USPS Issues

Re: New Customs Forms

scmiller — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:41:37 GMT

I'm assuming that the new forms have the date on the bottom of "January 2009". I really haven't had any problems with these forms. I abbreviate like crazy and for quantity I use the quantity column for all of the items listed on the line. I don't really follow the blocks either. I don't put in a weight for each line, but I do enter an amount for everything listed on the line.

To tell you the truth, when I first starting sending packages in August, my biggest concern was these damn forms. I was relieved when I sent out my first package and prayed that it wasn't going to be sent back. Tomorrow I send out #3.

Re: New Customs Forms

amelia — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:35:23 GMT

The smaller post office that I like to use has the new forms now but I dont think they have the equipment that scans the form. Is that what it will do or will the po worker have to enter all the info in? The main/larger post office still had the old forms about three weeks ago. I may go in there tomorrow and ask about it.

Amelia

Re: New Customs Forms

peachycor — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:42:58 GMT

Lucky you! And let's hope the war is over before the equipment is installed everywhere!

Otherwise, how about let's clog up the system with multi-forms for each pkg which would take mucho time at the PO and hold up lines....

Re: New Customs Forms

peachycor — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:40:44 GMT

My understanding is that it is electronic scanning equipment that will read the form(s) and needs separate installation. Wondering where you are located....

Re: New Customs Forms

ann — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:05:00 GMT

Latest package I mailed was last week - old customs form, the big ole white thing with the blank box for items, never can remember which number it is. But it was definitely the old one. Went thru no problem. No one batted an eye. Matter of fact, th PO I used just got finished training a whole bunch of new PO clerks on the new forms, since that's what they are using. Reason I remember is the week before that, they all seemed to start on the same day and there was a line out the door as they all learned how to do all the ordinary stuff. I waited for one of the older (meaning eexperienced clerks) since I had 4 boxes to mail that day. Last week the more experienced clerk passed me off to the 'new guy' so he could get experience on the customs form. Went thru smooth as silk. The old form. I'm in northern Jersey.

Anyone know what 'the equipment' for the new forms is? Is it equipment at the counters? Just new software?

EDIT: Oops, typo correction - 4 boxes should read 2 boxes - must have hit the wrong numeric key. Sorry.

Re: New Customs Forms

Gran — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:08:15 GMT

We had heard at the beginning of the new form publication that there would be X (unknown to most) number of post offices that would be involved in a trial run at the start of the use of the new machinery. I am wildly guessing that they will try out those post offices first until they work out a few of the bugs in the system. I am assuming that they are trying to make it faster to read the information on the forms. It may be quite a while before we out here in Podunk Hollow get the mandatory order to use the new ones. When Mr. Gran went to one of the post offices on the outskirts of Little Rock this week where he had gotten old forms before, they told him that they had not even seen nor heard of the new forms, and he got us a stack of the old ones.

Re: New Customs Forms

peachycor — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:54:45 GMT

Please say where you are located. This will be a nightmare if instituted. With the FRB we can put such a variety of items and so much, that it would take many forms, much time, and energy to do it accurately. What can we do??

Re: New Customs Forms

ann — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:14:26 GMT

Phillis -

Phillis:
If it LATHERS, regardless of whether it's shampoo, body wash or whatever, it will now be referred to as "liquid soap" Line one complete!

LOLOLOLOLOLOL Thanks!

Ann Also pls check your inbox - sent you a PM - long live BlueGrass

Re: New Customs Forms

peachycor — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:07:01 GMT

Southern California. Just north of LA.

Re: New Customs Forms

Heidi — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:43:04 GMT

We have had the new forms for a while. THey don't say anything about lumping things together, and I never write the weight on it. The address is all screwed up, I just write it like I get it from here, not paying attention to the spacing on the form. Haven't had anyone tell me to redo it. But, maybe they will stat getting more touchy about it. who knows.

Re: New Customs Forms

PatrioticLady — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:33:12 GMT

peachycor:
What state (location, not emotional) are you in?

Tennessee.

Re: New Customs Forms

Phillis — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:39:07 GMT

I had my husband pick up some forms yesterday, simply because I was out, and they gave him the new ones. He took packages though, with the old ones, and they accepted them without issue.

Another one of those cases of "it depends on the particular office" maybe? I went to the other TINY little office I use most of the time, and got all the old forms they had. The clerk there wasn't even aware there had been a change until I told her, so they obviously have not been told not to take the old ones (yet!)

I do NOT like the new forms and am trying to figure out a way to get everything on 4 lines...

If it LATHERS, regardless of whether it's shampoo, body wash or whatever, it will now be referred to as "liquid soap" Line one complete!

Re: New Customs Forms

peachycor — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:02:27 GMT

I'm with you. What a mess! When this first started I wrote to everyone I could think up to the White House. Then it all died down. Sure hope it doesn't come to pass now. What state (location, not emotional) are you in?

Re: New Customs Forms

PatrioticLady — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:54:09 GMT

Gran, My post office just got the equipment needed to use the forms as they were designed by the Customs folk. Once it's installed (and theirs is ready to use), they have to use it. Both the local post offices have the new equipment, so I reckon I'm stuck with the new forms. I still think it's ridiculous that it's not either implemented everywhere at once, or not implemented at all. What about all the post offices that don't have the equipment? Is Customs going to refuse packages without the new forms on them?

Re: New Customs Forms

Gran — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:15:13 GMT

Okay, now, this is really bugging me. If the new forms were invented to use with electronic equipment that they don't even use, then why are they forcing us to use them? Are they too ashamed to admit that they fouled up? We were told to ignore the way the first page is set up and to fill them out the way we always had. I actually mark through where it says "first" name and "last" name, and just write it the way I always did, with first name, then last name. Maybe I am just being cranky and contrary.