What to write on a customs form?

[bcarroll9494]

a refresher course, please
I know there has to be a thread on here about this but I can't find any recent.

What do you write on the USPS customs form? (Or rather, what is the correct thing to write?)

I have always checked the "OTHER________" box and wrote in "baby diapers" there because that is what I once read is an innocuous label that won't raise any red flags to customs. But I also usually end up writing "baby diapers" generically on the line items below, too.
Today at the post office, the clerk said I could just write "ONLINE SALE" at the top.

Hmm..... what's best?
Would this differ if it was a WAHM sale or just a FSOT sale?

[AmarilloMommy]

I always went with the "write whatever won't raise any red flags" method when I was sending DH packages. Worked for me lol

[boysniris]

I mark "merchandise" for anything that I sold, whether FSOT or as part of my WAHM business. No one trained me on this, though, I just figured you sell merchandise, and this was something I sold ...

The I itemize whatever it inside the package.

[Fishie Kisses]

Originally Posted by boysniris I mark "merchandise" for anything that I sold, whether FSOT or as part of my WAHM business. No one trained me on this, though, I just figured you sell merchandise, and this was something I sold ... The I itemize whatever it inside the package.

this is exactly what I do as well. I've never had any issues, nor have any of the recipients

[I_run_with_scissors]

I always write cloth diapers, or baby diapers (if they are diapers)

[Tami]

I check the merchandise box and write 'baby cloth nappies' or 'children's clothing' (going to the UK).

[bcarroll9494]

good to know. Thanks, all!

[Computermama]

Speaking as a recipient, please do mark as diapers, or children's clothing, or what have you. Especially if it's a larger parcel that's worth more money. Certain things are taxed at different rates, and childrens items, particularly used items, are taxed at a lower rate than others. They're also, in my experience, less likely to get stopped at the border.

Another pro tip - If your customs forms ask for a price, please guesstimate without shipping. EG - if you sell a diaper for $15ppd, and it costs you 3.50 to ship, put 11 or 12 on the price on the customs form. It doesn't reflect insurance, it's simply the amount that the recipient will be taxed on if they choose to charge the recipient import taxes.

And an odd aside, I'm always kinda amused when I get a package with a customs form marked "used diapers". Since most people think of diapers as sposies, I can just IMAGINE most customs workers first thoughts when they see those packages