RoseRoseShop, Sasa, KoreaDepart et cetera to Philippines: Think twice before you buy

Thanks to the internet, Filipinas have wider selections in skin care and cosmetics. A great deal of these treasures are found in online shops such as Sasa, KoreaDepart, or RoseRoseShop. However, fellow Filipino consumers like me should be mindful when purchasing items from online shops based abroad.

Importing Cosmetic Products: Ang tuwid na daan pa-customs

Last Monday was a significant-but-not-really significant day for Filipinos who are monitoring Pinoy's plan for a "tuwid na daan." For me, it was yet another day for experimenting. I was hypothesizing that the Customs people will tax me way more than they should for $80 worth of skincare products from sasa.com and $50 from roseroseshop.com.

Especially since I have fair skin and small eyes, it was bound to be a disaster. But I came prepared. I had been researching ever since I got a notice from Philpost's Central Mail Exchange Center a day after I was supposed to receive a door-to-door delivery from the online store. In the delivery card, it said the package from HK still has to go through "Customs Inspection". "Inspection, ulol", was may knee-jerk reaction. Another card said I had to claim it at Mandaluyong City's central post office, which was just 1 ride away from our place. That package (from roseroseshop.com of Korea) was also for customs inspection.