Complain about a product or service

USPS - Restricted Substances

David of South Casco ME (11/29/04): I own a winery in Maine and am trying to ship some wine on behalf of a local customer to his parents in the Netherlands.

USPS • Damaged Mail • Lost Mail • No Mail Delivery • Stolen Mail • Wrong Mail --- • Address Disputes • Change of Address • Dangerous Drivers • Hostility • Prescriptions Mishandled • Privacy Violations • Restricted Substances --- • Priority Mail • Express Mail • Military Mail --- News • Movie Fans Suspect Foul Play at the Post Office

Before even trying to use USPS to mail wine I checked their website to see if it was possible. I know the USPS will not send wine within the US but thought I might be able to ship overseas.

On the USPS website is Publication 52: Hazardous, Restricted and Perishible. Section 636 exempts certain items otherwise restricted, including alcohol, if the country to which it is sent does not prohibit importation. The International Mail Manual listed the Netherlands as a country that did not prohibit the importation of alcohol.

So I filled out the Customs forms online and put the package together. When I arrived at the Post Office I was told the Postal Service does not ship wine at all. I asked to see that in writing and was told they would have to investigate. I left my number and asked them to phone me when I had an answer. They phoned a couple hours later to say they had checked with the main Post Office and repeated that they would not ship wine. I asked them to explain the discrepancy between the answer they gave me and what was posted on the USPS website. They could not explain.

Next I emailed the same question on the USPS website. A couple hours later (I admit, they are prompt) I got a response. Here is the thread:

Customer (David) My local Post Office will not ship a package containing wine for me. I understand wine is a restricted material listed in DMM C024.7.0 through C024.20.0, however Publication 52 section 636 says it can be mailed internationally if it is not prohibited in that county’s IMM. I want to ship to the Netherlands and when I check the IMM for the Netherlands, there is no restriction for wine. My postmaster says wine cannot be shipped under any circumstances. Can you explain the discrepency?

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Thank you David, for visiting our website. There are no restriction for wine to be received by the Netherlands customs dept. The only way for you to send wine is if you do a carry-on you in flight. If we can be of assistance to you in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for using the United States Postal Service. William

On the one hand, they acknowledge that there is no reason wine can't be sent to the Netherlands, but imply I must deliver it myself.

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