Why Not Ship to APOs ?

[erikstuff]

I recently sold an item to some guy with an APO address.  When I went to print up the mailing label a customs thing popped up with the item info on it.  I verified the info was correct and it's on it's way.  

Now, while browsing some ads I've noticed that there are some sellers who don't ship to APOs.

What would be the reason?  Are there problems I don't know about... but will soon find out?

It wasn't anything expensive and the guy has recent feedbacks so that's not a concern.

Thank you.

[ms.rodriguez*]

Sometimes, a soldier at an APO location needs that cheap item.  I sell mainly inexpensive collectible toys and I don't mind if I have to take 60 seconds to fill out a customs form so that this American hero (in my book) in some faraway unknown country can receive a cool diecast car.    If they bought my items, I know that it will bring them some joy or help them relive a memory.   It's my pleasure to do that.  This to me is an act of kindness.  Totally different if it were an expensive item.

[ckimodog]

@erikstuff 

APO's -American Post Office

FPO - Federal Post Office

These are usually addresses for the military who may be deployed and are overseas.  I've never had a problem shipping to either of them.  If anything the military tends to be a bit more hands on compared to USPS. I've never had to fill out any extra paper work either, even shipping thru Ebays shipping feature.  I also would never exclude either of them. 

[evelyb30]

In the old days, my TOS stated I shipped FREE to APO/FPO for first class or media mail (books) items.  I figured if someone was willing to serve overseas the least I could do was kick in the postage. Only had someone take me up on it once, but shipping to military boxes and US possessions was always easy.  

The Cupboard under the Stairs at the Dursley residence might have proved a problem, but as long as you're shipping via USPS the others aren't any big deal.   

BTW - the reason for the Customs form is that military mail at some point goes through the postal system of the host country.  

[wastingtime101]

---

@ckimodog wrote:

APO's -American Post Office

FPO - Federal Post Office

---

@ckimodog 

APO = Air/Army Post Office

FPO = Fleet Post Office

[ckimodog]

@wastingtime101

My dad was a Marine and that's what I was told it meant.  Dang jarheads...lol.

[studiodeflores]

Many people are just anxious and fearful of anything that sounds foreign.  A recent poster on this forum was upset that someone from Puerto Rico purchased something from them, probably not realizing that PR is part of the US.  

[quiltgeek]

You have the wrong idea about what APO and FPO stand for. 

• APO - Army/Air Force mail sorting centers in San Francisco,  New York and Miami
• FPO -  Fleet (Navy)/Coast Guard mail sorting centers also in San Francisco,  New York and Miami

 Thre are also diplomatic overseas sorting centers referred to as DPO in all three cities SF/NY/Miami.

[ckimodog]

@quiltgeek 

Okie dokie...

[wastingtime101]

---

@ckimodog wrote:

My dad was a Marine and that's what I was told it meant.  Dang jarheads...lol.

---

😆

[richard1rst]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

Since an APO address is a US military address, how could local restrictions like plants, seeds, food etc be applied? Would that mean that a grandma could not send her soldier grandson a package of oreos? 

---

An APO / FPO  address is typically a military base inside a host country. For example when I was stationed in Berlin Germany my mailing address was APO not Berlin Germany. The "Status of Forces" agreements with the host countries recognizes that a military base is U S territory. BUT since a soldier could order something that is prohibited in the host country, have it shipped to an APO and then carry it off base and sell it to a local who was prohibited from owning it then that would be in essence Black Market (and therefore illegal) goods.

As I am sure you know each country has restrictions as to what can be sent to citizens of that country and that the list varies from country to country. Those same restrictions also apply to any APO address in that country based on the above.

[soh.maryl]

Have always thought that APO was Army Post Office and that FPO was Fleet Post Office (Navy).

Apparently, Google agrees with me, for what that's worth.

[soh.maryl]

Thank you for that info.  Have found this entire discussion to be very interesting information.

[richard1rst]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

Have always thought that APO was Army Post Office and that FPO was Fleet Post Office (Navy).

Apparently, Google agrees with me, for what that's worth.

---

Ditto that. When I was in Berlin the address was APO 742 which translates as Army Post Office # 742 which identified it as one specific location. Think of it as a military equivalent of a street address. The ZIP code that follows is then the specific military mail processing center in the U.S. which then forwards the mail to each specific APO.

[ckimodog]

@soh.maryl 

Yeah, I guess Dad gave me the wrong info...must have been a Friday and a pay day.  lol. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I do now, but I didn't for many years b/c of the Customs Form requirement.  Unlike another poster, I have ALWAYS had to send an additional Customs Form, which used to entail going to the PO to get one & there was always confusion about whether it was needed or not.  Nowadays, it's all electronic & will automatically appear if one is necessary, so I'm willing to do it.  But, I haven't had an APO/FPO sale for several years.