Can anyone tell me how to block APO addresses?

[schloopertz]

I went to my site preferences/shipping preferences and when I hit "exclude shipping locations" I get a message that says "You are opted in business policies, please view your excluded locations in shipping policies".

When I go to shipping policies and hit "exclude shipping locations" I see the same message, and round and round we go.

Is there a way to get around this, anyone?  There used to be, so I was very surprised to receive an order yesterday from an APO address.

Thanks!

[brightlightbookseller · Accepted solution]

Are you opted in to letting EIS manage your shipping exclusions?  It may just be generating the wrong error message.  That would be on this page: https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf/excludeRegions

If not, then are you trying to edit a specific business policy and adjust the exclusions? That would look like this:

You'd click the "Create exclusion list" option to do that.

[inhawaii]

Just curious, why would you not want to ship to a APO address?

[schloopertz]

Thanks for your reply-Yes, I am opted into EIS, but I didn't realize that that would have bearing on APO addresses, that's probably the issue.

The link you included is indeed the page that I am taken to when I toggle "exclude shipping locations".

The second page you included is the page I'm trying to find, but I'm just going in a loop. 

[dnasilver]

Why not ship to APO addresses. You realize some of those APO's are right here in the USA. We have never had an issue with shipment to military bases across the world. Including ones located in war zones. 

[mamacassidy]

For those of you asking why someone wouldn't want to ship to APO, I can't speak for OP, but in my experience, shipping to APO is a pretty big hassle because you can't just print a label from your ebay shipping. You have to go to an actual post office location and fill out a customs form and wait in line and pay for the shipping label there. Again, this might not be a big deal for some, but for those who work 9-5 hours and do most of their ebay transactions after hours, this can be very inconvenient.

[pjcdn2005]

There was a glitch at one time when the APO  ebay labels did not have an area for customs information but as I haven't heard a complaint about that for a long time, it is probably fixed now.  It should not be necessary to go to a post office.

[mamacassidy]

Thank you, that's good to know. I haven't had one in a while, so hopefully it is fixed. I know the 2 that I did have were not in the same time frame (one was in 2021 and the other was in 2023), so I didn't think it was a glitch, but nonetheless, I'm glad to hear it's no longer a problem!

[richard1rst]

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@mamacassidy wrote:

For those of you asking why someone wouldn't want to ship to APO, I can't speak for OP, but in my experience, shipping to APO is a pretty big hassle because you can't just print a label from your ebay shipping. You have to go to an actual post office location and fill out a customs form and wait in line and pay for the shipping label there. Again, this might not be a big deal for some, but for those who work 9-5 hours and do most of their ebay transactions after hours, this can be very inconvenient.

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You are WRONG on so many counts.

I have routinely purchased APO labels on BOTH eBay and Pirateship. The customs form is automatic on eBay and presented for you to fill out on Pirateship. (takes all of about 30 seconds)

BOTH easily print the label. Then you just bring it to the post office like all other prepaid labels and drop it on the counter. NO NEED to stand in line.

As a veteran who depended on APO service during my overseas tour I am constantly rankled by those who give my Brothers in Arms short shrift.

We defend you an you ignore us? STOP IT !

[ebooksdiva]

@mamacassidy 

Thats not correct, I just shipped to an APO address and it printed up with a customs form using eBay's labels. 

[mamacassidy]

LOL, richard1rst, what Big Emotions!!

If you read the comments above yours, you'll see that I said it was my experience in the past that I had to go to the Post Office. And another commenter said this was a problem that they fixed.

I never said that I had blocked shipping to APO's.

Take a breath.

[vintage-camerastuff]

APO is a pretty big hassle because you can't just print a label from your ebay shipping. 

Yes you can.  I've done it for years.   Why would anyone not ship to our military who serve us and our country?

[selsa84]

Most of the APO's I ship to are our military personnel and they have always been top notch buyers. I'd rethink it if I were you. 

[mamacassidy]

I couldn't do it in 2021 or 2023. But as another commenter said, it was a problem that has since been fixed.

Can no one see any earlier comments on this thread? I feel like everyone keeps saying the same thing even though it's clearly been addressed?

[schloopertz]

Exactly why I don't.

Thank you!