Can I send loose batteries via post or courier

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Llewellyn

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I have some spare Canon batteries that I want to sell.

Has anyone found a way these can be sent by post or courier. All my searches have suggested it is not allowed for safety reasons.

Thank you
 
Llewellyn said:
I have some spare Canon batteries that I want to sell.

Has anyone found a way these can be sent by post or courier. All my searches have suggested it is not allowed for safety reasons.

Thank you
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If you had something like a charger you could send them with that otherwise its a No
 
I have sent batteries through the post.
Covered the terminals with the plastic caps (or insulation tape), explained to the Post Office staff what's inside and requested a battery warning label is attached.
Done it several times without issue for short UK journeys ... anything that would require transport on an aircraft probably wouldn't be accepted/progressed.
 
gramps said:
I have sent batteries through the post.
Covered the terminals with the plastic caps (or insulation tape), explained to the Post Office staff what's inside and requested a battery warning label is attached.
Done it several times without issue for short UK journeys ... anything that would require transport on an aircraft probably wouldn't be accepted/progressed.
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The airfreight bit is the problem. I have someone in Northern Ireland who wants one. I would imagine that would go by air.

However thanks for the advice hopefully I will have customers
 
Sent a power bank back to Amazon via the Post Office/Royal Mail recently. Had to be labelled properly and was picked up rather than dropped off. AFAIK, IF the package is properly labelled, the carrier should ensure it doesn't get sent via air.
 
I've sent (and received) loads without any problems.

I do the same as @gramps - this is important or they 'may' get destroyed.
 
Llewellyn said:
I have someone in Northern Ireland who wants one.
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I think that would be a problem unless it is contained within some sort of equipment, e.g. an old charger body or similar.
 
Nod said:
Sent a power bank back to Amazon via the Post Office/Royal Mail recently. Had to be labelled properly and was picked up rather than dropped off. AFAIK, IF the package is properly labelled, the carrier should ensure it doesn't get sent via air.
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The battery bank is the device, the battery is inside.
You can send batteries provided they are installed in a device, not alone.
 
Still had to be labelled as not to be transported by air.
 
gramps said:
I have sent batteries through the post.
Covered the terminals with the plastic caps (or insulation tape), explained to the Post Office staff what's inside and requested a battery warning label is attached.
Done it several times without issue for short UK journeys ... anything that would require transport on an aircraft probably wouldn't be accepted/progressed.
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It sounds like your local post office doesn’t know RM’s own rules that well. It’s very easy for them to be confused as it’s not a 100% yes-no rule as it’s dependant on circumstances of what/how they are being sent.

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@Llewellyn ive never found any courier that will touch used lithium batteries sent their own. Many will say they’ve sent them and it’s been ok as they’ve never been caught, but if you go by the rules no courier will touch them. I’d recommend selling used batteries to MPB. You don’t get as much as you’d get selling them privately but MPB arrange the courier and know what’s being collected so I’m guessing they have already confirmed it with the courier they use.
 
Looking at this logically, no one would be able to buy new batteries by post.

Since we can, and do, surely it comes down to them being correctly packaged and contents declared?

My reading of the RM instructions for posting is that the relevant rule must be met, not all of them!
 
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rob-nikon said:
It sounds like your local post office doesn’t know RM’s own rules that well. It’s very easy for them to be confused as it’s not a 100% yes-no rule as it’s dependant on circumstances of what/how they are being sent.

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@Llewellyn ive never found any courier that will touch used lithium batteries sent their own. Many will say they’ve sent them and it’s been ok as they’ve never been caught, but if you go by the rules no courier will touch them. I’d recommend selling used batteries to MPB. You don’t get as much as you’d get selling them privately but MPB arrange the courier and know what’s being collected so I’m guessing they have already confirmed it with the courier they use.
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I have used several different post offices to send batteries and I have received batteries from various sources through the post.
It just isn't true that you cannot send batteries through the post ... pack them properly, declare them and stick a proper label on the package or request PO to do so.
 
JohnX said:
Looking at this logically, no one would be able to buy new batteries by post.

Since we can, and do, surely it comes down to them being correctly packaged and contents declared?

My reading of the RM instructions for posting is that the relevant rule must be met, not all of them!
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RM have rules for business users too. For batteries sent on their own, which is what we are talking about here, RM don’t allow personal or business users to send them in the post UK or internationally. It’s likely because they use air transport for some routes (even on mainland UK air transport ant can be used).

A guide for business customers

There are some items which cannot be posted within or from the UK, due to health and safety reason. Check this list to find out more.
business.help.royalmail.com business.help.royalmail.com
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Other couriers that don’t use air transport have different rules for personal and business customers hence they can send batteries on their own. There is much more comeback on a business customer than a personal customer. Business customer should follow the rules and could be prosecuted if they don’t as lithium batteries are classed as dangerous goods. You can likely trust a business customer to follow the rules whereas personal customers packaging will differ greatly from person to person.
 
gramps said:
I have used several different post offices to send batteries and I have received batteries from various sources through the post.
It just isn't true that you cannot send batteries through the post ... pack them properly, declare them and stick a proper label on the package or request PO to do so.
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I think we’re talking about two different scenarios. You can send batteries with an electronic device with Royal Mail which I’ve done several times myself. What you can’t do is send them on their own, which is what the OP is talking about here.

I’ve posted links to Royal Mail’s business and personal rules so where does it say you can post a single lithium battery on its own via RM if it’s labelled and packaged correctly?
 
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rob-nikon said:
I think we’re talking about two different scenarios. You can send batteries with an electronic device with Royal Mail which I’ve done several times myself. What you can’t do is send them on their own, which is what the OP is talking about here.
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Nope, I've both sent and received batteries on their own, properly packed, declared (I have always explained that it is a camera battery) and labelled.
 
It's all a bit makey up as they go along regarding postage for batteries and what they will and won't accept. Very hard to get anyone to post lithium batteries to N Ireland but no problem if its part of a camera kit. Amazon will deliver power-packs to Eng, Sco and Wales but not to NI which would entail more than ground shipping obviously.
 
Amazon can be a PITA when it comes to delivering 'some' batteries (and any aerosols) to the Isle of Wight. Thankfully, it's very rare that I can't find the same item (and often seller) on the Evil Bay and they'll send them without issue. :thinking:
 
To add to this debate, RM themselves say, 'For lithium ion/polymer batteries the Watt-hour rating must not exceed 20Wh per cell or 100Wh per battery. For lithium metal/alloy batteries the lithium content must not be more than 1g per cell or 2g per battery. The maximum net quantity of cells or batteries is 5kg per parcel'.

So, seems they can be sent or why else issue this guidance?

This looks like a straight lift from the Air Safety guidance.
 
Those guidelines may well refer to NEW cells/batteries rather than used.
 
gramps said:
Nope, I've both sent and received batteries on their own, properly packed, declared (I have always explained that it is a camera battery) and labelled.
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It is clearly against the rules, ignorance is no defence in law.
Both you and the counter staff are in error if you do not abide by Royal Mail guidance
 
gramps said:
Nope, I've both sent and received batteries on their own, properly packed, declared (I have always explained that it is a camera battery) and labelled.
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Like I said the post offices you’ve used don’t understand the RM rules I’ve posted links to. It’s understandable when the rules aren’t simple to understand. Lithium batteries sent on their own (used or new) shouldn’t be accepted whether it’s a personal or business customer. It gets complicated when it’s ’sent with a device‘ and this is whether post offices get confused and accept in error batteries sent on their own.

If anyone has seen a lithium battery fire it’s completely understand why these rules exist. Transportation of Lithium batteries is covered by the dangerous goods act with penalties of imprisonment and unlimited fines if you cause a safety incident by not following the rules in place.
 
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tijuana taxi said:
It is clearly against the rules, ignorance is no defence in law.
Both you and the counter staff are in error if you do not abide by Royal Mail guidance
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Nonsense, I accept what Royal Mail’s representatives advise, as clearly do many others.
 
gramps said:
Nope, I've both sent and received batteries on their own, properly packed, declared (I have always explained that it is a camera battery) and labelled.
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Have you made sure they know it's a Lithium camera battery?
 
Many places simply won't ship batteries to us in N.Ireland. Amazon certainly won't.
I've bought batteries from ebay and even this forum and they've been shipped and received fine though.
 
wilt said:
Many places simply won't ship batteries to us in N.Ireland. Amazon certainly won't.
I've bought batteries from ebay and even this forum and they've been shipped and received fine though.
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I’m guessing most post to NI goes by air. For many legitmate businesses it’s easier to have a blanket ban than incur the extra cost and hassle to always keep within the CAAA rules considering the penalties that could be imposed for not doing so. Ebay and private sellers are more likely to not care about keeping to the rules as they know they are unlikely to be caught.
 
gramps said:
Nonsense, I accept what Royal Mail’s representatives advise, as clearly do many others.
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This is from another Royal Mail document regarding prohibited items. I think you are the one talking nonsense, its all very clear.

You are responsible to finding out if an item is prohibited or restricted If you send prohibited goods or restricted goods (and you do not comply with the relevant terms and conditions), Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide may deal with your items as they see fit, including but not limited to, disposing of the parcels concerned (in whole or in part).
 
Nod said:
Have you made sure they know it's a Lithium camera battery?
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Yes clearly explained, as I presume have others who have sent them to me, including large UK businesses.
 
rob-nikon said:
I’m guessing most post to NI goes by air. For many legitmate businesses it’s easier to have a blanket ban than incur the extra cost and hassle to always keep within the CAAA rules considering the penalties that could be imposed for not doing so. Ebay and private sellers are more likely to not care about keeping to the rules as they know they are unlikely to be caught.
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Yes, that's exactly what I think is happening.
 
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