Amazon free shipping and APO address

[Pooh2]

Does Amazon free shipping over $25 work for APO addresses in Aghanistan?
If so, approximately how long does the package take to get there (obviously some variation by Province)?

 

[bumbershoot]

From what I recall, the APO address is actually an American address. So yes, it should work.

But after it arrives, it's all on the military's shoulders as to how fast it got there. I know things have changed with deliveries like this, since I was working at amazon '99-'02, but it's still going to be up to their normal time. I would contact the military member (if you are not the member) to see.

There also might be restrictions on what can be sent to begin with.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

If they refuse to ship it for free to an APO, list the state as NY.

NY is the central military mail hub before it reaches Germany and is then distributed on.

Like the PP said, once it converst to APO system, it dosen't matter if you pail parcel post or express, it will get there when it arrives.

Sometimes it would take us upto 3-4 weeks to recieve things.

 

[Pooh2]

I put my order in, the only item that was refused was AA batteries, will send those with a package from home.

When Amazon lists Oct 24 as the delivery date, are they referring to when the package will get to NY, or to Aghansitan??

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

The only thing they can "guarantee " is when it will get to NY,

once it converts to APO, it can take weeks to be delivered and is no longer trackable, it will just drop off at NY

 

[bumbershoot]

When Amazon lists Oct 24 as the delivery date, are they referring to when the package will get to NY, or to Aghansitan??

NY. The address you entered.

 

[fredflintstone]

We live in Germany now, so I am used to things taking longer to get shipped here! But, we have ordered from Amazon and shipped down range and it took less than a month to get to him! Usually it takes no more than 3 weeks (After Thanksgiving it can take longer!)...what is funny is that I ordered him a PSP and games to go with it, of course that shipped down there but not batteries! It cracks me up! It gets here to Germany in about the same time as it does to get down range. And Free shipping is free shipping as someone posted, the zip code is NY so it is like shipping to NY! I am sure your package will be well received!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

When Amazon lists Oct 24 as the delivery date, are they referring to when the package will get to NY, or to Aghansitan??

NY. Once it gets there, it is in the military's hands and not the post office or UPS or whatever delivery service Amazon used to get it there.

 

[JaymeC]

Just make sure you put the country as USA, counter intuitively The only problem I had with something arriving was because someone actually put the country as Japan, but yes Amazon will ship. And it does arrive a little faster if it's sent by air than by ground (at least when we were stationed in Japan) and Amazon automatically upgraded us to free two-day shipping while we were there (from the super saver) so everything used to arrive in about 2 weeks instead of about 4 I loved shopping at Amazon for that reason.

 

[Pooh2]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I am going to duplicate some items and send them from home today and see which package arrives first and he can pass duplicates along to fellow soldiers. They are on a remote COP so do not have a PX to get any extra items, so I am sure duplicates will be appreciated.

A friend who was in Kandahar got our packages within a week. My son-in-law is expecting our packages will take 4-8 weeks to reach him! I think I will start packing the Christmas package soon and get it out by Halloween!

 

[AlwaysMoving]

Here is my current Italy experience.....

Whenever you can, send it Priority mail. Some websites will automatically send APO/FPO priority and some don't. For those that it is not automatic, some charge reasonable fees for priority and some are outrageous. Anyway, this will push your package ahead of the ones that are not priority. It cuts my delivery time in half. Try not to send really large boxes. Even if you send them priority, they will take longer. Military tends to push the smaller boxes first. Some items just can't be shipped overseas. I can understand things like batteries and aerosol cans, but I have found some electronics and something as simple as a CD case to be a problem. Just mail them yourself. I have my mom mail those sort of items to us.

If you personally ship a box at your local post office, you can have insurance added to it. Although the military takes over in Jamaica, NY, it is still under USPS. They just don't do the guarantees for delivery times.

 

[Ephany]

A friend who was in Kandahar got our packages within a week. My son-in-law is expecting our packages will take 4-8 weeks to reach him! I think I will start packing the Christmas package soon and get it out by Halloween!

That's a good idea. One time my mom shipped a package to DH and a package to me on the same day. We were both deployed but on different ships. He got his in 3 days, mine took over 4 months. Smaller boxes are best and I think the post office has flat rate boxes for military addresses that are a bit cheaper to send than the usual rate.

 

[JB2K]

Like the PP said, once it converst to APO system, it dosen't matter if you pail parcel post or express, it will get there when it arrives.

There IS an "Express Mail Military Service" (which takes about 2-5 business days)...

..available locations are listed here.

 

[AlwaysMoving]

There IS an "Express Mail Military Service" (which takes about 2-5 business days)...

..available locations are listed here.

I have experience with this service. Again, this is no guarantee of delivery by that date. They advertise 2-5 days, but it was explained to me that it is not guaranteed and sometimes it can take just as long for delivery as if you sent it priority. For my location (Italy), the average priority package takes about 7 days. My "express" envelope took 6.