Shipping question...

[Shamrocker]

So far I haven't shipped cigars internationally, overseas, and to a military base. I'd like to send a BOTL a few, but I'm not sure on a few things.

A) Is an APO address considered the same as any other regular United States address?
B) Shipping from Canada would involve the package going through US customs. Any tips on getting a package through easily?
C) Any idea on how long a package will be in transit for once it clears customs?

Thanks!

 

[JHolmes763]

From here, there's no difference other than filling out a custom's form. Putting "cigars" on the customs form has never resulted in any isues (shipping from the states to an APO, at least).

Shipping usually takes a week to get to a main base in the country and another week or two depending on where it's headed from there.

-John

 

[Kid Montana]

A fellow BOTL brought this issue to my attention that apparently the customs form necessary to send to APO says something about "no tobacco." I can't hardly imagine this being enforced since Soldiers in Germany, Afghanistan and Iraq order a HUGE number of cigars every year and all of them are send USPS Priority Mail. Every tobacco internet retailer in the US ships to APO. *shrugs* I've personally received three shipments of cigars to my APO address here in Iraq with zero issues.

APO addresses are basically a PO box address.

 

[Shamrocker]

Ok, so I suppose as long as a package I send from Canada clears US customs it should theoretically make it to the recipient.... slowly

Thanks for the into, fellas!

 

[Salukis63]

Gents-

I understand the rules may have changed for shipping tobacco... I regularly have CI and Cigar Bid ship to me here in Iraq. I just looked at one of their Customs forms from a package and they put on it "Literature and Monthly Samples"... so maybe that is how they all get around that rule?

Cheers,

R

 

[Wurm]

DO NOT WRITE CIGARS OR TOBACCO ON THE FORM!

Other than that, you are good to go!

<-- Lives in Grafenwöhr Germany

*edit* And to those of you who said "I never had an issue..." it all depends on your APO Post Master, he is supposed to detain any shipments of tobacco products he or she notices. We have had soldiers get Article 15s for it and DOD Civilians lose their mailbox privileges here.

The APO SOP for tobacco is that none is allowed and writing cigars or tobacco on the custom form can get your BOTL in serious trouble.

 

[Shamrocker]

DO NOT WRITE CIGARS OR TOBACCO ON THE FORM!

Other than that, you are good to go!

<-- Lives in Grafenwöhr Germany

*edit* And to those of you who said "I never had an issue..." it all depends on your APO Post Master, he is supposed to detain any shipments of tobacco products he or she notices. We have had soldiers get Article 15s for it and DOD Civilians lose their mailbox privileges here.

The APO SOP for tobacco is that none is allowed and writing cigars or tobacco on the custom form can get your BOTL in serious trouble.

VERY good information to know Wurm. Thanks. Last thing I'd want is to attempt a nice gesture and have the recipient be on the receiving end of a reprimand instead of the intended 'gars.

 

[JHolmes763]

First I've heard of that, but good to know. Either lie or don't send it.

John

 

[mjolnir01]

DO NOT WRITE CIGARS OR TOBACCO ON THE FORM!

Other than that, you are good to go!

<-- Lives in Grafenwöhr Germany

*edit* And to those of you who said "I never had an issue..." it all depends on your APO Post Master, he is supposed to detain any shipments of tobacco products he or she notices. We have had soldiers get Article 15s for it and DOD Civilians lose their mailbox privileges here.

The APO SOP for tobacco is that none is allowed and writing cigars or tobacco on the custom form can get your BOTL in serious trouble.

Shawn speaks the truth. Anytime I get a shipment from the states, the customs form usually says "DVDs" or "Literature Samples" on it. Famous Cigars was the only exception-- they emailed me after I had placed an order saying they wouldn't ship to my APO. The email said the postal regulations forbade the shipment of tobacco to my zip code.