*Shipping Tip for First Class International Packages*

[Anonymous]

Today I noticed that a First Class package I shipped to Costa Rica on 12/21/17 has not been delivered, and the latest USPS tracking update shows it to be en route to the destination of Waldorf, MD.

Waldorf, Maryland?  Strange, I thought.   So I checked the original shipping label address.  It shows a postal code of 20604, along with the buyer's city and country of Costa Rica.   I looked up zip code 20604, and sure enough, that's the zip for Waldorf, MD!

I sure hope USPS has got the package back on the right track by now...

Thought I'd share this incident with other sellers to help minimize the risk of International packages getting misrouted to cities within the U.S., when it so happens the foreign postal code looks very much similar to a 5-digit US zip code.

What I'm going to do from now on is write in big bold letters on the shipping label:

FIRST CLASS PACKAGE INTERNATIONAL

Additionally, I should probably use a neon yellow highlighter on the international country name.  Like in this case, I should have highlighted COSTA RICA. 

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

This subject came up on the boards last week. Yes, you really do need to emphasize the country name and make sure it is all alone on the last line of the address. I suggest highlighting the Customs tag number and writing DESTINATION: COSTA RICA with a Sharpie on all sides of a box or mailer. Also, try to put the postal code BEFORE the city name if you can. I'm not sure if eBay's label process allows it, but I do know a buyer in Germany provided her address in this format. I also recommend printing the label as large as possible. The few times I have used eBay labels (domestic or international), I clicked the link to rotate and enlarge the label to fill 1/2 of a sheet of paper, then trimmed away all excess blank margins. For small packages (8 oz. or less), I still prefer to affix a paper Customs tag and pay retail postage at the PO. The difference between $13.50 and $12.83 is too small to warrant a stop at the library to create a label (cost 15 cents) and then have to finish packing and sealing the package on the run. I did do so for a domestic order the week before Christmas, but I made sure the bubble envelope's address side was totally flat and firm. That day, about 12 people were in line; usually I encounter fewer than 3. ~~C~~

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the additional suggestions, Duchess!

That's what I'll do from now on ... stick a neon label on the package with the destination country name in big, bold letters, and highlight the customs tag number.