10-26-2022 03:05 PM
Sold a coin a few weeks ago, going to an APO address.
Printed postage on eBay, it looks domestic. According to eBay, APO is domestic. I applied exactly what printed to the package, and today I get it back saying that I need a customs form.
Well if I need a customs form, why isn't that part of the postage I printed? I went directly to the item to "print postage", there was no changing details on the sale that could cause any sort of problem. Seems to me if APO requires a customs form, eBay would link to the appropriate shipping label for this package.
I had to refund, problem with buyer's address and explain to the buyer why he's not getting his coin.
To add insult to injury, Chit Chats (my mail service) processes the return and charges $7 for accepting the package in Niagara and transporting it to the Chit Chats office in my city. (It's not generally unreasonable to do that, but for one, the item cost the buyer $6.95, and for two, the fact it's coming back to me is not directly my fault).
C.
10-26-2022 06:07 PM - edited 10-26-2022 06:10 PM
@sin-n-dex wrote:Sold a coin a few weeks ago, going to an APO address.
Printed postage on eBay, it looks domestic. According to eBay, APO is domestic. I applied exactly what printed to the package, and today I get it back saying that I need a customs form.
Well if I need a customs form, why isn't that part of the postage I printed? I went directly to the item to "print postage", there was no changing details on the sale that could cause any sort of problem. Seems to me if APO requires a customs form, eBay would link to the appropriate shipping label for this package.
I had to refund, problem with buyer's address and explain to the buyer why he's not getting his coin.
To add insult to injury, Chit Chats (my mail service) processes the return and charges $7 for accepting the package in Niagara and transporting it to the Chit Chats office in my city. (It's not generally unreasonable to do that, but for one, the item cost the buyer $6.95, and for two, the fact it's coming back to me is not directly my fault).
C.
The USPS has certain restrictions placed on International Military Mail to meet the laws of the international destination. Mail going to these destinations APO's, FPO's, DPO's and MPO's is International Mail. The mail is essentially going to a Freight Forwarder who will deliver it to the appropriate destinations. A First Class Letter is mostly ok but anything that is considered a package or parcel will require Custom Forms either going to or coming from these destinations to the US.
Click-N-Ship will alert you to some of the prohibitions and restrictions based on the 5-digit Military Post Office ZIP Code™ you're shipping to, but you are responsible for ensuring your package complies with the laws and regulations of the U.S. and the destination country. You often need a customs form to ship overseas. Click-N-Ship will also let you know which customs forms you need.
Starting on March 13, 2020, anyone sending a package to an international address, that has an APO, FPO, or MPO Zip Code™ in the return address, will need to create a customs form online, or fill out PS Form 2976-R before visiting a retail counter for the clerk to create the label.
Starting August 13, 2020 anyone sending a package with an APO, FPO, or MPO Zip Code™ in the return address will need to create a customs form online, or fill out PS Form 2976-R before visiting a retail counter for the clerk to create the label.
Find additional information using the resources for military mail and country regulations.
Military – This is a Military/Embassy specific ZIP Code for an APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office or Diplomatic Post Office).
Mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions of mailing regarding content, preparation, and handling.
For a complete list of restrictions to all APO/FPO/DPO destinations, see the most recent Postal Bulletin pull-out section.
If you're not allowed to ship an item in the U.S., you're not allowed to ship it to any other country. (And even if it is allowed domestically, it may not be allowed in another country.)
APO/FPO/DPO shipments to foreign countries are treated like domestic mail, but they are still subject to those foreign countries’ laws.
All USPS customers are responsible for:
If you are mailing packages that contain hazardous materials (HAZMAT), you must separate HAZMAT packages from all other packages and present them in a container marked "HAZMAT."
Military – This is a Military/Embassy specific ZIP Code for an APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office or Diplomatic Post Office).
Mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions of mailing regarding content, preparation, and handling.
For a complete list of restrictions to all APO/FPO/DPO destinations, see the most recent Postal Bulletin pull-out section.
The Military even has its own classification for certain mail to and from International Destinations called SAM
Week of September 21, 2015
Space Available Mail (SAM) refers to parcels mailed to APO/FPO addresses at parcel post rates first transported domestically by surface, then to overseas destinations by air on a space available basis. The maximum weight and size limits are 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. From overseas locations, items mailed at Standard Post rates are sent to CONUS by air on a space available basis. The maximum weight and size limits are 70 pounds and 130 inches in length and girth combined. All classes of mail addressed to FPO addresses must contain the New Navy Standardized Address format, which includes ship or mobile unit number, (or PSC number for ashore FPOs), virtual mail box number, and five-digit ZIP code to ensure delivery. For more information, contact your local civilian or military post office.
For more on shipping items, see this Military.com page
10-26-2022 06:08 PM
@12345jamesstamps wrote:Sending a coin through the mail whether USA or Canada is a parcel and that requires a customs form. I am sure the envelope is somewhat not bendable. I mean, we can't bend the coin in that envelope.
Sometimes actually going to a post office one might learn a few things not known. I have mailed to Canada and have had stuff come from Canada to me. Tracking from Canada to USA can be expensive. So I guess there are ways getting around that. Got to be careful when item tries to go through...it's like gambling. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
I mailed something in a small bubble envelope to Canada and it had to go parcel with a customs form. It was just a tiny insert for a ring that weighed nothing. But because it was a small bubble envelope and I was too lazy to go home and repackage it in a $1.40 envelope I paid big time for that mailing. Lesson learned going to my post office.
I'm not sure who you're replying to or what you're going on about here...
I used a bubble mailer, shipped FCI to an APO address and mailed it from Niagara Falls New York in USA.
While ESE works for coins, I would never do that. In Canada shipping it that way would cause it to get caught in the machinery which is not forgiving. Back in the day when I did trades with people online (and not sales), I tried shipping this way to be cheap, and my packages never arrived. In those cases, I trusted the buyers, and it was interesting how it was every single one that was shipped that way that didn't arrive. I ship all coins in bubble mailers now.
C.
10-26-2022 06:10 PM
"I shipped it with USPS mailed from Niagara Falls. I buy my shipping on eBay.com, all USA shipping including APO is domestic for me."
I'm confused, you buy your label on ebay and then give that package with that label to Chit Chats?
10-26-2022 06:22 PM
That's great information. But I'm still perplexed on why eBay's software didn't require these directives to be followed.
I blocked APO so I won't have this issue again. I may unblock later if I learn there's no issues, but this was kind of an expensive lesson for me and disappointed my buyer, so preventing the issue seems like the best course of action.
C.
10-26-2022 06:24 PM
@richmondhillcubs wrote:"I shipped it with USPS mailed from Niagara Falls. I buy my shipping on eBay.com, all USA shipping including APO is domestic for me."
I'm confused, you buy your label on ebay and then give that package with that label to Chit Chats?
Chit Chats is a freight forwarder in Canada, you can go on whatever platform and buy US postage there. Or you can buy it directly from Chit Chats (which I find costs more). Chit Chats puts all these packages on a truck and takes them to Niagara Falls to be dropped off. That's because private persons can't courier packages over the border (not without paying lots of fees to cross and getting scrutiny. I live 100 miles from the border and don't have time to do that every day, or even once a week). Chit Chats is 2 miles from where I work.
C.
10-26-2022 06:45 PM
@sin-n-dex wrote:That's great information. But I'm still perplexed on why eBay's software didn't require these directives to be followed.
I blocked APO so I won't have this issue again. I may unblock later if I learn there's no issues, but this was kind of an expensive lesson for me and disappointed my buyer, so preventing the issue seems like the best course of action.
C.
Yea, I am not sure why either. This is not something new. The two changes made in March and August of 2020 is just a update to reflect that you can do the forms on-line. The system has been in place since at least 1978 that I know of, but I am sure much earlier then this.
When I was in Germany there was an occasion that a German National I knew asked if I could send a package to a relative who was living in the US. The advantage is that it would cost a fraction of the cost using the USPS Military System instead of the German Bundespost. In addition package would arrive to the US within 7 days or less where as the Bundespost would take a month or so.
Of course this was highly illegal for me to do as I would be breaking International Law, German Law, US Military Law as well as USPS Law. I did not do it but I did treat him to some American Ice Cream.
10-26-2022 06:55 PM
Thank you, I think I understand your situation now. You bought your label on ebay.com (which considers your APO address as domestic as it should be) and shipped via Chitchats that is a Canadian company which would require CN22, I guess that is what happened?
10-26-2022 07:47 PM
@joseh1445 wrote:Maybe its because you live in Canada? APO is domestic for USA.
It is and it does require a customs form.
https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#ep1113810
10-27-2022 10:40 AM
Its strange. I have ship between 5-10 items to APO and other Military addresses, and had never fill out or got ask to fill out a customs form. Any way, good luck.
10-27-2022 01:38 PM
@richmondhillcubs wrote:Thank you, I think I understand your situation now. You bought your label on ebay.com (which considers your APO address as domestic as it should be) and shipped via Chitchats that is a Canadian company which would require CN22, I guess that is what happened?
What you're going on about has nothing to do with my situation. I mailed a domestic package from Niagara Falls NY to an APO address. That's all you need to know.
Where I live, what service I pay to drive packages to the USPS office in Niagara NY, and where I buy my postage, has nothing to do with this problem (except for the fact that eBay sold me postage that was not correct for an APO address, as per the sticker USPS put on it when they sent it back to me.
C.
10-27-2022 01:40 PM
@joseh1445 wrote:Its strange. I have ship between 5-10 items to APO and other Military addresses, and had never fill out or got ask to fill out a customs form. Any way, good luck.
If memory serves, the last APO I shipped (a few years ago), it looked like the international FCI shipping label on eBay, and identified what was in the package the same way. I just assumed eBay would print the right type of label and as per USPS, they didn't.
I did however hear back from the customer. He claims to not be aware of a customs form needing to be used to send mail to him, but he did thank me for the refund, and did tell me his APO address has been a problem for other sellers, although he doesn't seem to know the reason for this. I'm thinking it's the same problem, but not all sellers tell their buyers what's going on, some might just cancel with problem with address and leave it at that.
C.
10-28-2022 08:17 PM
This exact thing happened to me today (10/28/2021). And of course I agree that Ebay should provide the customs forms as we buy the shipping label. Shall have to call Ebay.
10-28-2022 08:46 PM - edited 10-28-2022 08:47 PM
@rainyaz wrote:This exact thing happened to me today (10/28/2021). And of course I agree that Ebay should provide the customs forms as we buy the shipping label. Shall have to call Ebay.
You should not need to call eBay.
As long as eBay lets you print out the Customs form you should be ok. Many times when you print out a shipping label the Customs Form is part of the shipping label. Do not forget to sign the form. If it does not print out you should still be able to get one at the Post Office and attach it.
11-11-2022 06:31 AM
Normally the customs forms are auto-generated on Ebay.com. In the past 2 weeks they have not been and I had a package returned. Something changed with the Ebay software recently
11-11-2022 01:59 PM
@stephenmorgan wrote:
@rainyaz wrote:This exact thing happened to me today (10/28/2021). And of course I agree that Ebay should provide the customs forms as we buy the shipping label. Shall have to call Ebay.
You should not need to call eBay.
As long as eBay lets you print out the Customs form you should be ok. Many times when you print out a shipping label the Customs Form is part of the shipping label. Do not forget to sign the form. If it does not print out you should still be able to get one at the Post Office and attach it.
That's where I am disadvantaged... the post office is 100 miles away.
I just decided to block APO for now, until this is sorted out. At least my customer was understanding. I refunded him 100% on his purchase. I returned the coin to the B&M store.
C.