US customs forms and the US post office online paperwork

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PTsideshow

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This is a fable or maybe a Grimm/nightmare type fairy tale!

I am a fairly recent member of this outstanding forum. Since I have found this more informative that most all the other wood turning forums combined etc.

I thought that I would give back with a little support of a couple prizes for the bash! Now little did I think that either prizes would be going out of the USA. Yes I know there are a large foreign contingent that are active members. But the thought that I would be trying to ship a package out of the USA, never even crossed my mind!

Well as the pen turning deities smiled down on me and wham one of them is going to Canada! After I got the PM about who and where.

Thoughts of paperwork to snarl a gaggle of legal beagles and export expediters et all. I broke out in a sweat and hot flashes. My first thought was Damn!!!!, why me.

Now the last time I shipped anything out of the country was almost 20 years ago, and it was half a gross of foam rubber cupcakes for a magic trick bought by a magic suppler in England try explaining and describing that on a custom form :wink:

So a great vendor on this site took the time to explain the basics about shipping to Canada! The custom form2976 CN22 has 5 lines for the items. Now being a online type person I decided to fill it out online and then do a clip and ship pay for it on line.

Well a couple of things if you do have to send something to Canada.
First is If you are planning on using the clip&ship, Don't fill out the online customs form that is listed on the international shipping page! Wait there are a couple of things you need to do first.

Weigh each item and write its weight down.

Even if you have multiple items of the same description. ie 12 wood pen blanks.

After you have every thing written down and weighed.

Then load the box up and weigh it again. Don't seal it yet.

Now a heads up, the instructions on the post offices web page suck.

First off you would think that an online form would have some means to input more than 3 lines for items. But you can't and you have to fill out another complete form for each item over 3!

But if you fill out the CN22 form 2976 on line you won't be able to fill out the click and snip.

Now if you are doing the clip and snip shipper and the custom form that it opens. when filling out the weight in the column for each line item. It has to be the weight of the individual pieces. Not the total weight of the total number of that line.

You have to do that for each line and item.

Be sure to under estimate the weight a little. More on that later.

Now when you have the total weight when you type in the numbers for the individual items weights, and then the total weights they have to match up. Now if you have taken a little off each one to account for the box. The software should accept the numbers. It didn't for me so I used the other on line forms. And paid at the post office.

One other strange deal they only have pounds and ounces for the weights so say a sheet of .020 copper that weighs less than a half ounce will cause you fits as the software will not accept it.

Now here is another kicker, the package is a small priority shipper box, around $5.00 for anyplace in the US. The same box under 4 Pounds to anyplace in Canada is $12.95 when payed for at the postoffice. Less than a buck off with the clip&ship.

Now it has become clear to me why the number of people in the classifieds,vendors and just general forum members don't want to ship cross borders! It also has become clear to me why there such a difference in the shipping charges, cross border also.

I spent a total of 1½ hours on line screwing with the post offices software due to the lack of clear instructions. this isn't counting the time weighing and reweighing, or the trip to the post office.

It was very educational,:bulgy-eyes: to say the least. And I had some very expert tutoring, which saved me about another 1½ hour and damaging a computer screen:rolleyes:

Thanks Ed!

I don't know if your user name is referring to 4 copies of the custom forms or not but it could fit.

Anyways @ 11:11am this morning the package was out bound. And on this cheery note the postie counter lady told me as a parting shot. It will take longer than the stated 6 to 10 days as it has to go to Toronto first! Don't know what all that means other than sounds like a long delay To me!

I sent the lucky winner a e mail letting him know it was outbound, and what the postie said.

That's my story or my Custom tutorial! and I'm sticking to it
:clown:

 
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I've had many, many packages come in from the US.

On nearly every form I've received, every item has been listed, but not individually weighed.

I.e. 10 pen blanks - $5
30 pen kits - $20
1 anvil - $5600
weight - 500 lbs.

I think you may have over-complicated it! :smile:
Andrew
 
I have shipped several to Canada and sent one out today to Australia hassle free. I use the local UPS store that accepts USPS mail rather than the PO. At the UPS store there is no paperwork he inputs the info into the computer and asks what is in the box and that is all there is to it.
 
WRONG Andrew!!!

BIG pounds are EASY, little ounces are NOT!!

Suppose you are sending 100 nibs, your minimum per nib is one ounce. You better put rocks in the box, cause if it weighs UNDER 100 ounces---the software REJECTS IT!!! AND THIS CAN HAPPEN AFTER THEY LET YOU PAY--so you also have to go back and cancel the label and WAIT SIX WEEKS for the refund. Now, if you ship several dozen a week, you better keep records of the refunds you deserve, since any time a label does NOT print (and it CAN reject a whole BATCH, say 20 labels at $14 ea), you need to ask for INDIVIDUAL refunds and WAIT SIX WEEKS.

When you are accustomed to doing this, you CAN make it easier---but the only "tutorial" is experience. THEY AIN'T NO YOUTUBE Tutorial!!!

I am VERY GRATEFUL to Glen for sticking with it!!!

Ed
 
Wierd. Just before xmas I sent a package to Romania. Just some hand made ornaments and a few post cards. Very light but bulky. Anyway, looked online to fill out the forms and stuff only to discover that it's WAY easier and FASTER to go to the post office and do it. So I sealed the box and off I went. Got to the counter and the woman said "Romania"... I said "yep". Her, "Fill out this form". It took just a minute, all it needed was a brief description and value of contents. She then weighed the box and I paid the $14 and I was done. Took all of 5 minutes if that.

Now, I've noticed USA sellers on ebay stating they will not ship to Canada (and other places)... perhaps it's the Canada side making things difficult to send stuff from here.

Anyway, glad you got it all sorted out and on it's way. I'm sure the receiver will be thrilled to get it.
 
When I ship blanks out of the country I weigh the stack and divide by the number of blanks. 20 Blanks = 26oz = 1oz each since it has to be even numbers. I dont break it down and have not heard of a problem to Canada or over the pond.
 
Wow this all sounds too familiar>I send a package via USPS to Ontario Canada on Feb 1st.
I used a Flat Rate Priority International Box for $12.95.I itemized the contents,selected "gift" as the recipient has no idea the package is coming.Value less than $50 should be ok,Right???
Tracking info says "Accepted at Dearborn Post Office Feb1,2012 2:04 pm"Yeah I know that part......I took it there myself. I have no idea what to do next,I've called the 1-800 number on the USPS website that after 10 mins of automated crap I finally get a human and she re-iterates what I already know.
Of course I didn't insure the package,thought it was standard to $100 with Priority Mail..turn out it is standard with EXPRESS mail,which would cost more than the item was worth.
I don't know if I addressed it wrong,if it is held in customs,if the recipient refused the delivery(it was a surprise,may have not been expecting a package,hasn't checked mail,etc)
Rant mode off:
Thanks for allowing me to vent in your thread,without offering any help.
 
No, the FORM is simple---getting the USPS to ACCEPT the form---not so much!!!

No matter the cause, the effect is hours wasted.
(But then, that's redundant with "government report")
 
I send things to my daughters in England all the time. I just take it to the post office with the form filled out and it's easy, and very expensive.
 
The other day I found out you CAN get a Postal Service representative to assist with problems with your business account.

HOOORAYYYYY!!! So, I called.

"Yes" the nice lady said, "You qualify if you spend $360,000 per year on postage"!

Who says they don't give a darn about their customers???

(WE will need to GROW a bit, yet!!)
 
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Sorry andrew on this I agree with Ed, the form is the EZ part getting the P.O. or their software to accept it is the hard part. I purchased a mailing program called Endicia and use their Dazzel program to mail all overseas and it has helped but still a pita at times, but at least on it I can put 50 nibs at 2 grams on one line.
 
It's become a double-edged sword, as well.

Customs forms add 10 (short form) to 30 (long form) minutes to an order. Postage ranges from $14 to $50-60. AND the tracking, once it leaves the USA SUCKS. And ONE international in a batch seems to make that batch MUCH more likely to "crash", resulting in all the labels being paid for, but not printed--so each has to be "request for credit" (the 6 week wait game).

So we work harder and the customers just get irritated that it costs so much and it takes a longer time to get to them--so we get "bad-will" in return for the effort.

I am starting to understand why many companies have eliminated international. It is a losing proposition, in most cases.

So, why do we still do it? Because we have several repeat international customers who are FANTASTIC people and worth the extra hassle!!!
 
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I also use Endecia and only have to deal with custom forms when I ship to a Military base in another country. I do not ship in flat rate boxes either.
13oz cost not more than $3.5 in the US, that is for first class.
 
The US is our largest "trading" partner, right? Sad to read that we can't get a small package across the border without it sounding that it's like pulling teeth. Lol

Next thing you know is that we have no common language between our neighbors. Hey, what's to be done? Woe is us. NOT. My rant is over.

signed ... your little neighbor from the not so 'frigid' north.
 
Constant Laubscher said:
I also use Endecia and only have to deal with custom forms when I ship to a Military base in another country. I do not ship in flat rate boxes either.
13oz cost not more than $3.5 in the US, that is for first class.
Click to expand...

Once you start shipping pen kits, it will be interesting to see if you still find 13 oz to be your "normal packaging".
 
I sent two pens to South Africa two weeks ago. I went to the post office, told the clerk what I wanted to do, filled out a LITTLE form, and paid $6.50. Walked out in under 5 minutes. USPS ain't so bad.
 
I get the customs form from the post office and the only thing I write in contents is, on line #1, Pen making materials, line #2 kiln dried, line #3 sealed, and have never had one held up in customs or returned, simple and easy
 
ed4copies said:
Constant Laubscher said:
I also use Endecia and only have to deal with custom forms when I ship to a Military base in another country. I do not ship in flat rate boxes either.
13oz cost not more than $3.5 in the US, that is for first class.
Click to expand...

Once you start shipping pen kits, it will be interesting to see if you still find 13 oz to be your "normal packaging".
Click to expand...

The kit ways less than 1.1 oz , I will be happy to ship boxes filled with kits that ways over 13oz and make that my " Normal Packaging":wink:
I am not new to shipping and have done it all, Priority in your own box is also cheaper than than the flatrate boxes. I am sure there alway better and cheaper ways to ship but what I do works for me.

I am not making profit on shipping it is just a means to get it to the customer.
 
I don't know about the post offices that accept the forms with out all the boxes filled in and that includes the weight. The two local ones checked the forms to make sure they were filled out correctly.

Also that I signed and dated the forms in front of them.

It is easy if you have all of one thing and can divide it out. and besides the post card form can be filled in and there is no software problems.

But since it was a mixed prize package of some blanks of assorted wood, sections of Acetal (Delrin) a sheet cut to fit the box of pic guard material, 3 sheets of copper .020" .8ozea. 3 sheets of aluminum .020" 6.5 to 7oz ea, 2 aluminum .025" 1.1oz ea and 5 copper accent washers at .2oz ea.

You can see the problem when the forms don't accept anything under an ounce!

As Ed said about the problems with the software. There is little to no instructions about what to do.
It only took 3 readings for the normal on line custom form before additional items made sense because you have to fill out another complete form.

And as a couple people mentioned, it is a lot less trouble to fill out the paper one at the post office. And I certainly will do that in the future, as I picked up a couple of extras in case I have to use them again. And know that I know that fact I won't be filling out the on line ones again! :wink:
:clown:
 
Constant Laubscher said:
The kit ways less than 1.1 oz , I will be happy to ship boxes filled with kits that ways over 13oz and make that my " Normal Packaging":wink:
I am not new to shipping and have done it all, Priority in your own box is also cheaper than than the flatrate boxes. I am sure there alway better and cheaper ways to ship but what I do works for me.

I am not making profit on shipping it is just a means to get it to the customer.
Click to expand...

Constant, is there a difference, other than cost, between Flat Rate shipping and International Priority? The reason I ask is that the other day I received a tap and die set, shipped via International Priority, cost was $4.56 and it arrived in 9 days. Quite a good deal from USPS I think.

Then the next day I wanted to order a few pen clips from a US company, I won't mention names, and imagine my horror when the postage charge showed up as $16.95! This for a parcel that would weigh well under the tap and die set in a small padded bag.

When I queried the postage charge, which was more than half the cost of the ordered goods, I was told that they only ship via Flat Rate and the small box costs $16.95
The reason given was that International Priority takes over 30 days.

As this has not been my experience, and I receive a fair bit of stuff from the US, I was more than a little surprised.
 
He did

maxwell_smart007 said:
I've had many, many packages come in from the US.

On nearly every form I've received, every item has been listed, but not individually weighed.

I.e. 10 pen blanks - $5
30 pen kits - $20
1 anvil - $5600
weight - 500 lbs.

I think you may have over-complicated it! :smile:
Andrew
Click to expand...
I agree with you for a change Andrew - it ain't near that messy once you learn how to do it.
 
Hmmmm

OKLAHOMAN said:
Sorry andrew on this I agree with Ed, the form is the EZ part getting the P.O. or their software to accept it is the hard part. I purchased a mailing program called Endicia and use their Dazzel program to mail all overseas and it has helped but still a pita at times, but at least on it I can put 50 nibs at 2 grams on one line.
Click to expand...

I use Dazzle and don't have any problems at all with anything but APO (which it won't do). Everything else is a piece of cake and international doesn't take me much longer than domestic.
 
HMMMM

ed4copies said:
No, the FORM is simple---getting the USPS to ACCEPT the form---not so much!!!

No matter the cause, the effect is hours wasted.
(But then, that's redundant with "government report")
Click to expand...
Ed - stop printing your labels on line and sign up for Endicia (they are approved by the post office)..get yourself a Dymo 4XL label printer and end your hassels....It's what I use and you can set it up for batch and etc. I never have a problem with international labels which even accept digital signature so I don't need to actually sign them. I've never got one back from the post office.
 
I am not sure what all the hassle is with international shipping. I ship a number of packages every week from the small flat rate box to 25# priority mail boxes with no issue, all done online through the USPS website. Takes me all of 5 minutes per label, even on boxes with a lot of stuff in them.

For you guys shipping nibs and light weight items...instead of putting 10 nibs at xxx weight, try putting "set of 10 nibs" and then the total weight for all 10. I do this all the time with pen blanks, etc. If I am shipping 20 pen blanks, I put "set of 20 pen blanks" with a weight of XXX ounces and that is it. Never had an issue.
 
Yep

MesquiteMan said:
I am not sure what all the hassle is with international shipping. I ship a number of packages every week from the small flat rate box to 25# priority mail boxes with no issue, all done online through the USPS website. Takes me all of 5 minutes per label, even on boxes with a lot of stuff in them.

For you guys shipping nibs and light weight items...instead of putting 10 nibs at xxx weight, try putting "set of 10 nibs" and then the total weight for all 10. I do this all the time with pen blanks, etc. If I am shipping 20 pen blanks, I put "set of 20 pen blanks" with a weight of XXX ounces and that is it. Never had an issue.
Click to expand...
That's the way to do it. I also list the number of packages of kits I ship not the number of kits. The total value is most important - thats where the foreign tax man is looking.

Tracking usually can't be done on packages to foreign locations not because of USPS but because of the foreign system not being connected to ours. If you need tracking you can use UPS, FedEx, DHL etc. I think they'll cost more but they have pretty decent worldwide tracking networks.
 
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