Frequently asked questions

Frequenty asked Questions

Below you can find the answers at the most asked questions.

If you can't find the answer to your question, you can contact us.

Why LVM Cargo includes free security tape?

To keep up the highest service, LVM cargo includes security tape at no charge with every box.

This security tape is a very strong PVC tape, printed with our own logo. It gives a fully loaded box more strength and protect it from the rain. We advice to fully tape the box. The personalized tape is not only a protection for rain but also to avoid theft.

Because our tape is not available in the Philippines, damage and theft will be visable since broken boxes can't be taped again with our security tape.

Boxes taped with regular tape, can easily be retaped without notification, since regular tape is available everywhere.

How long does it takes before my box is delivered?

The time that the box is delivered at its destination may vary due to different circumstances. To avoid dissapointed receivers when a commited delivery day is not achieved, LVM Cargo won't commit or communicate a delivery date from the boxes. Although, in a normal situation there is an estimated shipping time. For details regarding shippingtime and estimated arrival dates click here.

What makes the cartons from LVM Cargo unique from others?

To give our customers a true reliability of products, LVM Cargo has chosen the highest quality for her boxes.
We designed the boxes ourselves and have contracted German and Dutch factories for production of the boxes, to keep up the highest quality.

All our boxes have a double bottom (fully overlapping flaps), to give the bottom of the box maximum strength.
A special fiber in the carton give the boxes even more strength.
All boxes are printed with our contact information.

Read to more about our carton

What should I do when my box is ready for pick-up?

When your box is ready for pick-up, request the pick-up by our website, so we can schedule the pick-up of your box. The later your box is ready for pick-up, the bigger the chance your box might not fit the first loaded container. In case the container is fully booked, your box will automaticly be shipped with the next container. Our track and trace information always keeps you up to date about the status of your box.

Verify that the box is fully taped and the shippingform is filled up completely. Also see the packing tips.

Why some small forwarders can ship boxes every few weeks?

In the cargo forwarding business there are 3 ways to ship Balikbayan boxes.

The first way is co-loading: Many "forwarders" in Holland and Belgium prefer to do co-loading. Co-loading is usefull if a "forwarder" can't get enough boxes to ship in their own containers or when they are not a registered forwarder. To be sure if your forwarder is reliable, click here.

The second way, a forwarder ships their own containers, is called FCL (FCL = Full Container Load)in business terms. This is by far the safest way. LVM Cargo only ships in this way.

The third way is when a forwarder sends boxes by a collecting container, in business terms LCL (LCL = Less than Container Load). The forwarder will drop all the collected boxes at a collecting point, mostly at the Rotterdam habor, same as other people. This way of shipping is a big risk for losses. Additionall customs charges in the Philippines will apply. These forwarders are NOT advisable!

Our advice:

To be sure your forwarder is shipping FCL, you can request a copy from the Bill of Lading (BL) to them, which also shows who the real cargo-forwarder is.

How do I know if a forwarder is reliable?

By the Dutch law, every company should be registered at the CoC/KvK (Chamber of Commerce/Kamer van Koophandel). The COC registration number should be published at their website. In Holland there are forwarders who are not registered (as a forwarder) at the CoC. These forwarders often operate much cheaper. But their services are often poor and unreliable. Boxes might get lost or get seriously damaged while they are not available when it comes to claims. This is a big risk for a safe transport of precious goods.

Additionally, it's important that the a balikbayan box forwarder is registered at the DTI (Philippine Department of Trade and Industry)

If you want to verify your forwarder ask for a copy from: their COC registration and a copy from the Bill of Lading from the last shipment.

Our advice:

Do not to ship your valuable goods with forwarders that are not registered at the COC/KvK and wel the DTI. To verify if a forwarder is registered as a company, visit www.kvk.nl and the DTI

What can I do to secure the delivery of my boxes?

Carton is a material that gets weak when it's wet. Therefore rain is a big enemy of the balikbayan box. Once a box is caught by the rain it loses its strength and all valuables might get on the street. In most cases this is the end of the delivery. To keep your box protected from the rain, we advise you to fully tape the box with our security tape.

Deviated boxes, so called pregnant boxes have lost the strength of the carton because it is reshaped. Once loaded into the container, the boxes will be stacked on top of each other. This is the moment that content of pregnant boxes might damage, as well as breakables inside the box. To avoid damage, keep the box in its original shape.

The boxes from LVM Cargo are extremely strong. Nevertheless, the boxes are still from carton and don't have the strength of wood. To avoid that the box will break due to overweight, we have an advisable weight for our boxes. Click for more details about advisable weight.

For a reliable and uncomplicated delivery from the boxes at the Philippine destination, complete and clear receiver information at the box as well aa the shippingform is important.

Fill up the shippingform completely with clear handwriting.

Label the box at 2 sides with the sticker labels that we provide. Don't write the address straight at the box with a permanent marker since the ink of the permanent marker won't remain at any tape.

How can I protect my breakable products?

For big breakable products, LVM Cargo offers our crating services. If your product is breakable and doesn't fit one of our boxes, you can request us to build a wooden crate avoiding damage during transport. An additional charge applies.

How can I get extra protection for my box?

By taping your box fully with our security tape, your box gains much strength. In some cases, this might not be enough for you. In these cases, you can apply our strapping service. We can strap your box which gives more strength and protection to your box. An additional charge applies.

How can I ship goods that doesn't fit the box?

LVM Cargo ship only FCL and therefore can decide what can be shipped, taking into account the Philippine law regarding balikbayan boxes. In case your product doesn't fit the box, request us the possibility to ship your products at what price. We charge large products by cubic meter. Common products such as bikes, strollers, wheelchairs, TV's and Ikea packages have reduced rates.

Why my box is not loaded at the shipment?

We order our container 1 week in advance of the loading date. That time we have about 60% of all the expected boxes. During the last week we schedule the routes to pick up the last boxes. It always happens that there are many last minute pick-ups at these scheduled routes.

At the loading day we experience how many boxes fit into the container. This always varies because of the different box sizes (4 sizes from us, co-loaders and competitors), pregnant boxes as special sized packages.

It happens that not all boxes fit into the container. The boxes that don't fit in the container will be loaded at the next shipment.

Read more how we prioritize the loading.

In which priority will boxes be loaded into the container?

All items will be loaded in a certain priority. This way is most fair for all customers.
If not all items/boxes fit into the container, the leftover items/boxes will be loaded into the next shipment.

Loading order:

Items left from the previous shipment will be loaded first
Priority items are loaded next
After that, items picked up first will be loaded first. This only applies to customers who request the delivery and pick-up by the website. Boxes not requested by the website will be loaded randomly
Third, free boxes, like "tombola boxes"and boxes from a full saving card will be loaded
Last pregnant (deviated) boxes will be loaded

Preganant boxes are loaded last because they take extra space which reduces the space for proper boxes.

I think something is missing from my box, what should i do?

When you think something is missing from your box, consult our terms and conditions.
Be sure that nobody from the receivers side took out something from the box without informing the owner.
It also happens that customers bought more than what fitted into the box, and therefore it was not loaded. After 3 months most people don't memorize exactly what they laoded into their box(es).
LVM Cargo has never lost a box so far and never has something gotten lost from inside our boxes. To minimize these issues, boxes should be taped fully with only LVM Cargo security tape.

What do I need to pay when I want to ship a box?

The price at our website is an all-in price. This includes the door to door service, the carton and tape.
We don't have additional charges for boxes or tape.
We only request an advanced payment (deposit) of €10 per box, at the time that your empty box is delivered.
The rest of the payment can be done at the time the box will be picked up.

PAYMENTS

In which way I can pay?

In Holland, customers can pay with pin (Maestro), creditcard (Mastercard, Visa, American Express) and cash at the moment the box is delivered or picked-up.

In Belgium and Germany, customers can pay cash at the moment the box is delivered or picked-up or through bank transfer 2 days in advance of the appointment for the delivery or pick-up of the box(es).

Currently our provider for electronic payment doesn't support Belgium and Germany yet. As soon as Belgium and/or Germany are supported, we will include it in our electronic payements.

Can I get the back the VAT/BTW?

The prices at our services are free from VAT/BTW. Because LVM Cargo doesn't charge you VAT/BTW you can't get back anything.
Read more about it at the website of the EU.

I want to receive an invoice.

All our customers receive a yellow copy of the shippingform. This is the proof of shipment as well your invoice.
In case the person who picked up your box(es) forgot to declare the total paid amount, remind them to do so at the yellow copy as wll as signing it with name and signature.
Customers who pay by pin or creditcard, will automatically receive an invoice by e-mail.