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Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 11 Oct 2017, 17:59
by Merlinonline
Just heard that someone who had ordered a replacement battery from China had it confiscated by Royal Mail as it is now their policy not to deliver these batteries, does anybody know any more about this?

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 11 Oct 2017, 19:06
by Auldgeek
My Post Office refuse to take anything with batteries in them so I just tell fibs and say no batteries. :shh:
Been like that for a while here at least.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 11 Oct 2017, 19:38
by thelad
No issues here, often get lithium polymer and lithium ion batteries by RM from China and the UK.

https://business.help.royalmail.com/app ... goods---uk

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 11 Oct 2017, 20:26
by gmham
yep always get asked myself if any parcel I am sending via RM contains batteries ? been like that for a few years now.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 11 Oct 2017, 23:38
by sickboy
It's the civil aviation authority that banned these batteries from being on international and domestic flights. I used to have an account with Royal Mail and I had a business selling laptop parts online, including batteries. We sold dozens of batteries every week, and suddenly out of the blue, customers started complaining that they never received their battery order. After a few phonecalls to RM, we found out that it was now their policy to DESTROY any package they suspected of containing a battery. Not return it to sender, but to actually destroy it.
They said it was that even on inland mail, they couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't be in a plane at any part of it's journey. Up until that point, we'd been putting a Lithium-Ion battery warning label on the packages (these were supplied by RM) as well as a "do not fly" label. The guy from Royal Mail learned a few new swear words that day.. RM passed the buck though blaming it on Civil Aviation Authority rules.
Anyway we found a way round it with existing stock, by sending them via Hermes. They also have a policy of not accepting li-ion batteries however, but as long as you ticked the box saying it wasn't a prohibited item nobody seemed to care.
By the way you're also not allowed to post perfume or aftershave now, there's a whole list of stuff infact.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 12 Oct 2017, 07:22
by Admiral
This is why a lot of computer recyclers on popular online auction sites now use muppets like My Herpes and the like because if you cross their palm with silver they'll deliver anything for you, plutonium, asbestos, firearms etc.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 12 Oct 2017, 17:54
by paulears
My local Post Office happily take a package if you say yes - there are batteries, and in one case the area manager was behind the counter and we all had a big discussion and went through all their information.

They WILL take lithium Ion batteries, but they must attach stickers to the parcel identifying it for special treatment. No idea why they'd refuse incoming sea or air parcels that have already been cleared for transit on far more dangerous things like ships or aircraft. A RM truck is not in the same league. I wonder what has changed.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 12 Oct 2017, 20:05
by sickboy
paulears wrote:My local Post Office happily take a package if you say yes - there are batteries, and in one case the area manager was behind the counter and we all had a big discussion and went through all their information.

They WILL take lithium Ion batteries, but they must attach stickers to the parcel identifying it for special treatment. No idea why they'd refuse incoming sea or air parcels that have already been cleared for transit on far more dangerous things like ships or aircraft. A RM truck is not in the same league. I wonder what has changed.
That's for packages that contain a li-ion battery that is connected to the device, such as a laptop, or rechargeable drill. Sending a battery itself is prohibited and will be destroyed if they find out.
I've bought lots of batteries from China, but they tend to come via various courier companies that seem to turn a blind eye.
It's something to do with a flight from the far east which crashed a few years ago, due to a fire caused by a cargo of batteries.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 12 Oct 2017, 20:07
by sickboy
Found this..
As of October this year, 132 air incidents involving batteries have been recorded since the 20th of March, 1991. In 2010 a UPS cargo plane crashed in Dubai, and it was later reported that undeclared Lithium batteries were on board.

The problem with Lithium batteries is that even if they’re not the cause of the fire, they are not easy to extinguish once burning and if in a shipment of multiple batteries will easily set each other on fire. They should be declared as hazardous cargo.

What Royal Mail will be doing
Whilst it’s almost impossible for Royal Mail to catch every Lithium Battery posted in a Pillar Box, they will be stepping up screening, especially for shipments going by air. That includes all International shipments, but also a large number of domestic deliveries which are transported on a plane for some of their journey.

If Lithium batteries are found they will simply be destroyed, not returned to the sender. Sellers may or may not be notified and/or prosecuted, but regardless it will result in buyers not receiving their purchases.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 13 Oct 2017, 07:57
by paulears
I get it - but does rather show up the inefficiency of the system when some of these prohibited items get delivered by RM in blissful ignorance yet they won't re-deliver them when you follow the rules? No wonder why people just say no when the Post Office ask if there are any batteries!

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 13 Oct 2017, 08:35
by Admiral
It's clearly a grey area, I was under the impression that you could send brand new batteries in their retail packaging but not used or loose, that's probably wrong too, I'll just be saying no if asked.

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 13 Oct 2017, 18:47
by Mattylad
I just wonder how the hell someone is expected to obtain a replacement battery then?

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 17 Oct 2017, 13:15
by Clipper
This extract off the Royal Mail website helps (my emphasis in bold);

"Batteries that are classed as dangerous goods by the latest edition of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Technical Instructions are prohibited. This includes wet spillable lead acid/lead alkaline batteries (such as car batteries), used alkaline metal, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), nickel cadmium (NiCd), zinc-air batteries, and damaged batteries of any type.

Lithium ion/polymer/metal/alloy batteries when not sent with, or contained in/connected to an electronic device, are prohibited.

Lithium ion/polymer/metal/alloy batteries are allowed when sent with or contained in/connected to an electronic device, but are subject to packaging, volume and quantity restrictions. Please see http://www.royalmail.com/restrictedgoods.

For more information on lithium batteries please see the IATA Lithium Battery Guidance Document [link].

Sealed lead acid batteries are allowed in the UK, but are also subject to packaging, volume, quantity and labelling restrictions. Please see http://www.royalmail.com/restrictedgoods

Alkaline metal, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries may only be sent when new and in their original packaging. Please see http://www.royalmail.com/restrictedgoods"

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app ... /batteries

Can't help thinking some of the counter staff won't know about these rules and refuse everything :?

Re: Royal Mail refusing to deliver Li-ion batteries

Posted: 19 Oct 2017, 19:38
by Mattylad
Taking a printout of the rules may be helpful in that case.