The humongous Sandy Electronics thread...

[Derek_Stewart]

I have the same problem in UK, the Post Office want to know what is in the parcel.

Recently I sold a mobile phone and had to say the battery was not included, otherwise the postal insurance would cancelled.

[1024MAK]

It is a bit ridiculous considering that people walk, ride and travel by air with lots of battery powered gadgets in their pockets.

Just me alone when at work - THREE (yes, 3) mobile 'phones (My own mobile 'phone, my work issued mobile 'phone and the team leader mobile 'phone that control call us on), a wristwatch, and sometimes my Palm PDA. Plus in the vehicle a laptop, a pocket PC with custom software for data logging, a handheld PC with various company instructions on... Oh and a box of spare batteries...

And I receive parcels from electronic companies (not yet by air though) containing various cells, including sealed lead acid, NiCad, NiMh, Alkaline and lithium types.

But then, batteries and cells are misunderstood by lay people.

Mark

[1024MAK]

Contents: electronic components

Mark

[tofro]

Mark,

you're a walking bomb.

Ask for a pay-rise as a danger bonus

Tobias

[prime]

I believe one of the problems on planes is that stuff like that goes in the hold which is not pressurized so can cause things to explode. They apparently get really picky about Lead-acid batteries because they could (at least theoretically) leak and cause structural problems for the plane.

The problem for us is that the average customs officer sees battery and thinks big truck thing that might harm the plane rather than CR2032.....

A similar problem exists with the 'R' word (radioactive) try to ship something like vaselene glass (contains Uranium as a pigment and is very weakly radioactive) and mark it radioactive and they think Hiroshima, Chernobyl and you get that sent back too...

Cheers.

Phill.

[RWAP]

Dave - I presume that the battery holders are being shipped without batteries - in which case you need to label them as 'Battery Adaptor Only - No Battery'.

Shipping batteries within the UK is fine - it is when they have to be sent overseas the UK post office will not allow them.

Adaptors is not an issue!

I just wonder how companies / shops will be able to buy watch batteries in the future, unless they happen to be made in their country!

[1024MAK]

Shipping batteries
and UPS web site guide

Royal Mail

Mark

[Dave]

It's the silliest thing. I am allowed to ship batteries as they are fitted/installed in the device, they contain less than 1 oz of lithium, and there are less than 3 of them.

And then a package with batteries in it gets through, and ones that have no batteries in them are rejected.

Only one solution: I just need to be less specific on the customs form, so some jobsworth nutbar can't find something to do to be all officious.

[Derek_Stewart]

Just have not indicate that there is a battery.

[tofro]

Declare as Nuclear Fission Device and retry