My Shipping Cart experience + what I ordered from the US
I love hoarding, er, collecting art materials as much as I love having lots of makeup choices. I travel abroad to trawl for my materials but there are some US stores I want shop at one day - stores like Dick Blick. I mean, I suppose I can ask my friends to mule over my orders but I don't want to hassle them, so I would much rather buy the items myself and have them shipped here.
I never did find a service that I was comfortable with. I heard about Shipping Cart from a friend though and it sounded exactly what I needed! She said that it only took a week for her to get her order from the US to the Philippines. That's pretty fast. The fee she paid wasn't so bad too.
Finally, I got to try the service last December. I decided to do a group buy at Dick Blick with a few watercolorists. First, I signed up at the Shipping Cart website and got the US address of the LBC Warehouse where my stuff from the store should be shipped. I inputted that address at Dick Blick, and within a few days my package arrived there. I actually got an email from LBC with a photo of the contents, but I didn't think it was THE email - meaning, I didn't know I was supposed to check out already and pay for the shipping.
So, my order languished there for almost two weeks. I sorta forgot about it until January 5, when I wondered what happened na. Haha. That's when I realized what I had to do to get the order shipped from the US to PH. It was pretty easy and fuss-free. I got the quote for the cost at the LBC website, and then settled it. Payments can be made via Credit Card, Paypal, LBC Over The Counter, and Online Banking.
I got my package on my doorstep on January 13. I didn't pay any tax when I received the box as I've already settled it online! Dick Blick shipped the package to the LBC Warehouse in two days. LBC took eight days to ship it from the US to my address. In other words, it only took 10 days for me to get my order. Impressive! And the cost? It was just a little over P1,500 for the whole box. Here's what's inside!
The box is stuffed with cushions at the top
The items are wrapped in plastic with the receipt from the store
We got watercolor paper pads, Princeton brushes, empty half pans, paint, and graphite paper mostly! I received the box in the middle of the day (good thing I was home) and squealed with excitement as soon as I realized what it was! I was so happy because...
I finally got myself a set of QOR Watercolors. This is the high Chroma Set, a great addition of bright colors to my existing set. QOR is a brand by the same makers of Golden Acrylic and I got to try some in Singapore last year. I haven't swatched them yet - I've been so busy! - but I will do it as soon as I finish writing this post lol. I also got a Princeton #12 synthetic squirrel brush and a Canson Montval watercolor sketchbook.
Few things make me happier than a fresh box of paint - be it makeup or watercolor
So there you go. ^_^ I am definitely going to use the Shipping Cart again. I kinda want to order some Nike or Adidas tennis shoes and perhaps some dry fit outfits next time. I also want to see if there are any deals in Sephora. How about you, what would you want to order from a US online store?
