Just in Time for Christmas!

Thanks to my wonderful friend Missy, I have found a new site that I am too addicted to! Thanks! Like I really needed more help in the shopping department or in the "Oh, I can make that" hobby world. LOL!!

Etsy is an online shopping mall for all of these wonderfully talented individuals who make their own products. It is all homemade. Everything! And I do mean everything; from purses & bags to shirts, to baby stuff, to collection pieces, to home decor! I have yet to see it all! Many will customize this & that with your preferences too. It is amazing! For someone like me who knows what she wants, this site is perfect.

I have now ordered a few things from there & the personal contact I get with the vendor is well worth a little extra change here in & there. If you are looking for something a little different, like you were shopping in a boutique without the boutique prices...

With the holidays coming, you really need to check out Etsy for yourself!

Amazon Boycott!

Once I learned of Amazon's new APO/FPO shipping policies & also learned that it is strictly Amazon.com with the issue, I started to do some work-a-rounds. For Example:

I wanted a Microplane Cheese Grater (the best on the market!) but Amazon.com could not ship it to me for whatever category it fell into...gourmet cooking items? So I thought, let's see if this is Amazon or Microplane. I went to Microplane.com & ordered my grater & got it here in less than a week! THANKS MICROPLANE! Thus, it is definitely Amazon with the issue, not the companies of the actual products. I have done this with a few items.

However, one item that I cannot do this with is the one product that is strictly Amazon: the Amazon Kindle DX. I can get all the accessories shipped here or to the States no matter my billing address, but I cannot get the Kindle here or in the States because of my billing address? Yes! Here is Amazon's response:

" Hello,

In regards to your inquiry, it seems that the Kindle order has already been canceled, as we have tried billing your credit card three times. Canceled orders can't be reinstated. I looked at your credit card and found that the billing address is an FPO address, and that is preventing the order from completing. As you already know, the shipping and billing addresses need to be a U.S. based billing address, and FPO address can't be used.

As a suggestion, you could purchase an Amazon Gift Card and have your friend that you are shipping it to redeem it to their account, purchase the Kindle using their information. They will then be able to send the Kindle to you.

I hope this information helps.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question: "

Yes, I have some bloody questions!:

• First, are you saying you split my order up to move the Kindle to it's own "order"? Because every other email I have received showed the Kindle DX & the Belkin Sleeve on the same order...as one order...under the same order number in reference. So you purposely are not shipping the Kindle to or for a service-member?

• Are you now saying that I cannot use your site to ship any items because my "billing" address is a military address?

• Are you suggesting that because of my billing address that I will not be able to use your site to ship any gifts (i.e. Christmas & birthdays) to the States, which is where this order was going?

• Are you suggesting that you have been in error with shipping to anyone who does have a military address, since many still have received items from you recently here in this overseas military community?

• Or are you simply suggesting that I, me, personally, cannot get items from you, however, everyone else can?

Amazon, when a product that is solely manufactured by you, such as the Kindle, it should be exempt from any "policies" you have in place. Secondly, you are limiting your customer base by handling this product by such "policies".

Thirdly...I am boycotting you from now on! You will no longer have my business, and I will continue to spread the word about your bad customer service & foul attitude towards military service-members and their families.

The Once Prestigious Amazon.com Now Letting Down Those Who Serve!

I have been on a online shopping warpath! I can't get what I need or want here in Japan on the economy, I can't get it at the NEX online or here on base, & I now can't get it with Amazon!? What kind of horse-poo is that?

The once prestigious Amazon.com that promised many overseas Americans a way of getting what they need & want has limited their shipping policies to very limited goods. You can't even get a cheese grater through them, or cutting boards, because they fall under "gourmet cooking" items! Seriously? 4 cutting boards at $14.95 are "gourmet" now? Wow! I sure am behind the times.

To rub more salt into that wound, the Amazon Kindle cannot be shipped to an APO/FPO address under the "computer" items limitation. Really? So those who can really get the best benefits & use from it, sailors aboard a ship stationed way out to sea, can't get this product?

Below is what Amazon's policies are for shipping:

Shipping Restrictions

Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping certain products to all geographical locations. In addition, some items too big to ship to a P.O. box must be shipped to a street address. You'll be notified while placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address you've selected. Below are some general guidelines for items shipped by Amazon.com to the following destinations:

• Alaska and Hawaii
• APO/FPO Addresses
• U.S. Protectorates (including Puerto Rico)
• Prisons
• International Shipping Help

If you are purchasing an item from Amazon Marketplace, read about Marketplace shipping restrictions.

Books that require special handling because they are extremely heavy (for example, multi-volume sets) can be shipped only to locations within the U.S. Please also check the product detail pages for this and any other item-specific shipping restrictions.

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Alaska and Hawaii Addresses

Most items can be shipped to Alaska and Hawaii addresses, except:

• grocery items
• gourmet food items

Additionally, some items from our Tools & Hardware and Outdoor Living stores can't be shipped to Alaska or Hawaii if they are extremely heavy, oddly-shaped, or considered hazardous. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility and available shipping options. Only specific shipping options may be available for some addresses. Available shipping options will appear at checkout when you enter a shipping address.

APO/FPO Addresses

Most items can be shipped to APO/FPO addresses, except:

• cell phones and service
• computers
• furniture
• grocery items
• gourmet food items
• outdoor living items
• Target@Amazon.com items

Additionally, some apparel, camera and photo, electronics, health and personal care, housewares, jewelry, software, sports, and tools and hardware items cannot be shipped to APO/FPO addresses. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility.

Learn more about shipping to APO/FPO addresses.

U.S. Protectorates (including Puerto Rico)

Only the following items can be shipped to U.S. Protectorates:

• baby items
• books
• DVDs
• music
• software
• toys
• VHS videos
• video games

Learn more about shipping to U.S. Protectorates.

Prisons

Amazon.com delivers to penitentiaries, but we strongly suggest you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to note any special regulations the prison might have. Some prisons don't allow delivery of hardcover books. Others place a limit on the number of items contained in a package.

We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages and on the outside will indicate only the destination address, our company name, and our return address. We also cannot allow gifts to be sent anonymously to inmates; the sender's billing address will appear on the order invoice.

Because inmates cannot sign for deliveries, packages must be sent via U.S. Mail. While Amazon.com often sends packages via U.S. Mail, we also use UPS and FedEx. There is no way for customers to request a specific shipper. To avoid delivery problems, you might consider having the items shipped to you and then shipping them to the penitentiary via U.S. Mail.

I understand that many countries depend on us silly military Americans to be their middle class, heck so to most of the cities in the States that you find these bases. However, as loyal patriots, we often like to support our own companies & that includes our own online companies. So why are there so many restrictions on online shopping? And why so many more here lately?

Believe it or not, as rumor has it, & backed up by the horses mouth, the Military Postal System is not here for us silly dependents & families. They offer us mail as a "cordial benefit"; as an extended service. Thus large packages, multiple packages, at home businesses, etc. are not to be shipped through them. (TOO BAD BOZOS! I have a baby on the way, I am getting multiple packages from the same place whether you like it or not!) And like a dentist told me, I "should not be wasting the taxpayers dollars to spoil myself" while living abroad. HA! Really? Spoiling? That is what my online shopping is? It is spoiling myself now?

Funny! I thought that MY online shopping was me trying to get the best product for my husband's very hard earned dollar...like most any other American. And last I checked, those "wasted" tax dollars aren't me using the military postal service with paid shipping & handling, but are being ate up in the Capitol for stupid government programs...that aren't military!!!

No matter what branch of service these men & women serve, as well as their families who support them & make just as many sacrifices, these are the individuals that should be able to receive ANYTHING online! They have all earned it!

P.S. Did you read all the shipping policies...Prisoners can get Amazon shipments WITHOUT ANY restrictions other than it has to go through the US Postal service.

Nice huh? Prisoners have more rights than those who serve this country! Amazing!!

It's a Win Win Situation

I am not sure why more people haven't heard of this product, but it is one of the best on the market! It does what it says it will do & sold mostly as big name sporting goods stores. However, you can find it online in bulk which is great! (Especially for us overseas people who can't always live without our American luxuries...)

"EVERY MILITARY UNIFORM WEARING & SPORTS PLAYING INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE USING WIN LAUNDRY DETERGENT!"

WIN Laundry Detergent was something that I read about in a magazine somewhere along the way over the years. I looked for it high & low never finding it on common shopping shelves. Then one day I found it at Dick's Sporting Goods. I got a bottle. I thought, "HOLY CRAP! They sure are proud of this stuff! $20 for a little bottle! This had better work!"

It does! It took out all kinds of sweat stains in B's white T-shirts, and the odors of his uniforms for work. Now I can't stop using it. It last me a while since I only use it on select items & not everything, so the money was worth the product. When I have something really smelly or really dingy I just add a little cap of this & "POOF" magic happens in the wash!

Personally, I am in shock that the US Military isn't shipping this in by truck loads for their men & women in uniform. I know that on the naval ships they sure could use something like WIN to knock out their funk!

Check it out: http://www.windetergent.com/our_tech.html

Ulta Beauty Online Shopping

Shopping in Japan for American products isn't impossible, but it is tricky. You usually have to really study those products on the Japanese shelves to distinguish if the product is even close to what you buy in the States. they packaging is really different made for easy recycling. Then you add the limited English words on the packages...you will often have to buy & try & repeat until you find what you are looking for.

Yes, there is the Commissary & the Exchange, but often times they don't carry the products you have grown to love in the States & the few of them they do, often end up sold out quickly...especially if all the fleet is in dock!

So many of us foreigners end up shopping online. I am one of those many Americans who still shop online for many of my favorite, recently found, beauty & personal products until I find a replacement on the Japanese shelves (which takes time with trial & error).

Ulta Beauty is one of those online sources I would recommend again & again. Some of you might be lucky enough be living or have lived next to one of these stores. It is full of all kinds of products from the Wal-mart store shelves to the Salon shelves. There is nothing you can't find here!

Ulta was the only online source that I found that could ship my L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo & Conditioner (& 4 of each!) to an APO/FPO address. Even DrugStore.com couldn't ship these shampoos & conditioners to me!

The added bounus is that it took less than a week to get it in the mail via priority mail. And they were even smart enough to tape the caps shut on the tubes as an extra step to help prevent leakage!

If you are need your beauty supplies that you can't find in your overseas duty station or not close to an Ultra store, try Ulta.com!