Shipping to APO addresses requires extra steps that sellers must be prepared for. APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office), and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) addresses are used to serve U.S. military and diplomatic personnel stationed around the world. While these are technically treated as domestic shipments by USPS, they require customs declaration forms—something Drip's built-in shipping system does not currently support.
This guide will walk you through exactly what to do when a buyer places an order with an APO address.
Understanding APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses
These addresses allow mail to be routed through the U.S. military or diplomatic system. While they resemble standard U.S. addresses, they include specific military routing that makes them unique. Here’s how to identify them:
APO – Army or Air Force mail
FPO – Navy mail
DPO – U.S. diplomatic mail
They will often contain state codes like:
AE (Armed Forces Europe)
AA (Armed Forces Americas)
AP (Armed Forces Pacific)
A typical APO address might look like this:
PFC John Doe Unit 1234 Box 5678 APO AE 09350
Why Drip Sellers Need to Use a Third-Party Shipping Service
Drip’s integrated shipping system (Shippo) does not support APO/FPO/DPO shipments, due to its inability to generate the required customs forms. As a result, sellers must complete these shipments manually using a third-party solution that supports APO shipping.
What to Do If You Receive an APO Order
✅ Step 1: Confirm the Address Format
Carefully review the shipping address. If you see APO, FPO, or DPO with one of the state codes listed above, you’ll need to prepare to ship it outside of Drip’s native label system.
✅ Step 2: Use Pirate Ship for Shipping
Pirate Ship is a free shipping platform that works with USPS and supports APO, FPO, and DPO shipping. It allows you to:
Generate compliant USPS labels
Fill out customs declarations
Access discounted shipping rates
To use Pirate Ship:
Create a free Pirate Ship account.
Manually enter the buyer’s APO address.
Fill out the required customs form (you’ll declare item type and value).
Purchase and print the label.
✅ Step 3: Upload Tracking Info Back Into Drip
Once your label is printed:
Go to the Orders tab in your Seller Hub on Drip.
Find the APO order.
Click to manually enter the tracking number.
Mark the order as shipped.
This ensures your buyer receives tracking updates and that the order is marked complete.
✅ Step 4: Request Reimbursement If Shipping Is More Expensive
If your APO shipping cost ends up being higher than what the buyer paid, you may be eligible for a reimbursement. Here's how to request it:
Open a ticket in #support-chat on the seller Discord.
Include:
The order ID
A screenshot of your Pirate Ship receipt
The exact amount paid and total shipping cost
Reimbursements are reviewed and approved at Drip’s discretion.
Tips for Shipping to APO Addresses
Only use USPS. UPS and FedEx do not deliver to APO/FPO addresses.
Declare items clearly (e.g. "Trading Cards", "Toys", or "Collectibles") on the customs form.
Enter the exact retail value when prompted.
Be proactive with buyers: let them know APO shipments may experience delays due to military handling.
For help shipping to APO addresses or anything else related to fulfillment, reach out via live chat or email us at [email protected].
We're here to make sure your orders arrive safely—no matter where your buyers are in the world. 🇺🇸📦