News Article

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Savvy consumers compare ways to send to FPO, APO

Listen up.

Let's talk about... How to get packages overseas when you buy from companies that won't ship to APO or FPO addresses.

Plenty of companies will ship to APO and FPO addresses; the military exchanges ship catalog purchases for free.

But some companies just won't ship to these addresses. So if you really want a particular item that you can't find overseas, or if it's cheaper to order online or from a catalog, how do you get it there?

A company called ShipitAPO® (http://www.ShipitAPO®.com) is one solution. When you register online, it gives you a special address to use when ordering items. The address includes your account number. You give the company the actual APO/FPO address where you want the item shipped. The store ships your item to the special ShipitAPO® address, a warehouse closest to the postal hub that handles your particular APO/FPO region.

Sometimes stores ship for free. If not, you pay what the store charges to send it to the ShipitAPO® warehouse.

There's a $6.95 service charge per package, plus postage from the ShipitAPO® warehouse to the APO or FPO post office hub, depending on the weight. But the postage rate is guaranteed to be the lowest possible, said John Couch, Chief Technology Officer for ShipitAPO®, because its warehouses are practically across the street from the three hubs that send mail to APO and FPO addresses.

The company will ship anything allowable within postal regulations. "We recently shipped somebody 55 pounds of candle wax," Couch said. "You don't stop your candle making just because you move to Germany."

Sarge isn't endorsing this or any company, just giving information on an alternative. Check it out. Compare prices.

Even if you're ordering from a discount store that will ship to APO/FPO addresses, compare the shipping costs with ShipitAPO® for the best price.

This article appeared in the April16, 2001 issue of ArmyTimes, NavyTimes, AirForceTimes, and MarineCorpsTimes, page 33.