Off-Topic Forum

First of all, sorry about posting this in the identification forum, I wanted to add the image and this way was easiest for me.

And, before I start this, I know that if I ship PWE I can avoid having to fill out customs forms, but really in general, I have never had a problem with paying a little extra to ship a bubblewrap envelope and filling out the customs slip at the post office.

However, I just came away from the post office on Saturday with a problem due to new customs changes.

Some of you know that I had surgery two weeks ago to repair a torn hamstring and avulsion fracture. (Lucky me, I found a way to suffer a rare curling injury.) Before I went in, I left my roommate four envelopes to mail for me, two of which were PWEs, and two in bubblewrap envelopes. After surgery I stayed at my sister's place for a week, letting her take care of her immobile brother. My roommate took a few days, and said that the PWEs went through, but that the others needed custom forms. I had left him the customs info, as to what to declare, so I was a little curious as to why he wasn't able to do it, but I let it pass. He did me a favor mailing the other envelopes...

As to my recovery, I still can't fully sit upright, which means no driving. Finally, on Saturday, I was able to get a friend to run errands with me. (I get to recline the passenger seat in the car, and basically lie there as they drive. What fun!) We went to the post office, and I was told the customs forms now had to be filled out electronically, and when you follow the links, you find that one of the items needed is the recipient's phone number. I can't say I've ever asked for that before while trading. When I asked about the changes, they handed me the scanned sheet.

I can't say I'm happy about this. Now I have to reach out to the two people expecting packages from me, and work something out. I can't say I'm happy with the changes.

Has anyone else run into this problem?

Very interesting. I mailed out on Saturday as per normal.

I am heading out to mail two. One a PWE and the other a bubble. I'll report back in an hour.

No issues on my mail out. 

I asked the clerks at my PO about this matter and showed them the OP. They looked in their system and found an email from head office with an internal memo to staff dated May 24.

They are being directed to "Recommend" customers do their customs forms electronically. By doing it electronically you will need the recipients phone number to complete the form. However, the memo directs staff to "induct the parcel as you would normally...encourage them to use the electronic customs form...to elimanate the need for handwritten forms and reduce transaction time at the post office." if the form has not been done this way.

There is also an app for creating the barcode, and the staff has slightly different instructions.

If anybody would like a copy of the memo, pm me.

Good to know. Thanks. I'll try a different postal outlet.

And if they give you a hard time, ask them to read "Info Message Issue 2019-21, May 24, 2019".

Thanks for the help. The different outlet that I went to didn't even hesitate at pulling out paper customs forms for the packages.