A package under 25 lbs., for example, costs $7.95 in addition to the regular shipping charges. ShipitAPO then receives the package and sends it on through the Military Postal Service.Ĭustomers can register with for free, but must pay a handling fee for each package. ShipitAPO gets around the problem by providing military members with a valid stateside address. All three were founded by military or ex-military members who were fed up with APO/FPO shipping hassles. While some companies are losing business by not shipping to APO/FPOs, others are stepping in to fill the gap.Īt least three online companies have sprouted up in recent years to help military families shop online:, , and. A survey conducted by - an online consolidation of APO/FPO friendly businesses - found “70% of shoppers have abandoned their shopping carts when they could not find their APO or FPO ‘state’ in the state dropdown box.” “These companies are losing business,” she said.Įusey may be right. She said she has had problems with shipping to APOs before, especially around Christmas. “I don’t understand it,” said Eusey, a frequent online shopper. Repeated phone calls and e-mails to Amazon asking for further clarification went unanswered. voltage), and warranty issues (manufacturers won’t cover the warranty if it’s outside the U.S.), we aren’t able to ship these products overseas.”īut as most soldiers living abroad know, voltage converters and adapters are sold in every PX and bath towels work the same around the globe. When asked to explain the reason for this shipping discrepancy, Amazon spokeswoman Patricia Smith replied, “because of differences in electronic currents/voltage (products won’t work with non-U.S. In other words, soldiers can have DVDs delivered to their APO addresses, but not cell phones they can order an entire set of Encyclopedia Britannica, but not a set of bath towels. No cell phones, computers, furniture, outdoor living items and some apparel, camera and photo, electronics, health and personal care, housewares, jewelry, software, sports, tools and hardware, or items can be shipped to APO/FPOs. Although Amazon advertises on its Web site that “most items can be shipped to APO/FPO addresses,” it also includes a long list of exceptions. Postal Service, have confusing and at times nonsensical regulations when it comes to shipping to military addresses. Other companies, even those that use the U.S. boxes, including those at Army post offices and Fleet post offices. However, UPS, DHL and FedEx use door to door delivery and do not ship to P.O. Kevin Arata, a spokesman for Military Postal Service Agency in Alexandria, Va. “The agreement does not prohibit private companies like UPS or FedEx from delivering to military post offices,” said Lt. However, the DOD announced in June that it is accepting proposals on how to improve the system through outsourcing to private companies. Postal Service to deliver mail to servicemembers overseas. This and other hassles make navigating online shopping sites exceedingly difficult for military members and their families based abroad.ĭepartment of Defense has had an agreement since 1980 with the U.S. Some companies like Apple send their products using private shipping agencies, such as UPS, which do not ship to military post offices.
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