If you don’t want to use a chunky case but at the same time not risk scratches on your phone, get a decal skin.
If you’re like me, you would have probably seen dBrand skins several times on other International Tech channels already, but not really locally – because getting it all the way here to Asia seems risky (it is).
The process I did was simple. I ordered the skins I wanted on their site, paid via credit card, and everything else have been processed by them.
I ordered a bumper from Lazada to protect the sides of my device, and I had a Php250 custom matte screen protector installed in a mall because the screen isn’t covered by any extra protection.
Timetable
- December 29, 2016: I placed the order and was informed because of many transactions, it will take them a week to ship the parcel.
- January 7, 2017: They shipped the package away from Toronto. This is the last email I received from them as dBrand doesn’t offer local tracking, and they mention on their site this is the reason why they are able to keep their shipping rates low. I was informed it will take me 10 – 20 business days to receive the package.
- January 18, 2017: The date the parcel arrived on the papers.
- Est. January 25, 2017: I was informed by the local post office via mail that I can claim my parcel there, near our City Hall in Cavite.
I didn’t claim it until mid-February, but essentially, it would have taken me close to a month to receive my dBrand skins.
Costs
- White Marble for Back – $6.97 / Php347.90
- Matte Black for Front – $5.57 / Php278.02
- USPS International Priority Airmail – $3.95 / Php197.16
- Claiming at Local Post Office – Php100
Sub Total: Php923.08 + Transportation to Post Office
Risks
As I mentioned above, once the order has been shipped from Toronto, there will be no more tracking, meaning there is a risk that you would no longer hear about your nine hundred Peso purchase again. I have a friend that had this experience (though I can’t confirm as he might have failed to indicate addresses correctly or some other technicality).
Our Editor-in-Chief Abe Olandres also confirms that he got his own skins via the Post Office, so we assume that all transactions will be done through there and that no door-to-door delivery will be done when having this purchase.
Overall, I am pleased by my decision since cases are really chunky, the good ones cost more than Php1,000, and I only need them for scratch avoidance.
If you have any experience buying dBrand skins or anything similar, feel free to drop them in a comment below as we’d also like to hear from you!
How was your delivery experience with dbrand and Aramex?