I was trying to send my son some books using the Alternate Address. When I try to finish the process it comes up as unable to validate the address. Has anyone had this problem? I would like to send him books to read and share with the soldiers he is with, but can't seem to get them sent.

This is the address he gave me:

455 EAPS / ATOC

APO, AE   09352

Does this look OK? Or do you see something I am doing incorrect?

The PBS/USPS database doesn't like some of the military addresses I've tried either 

You can check with your local PO and see if their system recognizes it, if so then PBS should accept it.  If not, maybe they know what needs to be changed?

BTW, there may also be alternate ways to write that APO addy.  For our DS, I've seen several variations on his North Carolina miliatry address...all seem to be correct (and will arrive) but the USPS/PBS data bases don't necessarily recognize each of those variations.

You can only use addresses here if they appear with a full 9-digit ZIP code when entered in the "find a zip code" tool at www.usps.com. When I enter your son's address there, I get:

• Unfortunately, this address wasn't found.
• Please double-check it and try again.

I believe the military does the final sorting and delivery of mail within their ZIP codes, so they're not always good about updating the USPS with the correct 9-digit ZIPs for each address. Your son might try talking to his military post office personnel to see if they can do anything to get his correct address updated with USPS.

APO AE 09352  comes up as the zip code for GERMANY (country) HERZOGENAURACH (city).  Is your son in Germany?  If so, this is the correct address. AE stands for Armed forces Europe (and also Africa and Canada).

If you are filling out fields, put 455 EAPS/ATOC in the "address" field.  By the way, no spaces between the acronyms and the slash.

Then put APO AE in the "city" field. No commas!

Finally, enter 09352 in the zip code field.

A military site suggests that you try entering the zip code in the "city" field and that this would automatically  fill in the correct APO/FPO designation and state abbreviation.

My experience - navy wife for 20 years.

Good luck!

Gloria

Me again... when I went to the  "find a zip code" tool at www.usps.com a couple minutes ago, I entered the 09352 zip, filled out the rest of the form arbitrarily, clicked continue, and immediately got a page which recognized this as an APO/FPO address.  So the zip code IS in the postal system. Hopefully, though, by now, you've mailed your books to your son! :-)

Gloria -- the exact address has to be in the USPS system with its full 9-digit ZIP, or it won't work here at PBS. If some of the other addresses that belong to that ZIP are known to USPS, then it shouldn't be too hard for the military to get this one added.

Cathy,  I follow you now...thanks for setting me straight!