Shipping to an FPO/AP address

I thought I'd write up a short blog post about shipping to an FPO/AP address. There seems to be a lot of confusion from sellers out there and to be honest it's a little annoying for me. Some sellers won't even ship to an FPO/AP because they think it's like shipping to a foreign country (it is kind of, but not really). It would be nice to see more eBay and private sellers ship efficiently and without problem to my address. Hopefully this can help anyone who may be confused. This information can also apply to someone who is simply shipping a package to their military friend or family.

1. What is an FPO/AP address?

This is a US ADDRESS assigned to military personnel stationed on American military bases around the world. It is most often used as a residential address for people living on American military bases overseas. It is also sometimes used by service members who are living on a boat or in the field without access to a normal mailbox. (Other variations of this address include: FPO, AA, and FPO, AE)

2. Is the FPO/AP address a US address?

YES.

3. Do I need to complete a customs form to ship to an FPO/AP address?

Sometimes. Check with the post office or the buyer to see if the FPO/AP address is overseas. If yes, you probably need to complete a customs form. Customs forms can be found at the post office and are quick and easy to complete. I NEVER fill in the weights on my customs forms. This makes it easier for me to fill out the form. The post office employees can usually step in and complete any information you may have missed. I think too many people get hung up on this form, trying to answer every question as if it was a pop quiz. KEEP IT SIMPLE. Answer what you can and the post office can help with the rest. As a side note, customs forms are not needed for small, light packages (cards, letter, etc).

4. Can I print the customs form at home?

I have only seen one pre-printed customs form and it was from a large company. They probably had the shipping software needed to pre-print these customs forms. I do not think normal citizens can print the customs forms at home. Here's a hint: If you want to ship to FPO/AP addresses regularly, go to the post office and grab a handful of these forms to keep at home. This reduces the amount of time you have to spend at the post office filling it out.

5. Do I have to go to the post office to ship the package?

Most sellers print their shipping labels from home and never enter the post office to complete a transaction. However, when shipping with a customs form, you do need to go inside the post office to have the form stamped. If this is a hassle for you, charge the buyer a nominal handling fee upfront (say $2 - $3). Most of us are more than happy to pay it to receive our item.

6. Is it expensive to ship to an FPO/AP address?

The cost is usually the same as shipping something within the US.

7. What is the best method of shipping to an FPO/AP address?

Use a USPS priority flat rate box/envelope. This gets the item to the destination in about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks and is very cost effective. Shipping a large size flat rate box to a military address actually saves money as they USPS gives a military shipping discount on that size. Do not ship parcel post or choose any economy shipping option. These methods are shipped on a "space available" basis, which means when there's space on the plane/boat headed to the destination, the item will be sent. Economy shipped packages can sit around for months in a storage facility before actually being shipped. Additionally, this significant delay can cause packages to never arrive or become lost.

Do not use UPS or FedEx economy shipping options as these companies can take much longer to get an item to its destination.



Okay, I think that's it. I hope someone out there finds this helpful. I don't know why people make this harder than it is......

Step 1: Get a USPS priority flat rate mailer.
Step 2: Complete customs form at post office.
Step 3: Ship.

It's almost the exact same process as sending something within the States, with only the added step of completing a customs form. I know sellers (and some shippers) like to do everything from home, but unfortunately with an FPO/AP buyer you don't have that option. Instead of deciding not to ship to FPO/AP address (you're missing out on sales if you do that), charge a small handling fee if going to the post office is a huge hassle for you.