Cant mail Lithium batteries overseas!

[eclypse]

Hey, just got back from the post office and tried to ship out my SB and 8 batteries and charger to a guy from France and was told that i cant mail Lithium batteries overseas cause it would be buy air. if i was to ship them in the US it would have to be buy ground..

??? I got these batteries by Priority mail which would be by air right? I dont think they can come from across the country in 2-3 days by truck.

Dont all these batteries ship from China?? how do they mail them here if its obviously by air?

 

[Slickstick]

there are manufactures in USA now I do believe.. not too sure.. but I know for a fact you can get all the supplies you need here in the US,.. perhaps they were drop shipped in huge supply by boat, to ecc and twus ? I guess we can ask us tw and ecc how they get their supplies...

or........ maybe usa can receive it from abroad but can't mail it abroad

idk

if there is ever a ban on e-cigs I'm moving out of the country, maybe Canada or France or China or somewhere with universal health care and legal e-cigs

It's not illegal here in the USA it's just not regulated yet as it should be, for safety purposes

 

[DaMulta]

Why did you tell them what it was?

 

[eclypse]

Can I mail batteries?

Liquids or solid rust removers, batteries (with wet acids), sulfuric acid, mercury, and soda lime may be mailable. The types of batteries mentioned here are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as hazardous materials. Contact your local Post Office for specific requirements and questions.

The type of batteries most commonly associated with powering flashlights, toys, etc., can be mailable. Alkaline batteries or any type of AA, AAA, D, & C, and others of this type are not regulated by DOT. Batteries that are installed in a toy must be properly installed and protected from damage and short circuit. The toy must be equipped with an effective means of preventing accidental activation.

Mailing batteries of the non-regulated type are permissible for mailing internationally and to APO/FPO's, subject to other countries restrictions. Small consumer-type lithium batteries are mailable when properly packaged and labeled as identified in the DMM section 601.10.20.

Individual primary lithium batteries are forbidden on passenger carrying aircraft and must be sent surface mail only. More information regarding this can be found in DMM section 601.10.20.5

For complicated issues involving batteries contact your local Post Office.

Confused and still reading hehe.

 

[AngusATAT]

Why did you tell them what it was?

And BINGO was his name-o.

Yeah... next time, lie.

 

[eclypse]

Why did you tell them what it was?

Well i didnt know there would be a prob.. I did put that it was a flash light ( just so it would'nt come up lost in the mail ) and 8 batteries and charger.

 

[DaMulta]

When I ship out of the states I mark the package as "parts".

 

[eclypse]

Ok.. Well i looked at the country restrictions where its going and i see nothing in there about batteries.

? I feel just putting parts on the form will just make customs want to open it up and look at what parts.

When i was at the post office the women at the counter told me there changing alot of crap now with the forms.. Now i must list each item and the individual weight of each thing in the box and the combind weight.. which seems stupid. So now everyone must have a scale to ship overseas and weigh everything before boxing it up. looks like a way to make sure you list everything in the package.

I guess i'll just say regular batteries and not mention the charger lol.. Damn there all protected batteries and none of them are in use. Even in protected cases so nothing can touch them and short it.

Glad i grabbed 2 small flat rate boxes.. give it a go at another local post office shortly.

 

[eclypse]

Ok.. wait. Give me some ideas of what else i can put on the lable.

Light Saber replica? lol

 

[cpcp68]

without lying? charge storing cylinders.

seriously, just pack them individually each in a ziploc bag and you will have done your part as far as safety is concerned.

if they are rechargeable there is no danger. DOT is concerned with Li-ion primaries because they do pack quite a bit of energy. IMHO if they have no chance of shorting out, there is no real danger. It is not like the lithium is in metal form...

 

[Vocalek]

10.20.6 Secondary Lithium-ion (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries

Small consumer-type lithium-ion cells and batteries like those used to power cell phones and laptop computers are mailable with the following restrictions. Each cell must contain no more than 1.5 g of equivalent lithium content per cell. Each battery must contain no more than 8.0 g aggregate quantity of equivalent lithium content per battery. Additionally, each cell or battery must meet the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, and subsection 38.3 as referenced in the DOT's hazardous materials regulation at 49 CFR 171.7. All secondary lithium-ion cells and batteries must be mailed in a firmly sealed package separated and cushioned to prevent short circuit, movement, or damage. Except for batteries installed in equipment, they must be in a strong outer package. All outer packages must have a complete delivery and return address. These cells and batteries are mailable as follows:
a. Via surface or air transportation when individual cells or batteries are mailed or when properly packed with or properly installed in the equipment they operate. Cells or batteries properly installed in the device they operate must be protected from damage and short circuit, and the device must be equipped with an effective means of preventing accidental activation. The outside of the package must be marked on the address side "Package Contains Lithium-ion Batteries (no lithium metal)."
b. The mailpiece must not contain more than 3 batteries.


So it looks to me as if they can be airmailed, but you can only put 3 batteries in each package.

Gee, I guess those 5 batteries I received from China must not contain any lithium.

 

[wrecktangle]

Actually, I think the lithium is in metal form. In the form of a small, thin accordianed ribbon. Though if I'm wrong, I stand corrected.

 

[cpcp68]

I think it is in ionic form, bound to stuff (carbon usually) and then migrates as ion to generate current when the battery is discharged (or charged). in free from, it is dangerous.

 

[ZeroNullity]

Lithium batteries should be mailable. They pose a high fire/explosion risk when they are unstable/overheated/shorted however. I use to work on laptop/notebooks & have seen my share of bad batteries/chargers... only usually occurs when the battery is overcharged or is shorted out.... specially on a non-protected battery. FYI - There are many batteries that use lithium, li-ion, li-poly, li-l2, li-so2, etc.

 

[eclypse]

Mailed.. Thats all i'll say. Women didnt say anything to me other then "Hello".

Thanks for all the help!

 

[quasimod]

... ??? I got these batteries by Priority mail which would be by air right? I dont think they can come from across the country in 2-3 days by truck...

You would be wrong. Most so-called "Air Mail" in the U.S. is actually shipped via truck. Those trucks are driven by teams: one sleeps while the other drives. They only stop for fuel, food, etc., and can travel (+/-) 1200 miles per day. No problem at all to cross the U.S. in 3 days.

 

[miketr]

A safety tip would be to discharge the batteries before you send them if possible.