Last year there was a discussion about submitting electronic customs info for shipments going to the US and what would happen if you posted via the PO without doing that. I’ve just sent something to the US and have been monitoring the tracking so thought you might like to know how it went…
Posted at the post office on monday (21st) morning with no electronic customs info being entered (but it did have its CN22 sticker with HS tariff code stuck on the front like normal), made it to Heathrow the next morning (22nd) but didn’t make it to New York until the morning of the 25th (Fri). Delivered in Conneticut on Monday 28th. So a week door to door which I consider to be service as normal, maybe it would be quicker with the electronic customs info but not having it doesn’t seem to be making it any slower than this time last year.
(and as an extra plus the lady loves her earrings and we are now discussing the possibility of some matching items)
I used to post to US and posted several items in the past. Most of my items go large letter post and I was told you didn’t need a cn22 sticker on them. Then this January I was told everything has to have an electronic sticker with tariff codes. I have now stopped posting abroad until I can get my head around the codes. I use textiles and the different variations on the codings was totally confusing me. Even down to weight per square grams of fabric, duh! i don’t know before or after I have sewn it? I have left it for now which is a shame as I was beginning to get several sales for the US.
@Zoknitandsew there is an email address that you can use to contact the right department and have them tell you your tariff codes - let me see if I can find it for you.
@Zoknitandsew found the email info in this other thread
https://talk.folksy.com/t/clickndrop-new-custom-information-help/17604/5
@SashaGarrett thank you, I think I may have to resort in e mailing them or not posting abroad☺. I know there are a lot of people who try to smuggle stuff into a country and customs have to monitor it but it makes it so much hassle for small businesses to contend with. If I were sending big parcels or shipping containers I could understand it but the odd fabric bag, purse or pencil case by large letter post just makes it so time consuming.
My old post office used to tell me I didn’t need a sticker on letters too, but really anything that is sold needs a sticker, so I’d put one on anyway. You could probably easily get away without using one because it’s likely they’d just assume it was a letter, but just in case it did get opened I didn’t want anything delaying it.
As far as I’m aware at the moment over the counter stuff doesn’t need the electronic version (I haven’t seen any set up where we can do it), but the services like click and drop do. I don’t know for sure because I haven’t had to send anything internationally yet this year, but from what everyone else is saying, most post offices don’t know a thing about it. We’ll have to do it at some point, but it seems if you’re over the counter, you still have a bit of time to prepare (think I’m going to need that email address).
Thanks for sharing Sasha 
I sell mainly through the " other online site " and 90% of my sales go to the US, I always take my parcels to the post office with a customs label on and never had a problem with parcels being delayed or otherwise. I send them all tracked, signed and insured for due to the value of the parcel.