Heads up to anyone sending packages to military personnel--customs forms

[nativetxn]

I just had a package that I mailed yesterday returned to me The problem? On the customs form one of the items was hand sanitizer...they have to be sure there is no alcohol in the hand sanitizer...can you believe it????

Also, I had included some of those individual packages of cheese and crackers. The cheese in that should be allowed but they don't allow regular cheeses. Since the package was sealed when I mailed it they don't know what is in it. They also questioned if any of the contents were aerosols (they weren't).

So....I was advised to not seal the package and to show the clerk everything in it before it is sealed. I will be going back to the post office in about an hour and try sending it again.

My mail carrier was so apologetic and so upset, he had words with his post master over this situation. Bless his heart. It wasn't <i>his</i> fault.

Katholyn

 

[Justhope]

How long was your package gone before it was returned?? I'm sure the hand sanitizer that I sent had alcohol in it. Don't most of them???? I sent mine out this Sat. will be 2 weeks and I haven't had it reruned yet.......I hope it's not. Have a happy trip back to the post office.


Hope

 

[Keli]

Katholyn, I don't think it's necessary to itemize everything on the customs' slips. I've been very general in listing items-food, candy, stationary, batteries. I just list stuff like that. I probably would have put hygene products on there instead of listing specifically what the items were. So far I haven't had any problems.

 

[delswife]

Do they think someone might drink the hand sanitizer???

 

[Bunchkin]

Thanks for the heads up!

And good idea on generalizing the items listed on the customs form Keli.

 

[nuke]

I think it's because alchohol is highly flammable.

 

[delswife]

Oh, I am a dummy!!!
LOL

 

[Mishetta]

Gee, it's been 3 weeks since I sent my first package & 1 week since I sent my second & I haven't received mine back & I'm sure I put "hand sanitizer" on my form! So we should no longer send that item (I never looked or thought to look if it had alcohol!)

Did someone open the package or was it just from being written on the form? My P.O. told me that it WOULD be opened but I wondered from where? Here.....before it went "there?" Or once it got "there?"

Thanks for letting us know...I'll probably skip the hand sanitizer if it's dangerous to send!

 

[nativetxn]

Well, they were very nice at the post office and explained that <b>just this morning</b> they got new mailing guidelines. I was told to be <b>very specific</b> in listing the items on the customs form or it will likely be returned to me.

They said that the alcohol in hand sanitizer has a very low flash point so the fear is fire.

<b>Justhope</b> This package was taken to the post office less than 24 hours before it was returned. If your package has been gone two weeks you won't be getting it back because of the post office. I hope you don't get it returned for <i>any</i> reason.

A note about mentioning cheese, indicate that it is NOT aerosol cheese, that is the objection to that. No aerosol cans allowed because they can explode.

LOL, the clerk even read the ingredients list on the Listerine mouth care strips that I sent They passed muster

Well, now I know to be very careful with the customs form, too. No crossed off items are allowed on the form.

Mishetta, I took everything out of the package at the post office. They suggested that I not seal the package first, take the opened package to the post office so that they can look at anything in there if they feel the need. They will tape it up for you after that is all checked out.

Katholyn

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Thanks for the update. I have a couple of packages that my troop put together Monday night, and another that we will be putting together now that we have an address we've been waiting for.

I'll let the clerk decide if listing the contents as just cookies is ok, or if those that contain them will have to specify they are Girl Scout cookies? If the latter I hope they make it all the way to BIL!

Deb

 

[J&D]

nativetxn- Thanks for the information. I just finished sealing a package that was full of hand sanitizer. Did they tell you not to send it anymore? I'm sure mine had alcohol in it. I want to send it because hand sanitizer and snacks are the only things one of my soldiers requested. I guess I will have to open the package for them at the PO.

 

[nativetxn]

J&D, they will not allow anything with an alcohol base (like hand sanitizer) be mailed.

I got Lever2000 antiseptic wipes for the package I am mailing tomorrow.

Katholyn

 

[sncbird]

Yikes, thanks for the heads up!! I just mailed out 2 packages yesterday with only Food items and personal items listed on the customs forms. The Post Office guy said they were OK. Hopefully they won't get flagged. I have 2 packages I'm working on so I'll be quite detailed when I get ready to ship them.

 

[J&D]

Thanks, nativetxn! I'll take it out of my package (if I can get through all of the tape I used)!

 

[LuvN~Travel]

It may depend on the military installation themselves. Most of my customers just send their's off listing generalities. Toiletries, food, etc.... Just be careful to mark if it is alcohol free, aerosol free or such if you do list them each separately. So far I don't believe any of my customers have gotten any back. Good luck!
Kim

 

[Mermaid02]

Just wanted to tell you guys that my dh's Marine buddy's wife said that she got an email saying that the smaller packages were getting there MUCH faster than the larger ones. I'm going to send small packages in hopes that they will get them sooner rather than later!!

 

[Keli]

Thanks for the heads-up Mermaid02. I didn't know that and I've only had some boxes that were a little larger than I needed but I went ahead and used them and just filled the extra space with packaging. Guess I'll be hunting down smaller boxes from now on!

 

[J&D]

Don't forget about the Priority Mail flat rate envelopes. You can fit several small items in those envelopes, and it is only $3.85 to mail regardless of weight or destination.

 

[J&D]

I just returned from the PO. I specifically asked the clerk if we could no longer send hand sanitizer. He asked what kind of container it was in, and I said plastic. He said it was OK to send it, and to list it on the customs form as a hygiene product. Is it the military that is sending the packages back once they get them, or is it the PO that is sending them back before they are mailed?

 

[nativetxn]

It was the post office, J&D. Apparently our post master is picky, picky, picky. I can't send it from here. I just send the antiseptic wipes instead.