While I definitely appreciate the reason for making a detailed list of contents on the customs form (i.e., to help reunite the contents if the box breaks), I'll never manage to get any boxes out if I have to be organized enough to do that. So, I guess I'll keep taking my chances...lol.

When I fill out the forms (which I always try to do before heading out to the Post Office), I:

1. List the contents generically (e.g., snack food, used books, used toys, used media). The "used media" designation is for things like DVDs and CDs. I never indicate the quantities of items.

2. Put a low value (never over $20, and usually much less).

3. Check the box to redirect the parcel in case of non-delivery (don't check "treat as abandoned" unless you want the parcel to be destroyed!). I had a rubber stamp made up that says something like "CO, CH, or NCO at this address/location for redistribution to troops"; this makes it a lot easier for me to complete the form (even though you have to stamp each page)! If a package is really troop specific (and not something that it makes sense to pass along to others), then I will check "return to sender." Regarding the comments about whether you must pay return postage, this depends on what class of mail you used to send the package. If you used First Class or Priority Mail, you will not need to pay return postage (you can find this information for other classes of mail buried deep within the Dometic Mail Manual on the www.USPS.com site).

I also had a return address stamp made that I use for the sender's info box (this does double-duty for stamping the return address on the parcel, too). You can get these made very cheaply online at places like www.vistaprint.com (look for the specials where you can get the stamp free and pay only postage) and www.iprint.com (free for new customers; just pay postage).

Re: the earlier comments about putting the customs form inside the package... That's something to do if you are sending something of high value (e.g., over $400) where you don't want the list of contents to be viewable on the outside of the package. If you look on the back of the green form, you'll see additional information about this. I don't expect that this applies to too many of us here, though...lol.

I do the same thing about listing each item as I pack, Cat, for the same reason.  Plus, if I get a response that "the stuff you sent was perfect" I know what kind of stuff to send the next time.  In the beginning, another reason I made a list of everything in a package was so I could track my expenses, trying to stay within a budget.  That went out the window almost immediately!  I really appreciate your hard work typing all that valuable info for us.  I have gone to the USPS website to read up on things, but it generally leaves my head spinning.  You explain things much better.  Perhaps they should have you writing their copy.    One thing I don't do is list how many of each thing I put in a package on the customs form.  None of the clerks here require it, saying that is for commercial shipping.  I hadn't thought about someone trying to retrieve and repack stuff if a box got ripped open.  I cram so many small items in I think they'd just tear their hair out.  I do follow Marty's instructions to tape the box as if Godzilla will be the one handling it.  I make sure there are no loose edges that might catch on something and I reinforce all the corners with additional tape. 

And Gran - I have fibromyalgia, too.  It's a drag, isn't it?

Here are my tips:

1) Order custom forms online from USPS. com and keep them in your car, along with a few extra flat rate boxes and tape, if room allows.  This way you can fill out the FROM section of the form if caught in a traffic jam.  The extra boxes and tape will make you a hero with the post office customers.

2) Complete your customs form as you pack the box.

3) Order AS business cards and pass them out in line at the post office.

4) Wear your AS T-shirt or cap in line at the post office.

5) If you run across a new postal clerk, SMILE, slide the box across the counter with the custom form on top, and say "No, Yes but it's double bagged, No and No.  I also do not want insurance".  They are required to ask a series of questions "is the contents: fragile, liquid, perishable or potentially hazardous.  Do you want to insure this package?".  The clerk will then realize that you are a PRO and, hopefully, treat you accordingly. 

6) If you are worried about the box being pilferred, write or put stickers on the outside.  Colored stickers and bold writing gains lots of attention.  This possibly keeps a dishonest person from absconding with the package.  I suggest: "To my favorite God Son (insert name here) on his birthday", "To (insert name here) with love from his favorite elementary teacher".  It doesn't matter to the soldier that you "streached the truth" on the outside, as long as he/she get the box.  This actually protected a microwave I had mailed to Iraq.  (If you also use the same colored stickers ever time, or the same box marking, your designated soider will recognize that the box is from you before reading the top.)

7) If you are mailing flat rate boxes you know the anticipate total, so if not paying with a credit card, use exact change.  In many instances, citizens use the post office as a bank, using large bills.  One dollar bills are usually, even a large amount of them, are totally appreciated by the clerks.

8) If there is an independent contractor, other than the UPSP (Mail and More, Parcel Plus, etc.) ask the owner/operator if they would be willing to mail your package without the mark-up, i.e. normal mail rate.  Most will help you. 

9) When the person at the back of the line at the post office makes a loud announcement, pointed directly at you, that "you #$#!* Ebay people need to get a real job and don't clog up my line at the Post Office", here are my tips:

A) Remain calm.  We have a purpose here.....

B) Look for assistance in the line, especially someone wearing patriotic clothing, especially a man wearing a "Served In......" or "Son/Daughter Currently Serving .........." ball cap.

C) Ask that person to break from the line and to READ ALOUD for all to hear the address on your boxes.

D) If no one is available to assist you, do it yourself.

***  I have shamed multiple people from the local post office using the above mention actions.

Many thanks to those who suggested that the customs forms state that the package should be redirected to the unit's CO, XO or unit's clergy.  I have come home twice and confronted "returned to sender" packages, although the form was clearly marked "give to any clergy".  It sent me running to the www.dod.gov website to check the status of my contact.

TheMomBear,

"2) Complete your customs form as you pack the box."

LOL - We are usually packing 3-5 boxes at a time, and switching and swapping things in and out of each box until we have what fits best in each box after we have packed the essentials for that particular unit.

"6) If you are worried about the box being pilferred, write or put stickers on the outside.  Colored stickers and bold writing gains lots of attention. "

Our postal clerks would send you packing back home to cover the writing on the outside of the box before they accept it.

We all have to struggle through our own nightmares at the post office - all of them are different.

Gran

Our post office does not accept a package if the total value isn't filled out on the customs form.  The last few I haven't put an item value, and they take it that way, but we must have the total value.  It can be 0, but at least that is a value.

Gran

Gran,

Probably my worse experience with Custom Forms is filling out 3 forms of the same box because I had so many different items.  The postal clerk looked at all 3 and handed two of them back to me! 

I guess it all depends on who is standing behind the counter on any given day.

TheMomBear:

9) When the person at the back of the line at the post office makes a loud announcement, pointed directly at you, that "you #$#!* Ebay people need to get a real job and don't clog up my line at the Post Office", here are my tips:

A) Remain calm.  We have a purpose here.....

B) Look for assistance in the line, especially someone wearing patriotic clothing, especially a man wearing a "Served In......" or "Son/Daughter Currently Serving .........." ball cap.

C) Ask that person to break from the line and to READ ALOUD for all to hear the address on your boxes.

D) If no one is available to assist you, do it yourself.

I LOVE THIS!!!!!! IT'S BRILLIANT!!!  I'm going to have to try this the next I run into a "bump" in the line at the post office!    

New Question(I think),

Haven't found and answer for this, if someone could direct me.  Just shipped a package priority insured.  Have been putting !stSgt and Unit number in redirect to box on customs forms since reading this thread recently, no problem.

With this last package, the PO clerk said for an insured package you HAVE TO USE  person's name in the redirect box and  ABSOLUTEY POSITIVELY  cannot use a title, ie: !st,Sgt as I've been doing all along.  My only option would be to not insure it.  Don't care if can or can't collect the $35 of insurance.  Not insuring for the money.  Just want the package to get to the intended soldier!  Her next suggestion was to check return to sender (and cross out the original instruction) so it wouldn't be abandoned.  Figured that would be my best oprtion since the military person on the other end would see my first choice was to give it to SOMEONE in the same unit and hopefully ignore the return to sender instruction and go with the original intent.

Anyone know the PO rule insured packages and redirect stuff?  All I could find was --  redirect info had to have the sender and the recipients "information".  The way I see it, a title is a person's information.  Of course the PO may not see it that way. The other bit involved is that insurance doesn't necessrily require a signature (you don't get signature confirmation- sorry) so why do I have to have a name instead of a title?

Of course,  he may just have been ticked off at me - the box weighed in at 13 plus lbs, my heaviest yet - got a little heavier (oops turned on italics and now I can't turn it off) then expected. (time for morning caffeinne)

Any help with this redirect/insurance combo would be appreciated.

Ann

''Section 16 - Instructions in Case of Nondelivery - I always select "Redirect to Address Below" and I write - 1st. Sgt or XO and below that I put the soldier's unit number.   At least this way I know his unit will receive it.''

I sent two packages today and filled out the Cutoms Form using the USPS website form. Using this method you have to enter a complete name and address for the Nondelivery question, so I chose the return to sender option.  Is there anyway around this using the on-line form?  I really don't want the package coming back (I live in an apartment and packages are a headache).  By the way, the postal clerk said they much prefer that people use the on-line form because the address appears more clearly than on handwritten forms.