most likely don’t). About the only problem they solve is who to talk to within customs, and that’s usually where their usefulness ends. If any of the permits and other paperwork are missing, they will just tell you to go and obtain them – which all take longer to acquire than the amount you are allowed to clear your cargo.
Or you can choose ImportAnything.ph to get your cargo unstuck. Whether or not you have an import permit and the other regulatory papers specific to your product, we will most likely be able to get it out for you. Just fill up the form at https://importanything.ph/customs-clearance/ , and we’ll get you a quote ASAP.
Under normal circumstances, you will get your cargo within 7 days.
What not to do
The big thing to always keep in mind when this happens is that you don’t have a lot of time. You have to act fast. Do not wait around.
Another thing you should avoid doing is talking to too many brokers. While it may seem like a good idea to shop around for the best price, it’s not. When you have too many brokers talking to their own respective “contacts” within the BOC about your shipment, it will become a Hot Potato that everybody wants a piece of but nobody wants to handle because too many know about it.
How to prevent your future shipment from getting apprehended by the BOC
The only way to avoid getting your cargo held up at customs is to clear the path for entry before your supplier even ships it out. Go to https://importanything.ph/ship-now/ to learn what your choices are.
Get your clearance process started today
Fill up the customs clearance request form at https://importanything.ph/customs-clearance/ to get a quotation. You will need to send us a copy of your invoice, packing list, and airway bill or bill of lading. We need these three documents to compute your cost.
If you have any questions, you can always call us at 0917 638 4274. We are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm, Saturdays 8:30am to 2pm.
