What is pasabuy, and how does it work?

Pasabuy, explained

Pasabuy (pa-sa-buy) blends the Filipino pasabay, to tag along, with the English buy. You ask someone who's already going somewhere to pick something up for you, and you pay them back for the item plus a little extra for the effort.

Chances are you've done it already:

• A friend flying to Japan or Korea brings back snacks, skincare, or merch for the barkada.
• An officemate heading to a mall in the city picks up something you can't find in your town.
• A relative coming home from abroad fits a few extra items in their balikbayan luggage.

Why people pasabuy

• It's not sold where you are. A specific store, a limited drop, or a product only available abroad.
• Shipping is a hassle. Some stores don't ship to the Philippines, or the shipping costs more than the item.
• Someone's already going. The trip is happening anyway, so bringing something back is a small favor.

Where informal pasabuy goes wrong

Most pasabuy still happens in group chats, social media groups, and bank transfers. It works when you know the person well. With strangers, it's risky:

• You pay in full upfront, then hope the item arrives.
• You can't easily check who you're dealing with.
• If something goes wrong, there's no proof and no easy refund.
• Prices and promises get buried in the comments, with no record of what you agreed.

How yayhop makes pasabuy safe

yayhop turns that everyday favor into an organized marketplace. Travelers, called Hoppers, post their trips. Buyers request what they need. The yayhop eWallet holds the payment until the order is delivered.

• Your payment is held, not handed over. When you approve a quote, the money is held in your eWallet and only released to the Hopper after you confirm delivery. See how the payment hold works.
• Clear quotes. The Hopper sends the full price, fees included, before you pay anything.
• Photo proof of delivery, plus a way to report a problem if something's off.
• Ratings from real orders, so you can see a Hopper's track record first.
• One chat for everything, with in-app messaging and calls. No need to share your number.

Who is a Hopper?

Every yayhop member is a Hopper. Order what you need, travel and earn by bringing back orders for others, or do both from the same app. If you're already making a trip, here's how to earn from it.

What can you pasabuy?

Each Hopper decides what they'll take on for a trip: the categories (electronics, clothing, food, books, health, and more), how many items per buyer, and the maximum weight per item. Some Hoppers also list a catalog of items they're already planning to buy, and many accept custom requests for things that aren't in their catalog.

Ready to try it?

Read how a yayhop order works, step by step, or download the app. It's free to download and free to join.