eBay

azalum123 · ‎01-09-2021

This is the first time I'm shipping to a military address. I'm the seller. It's 1 item (athletic shorts, to be exact). I went to pay for the shipping label and it accepted and printed fine. However, no customs form at all. What gives? I'm supposed to get one right? Now I'm a bit concerned because buyer's paid, and I've paid for the shipping, but eBay hasn't provided any customs forms to fill out. If I bring it to the post office, will they charge me AGAIN, or can I fill out a blank customs form (without postage/tracking number on it)?

mkaczorsee · ‎01-09-2021

Is the address an APO?

If yes...

The shipping label provided by eBay will be sufficient.

buyselljack2016 · ‎01-09-2021

Not all "military addresses" need a customs form.

If it was needed, I do believe it would have been there.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎01-09-2021

If you use prepaid postage from Ebay (i.e. a known mailer), you only need a customs form if you are mailing Priority Express, or if the package weighs over 16 ounces.

If you hand write the address and take the package to the Post Office you have to fill out a customs form regardless of weight or mailing class.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

no_zero369 · ‎01-09-2021

@southern*sweet*tea

Help me understand, please?

I thought APOs were like USA addresses. Get it to some central military center and the military "PO System" takes care of the logistics, i.e. final overseas legs. Kinda of like GSP for the military. No?

ronsam-197 · ‎01-10-2021

buyselljack is correct.

If an APO/FPO needs one it will print it up. Not all need it.

lja440 · ‎01-10-2021

Some APO/FPO/DPO addresses require a customs form, and some do not. I find most that do are in the middle east, and some only require them for larger packages. I have been shipping to these addresses since my brother in law inlisted in the air force straigt out of High School (he retired as a Chief Master Sargent years ago) and I pretty much stopped trying to guess if it needs one or not and just go with whichever label pops up.

Whether or not it has a customs form it will not go through customs, all APO/FPO/DPO packages stay in the hands of the US Military Post Office.

lja440 · ‎01-10-2021

@no_zero369 wrote:
@southern*sweet*tea
Help me understand, please?

I thought APOs were like USA addresses. Get it to some central military center and the military "PO System" takes care of the logistics, i.e. final overseas legs. Kinda of like GSP for the military. No?

Yes, you are correct.

ronsam-197 · ‎01-10-2021

I believe that those which needs customs forms are also checked that the items aren't restricted in those (final destination) countries?

lja440 · ‎01-10-2021

@ronsam-197 wrote:
I believe that those which needs customs forms are also checked that the items aren't restricted in those (final destination) countries?

Yes, that is the propose of the forms on APO packages.

azalum123 · ‎01-10-2021

The address is FPO, AP then the zip

lja440 · ‎01-11-2021

@azalum123 wrote:
The address is FPO, AP then the zip

APO - Army Post Office

FPO - Fleet Post Office (usually shipboard Navy)

DPO - Diplomatic Post Office (those stationed in embassys)

AE/AP/AA is representative of the area of the world in which the post office resides. AE represents Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada. AP Represents the Pacific; and AA represents the Americas. They are used so that USPS knows to ship "military mail," ensuring the price is equal to what it would be in the United States and, in some cases, it even costs less.

So by FPO AP, I take it that your item is going to a sailor located in the pacific area most likely aboard a Navy ship.