Bartertown.com

Does anyone know if you can track a customs form number through the military mail system?
I haven't found any way to do it online and the military mail service, USPs, and customs do not address the question in their FAQs that I could find.
I'm interested, because I sent a package out two months ago and have not heard back from the other trader if it arrived ok.
He has also not responded to PMs or e-mails even though he has received them.
If I can find out if the package was delivered I can at laest have some measure of comfort that it arrived ok.

Thanks!
Dave

Good day,

Have you tried inputing the customs number into the USPS.com tracking engine?

I have sent a few packages to APO boxes but I don't remember if the number worked all the way until delivery - I understand this probable isn't very helpful.

Thank you,

Tracking goes as far as the military base that it shipps out on.

If it's to an FPO, floating post ofice, aka a navy ship, then it gets tracked as far as the port it departs to get to the ship.
If it's an apo, army post office, then it gets tracked as far as the base it gets shipped out on.

If it's going to a permanent base in another coutry, [like in Germany, Japan, et c.] it SHOULD be tracked to the bases postal office equivilant.

Also note, there is a difference between tacking and tracing. Most handling in the USPS is tracable, not trackable, unless you ship Express Mail or Registered Mail.

If you use insurance or delivery confirmation, then you'll only be able to trace a number.


Remember, mail being sent to apo's and fpo's use the military transport to get delivered. It leaves USPS hands when it goes to a base.

Customs forms are now required, because even though a military base is US property, the roads that lead to the bases aren't and items are subject to the rules/laws/strictures of the country.
{like no displays of skin of females, so magazines like 'Maxim" isn't allowed in some Middle eastern countries.}

FYI: http://www.shopmyexchange.com/vendors/pdf/apoguide.pdf

This should give you an understanding on how they work.

Thanks for the info fellas!
I was hoping that I could enter the customs # at the Military mail website and see if it was delivered or not, but that does not seem possible.
The USPS website only shows that it was accepted.
I guess if the guy never received it he would have LMK or responded to my PMs and e-mails.

Thanks!

Also, depending on where he is, 2 months may not be totally unreasonable. I was at a central hub base, where everything came into the AOR, and it could take 2 weeks to get there. Sits on the ground there for a week or 2 (easily) before leaving. Next base same thing. And the out to destination.

I wouldn't expect 2 months, for sure, but wouldn't be too surprised, either. The few things I have sent out to Afghanistan have taken 3-4 weeks to get there.

There is also the thing that for various reason, the military cuts access to sites / cuts access to email / etc. Could be he got it last week, and either cannot get to Bartertown, or is so busy he cannot answer.

Or he got it 3 weeks ago and juts hasn't bothered. Hard to tell.