Are LiPo Sellers Getting Their Act Together?

[Hands0n]

Not so long ago I ordered three 1500mAh batteries from an eBay seller that I had used before. The first time for four of the same, those arrived OK. But the three didn';t ever arrive and the seller refunded me in full.

Good for me, but not good for the seller';s business.

Dubiously I reordered at the beginning of the week. And this time the three batteries arrived safe and sound.

Transported by the Post Office they were well packed in a cardboard cartoon clearly marked with the contents. Inside, each battery was in a sealed plastic bag containing an individual cardboard carton and heat sealed anti static bag.

None of this would have been protective in a LiPo fire, I must say. But seeing as the Post Office carried these then perhaps a way for sellers to trade has been secured.


   

[flybywire]

I didn't know RM (knowingly!) carried lipo's anymore?

[cosmorogers]

ha!

Got one 5000mAh and one 6000mAh battery from hobbyking the other day, came though parcel force (delivered by royal mail), just in an anonymous box, no warning labels or anything.

Batteries were in smaller individual boxes, minimal bubble wrap...

[nub]

me too a few weeks ago also from HK via PF.

[Hands0n]

Pictures of the packaging ...

Stupid new version of Tapatalk playing up, wouldn';t let me upload pictures.  Clear cache in the app seems to do the trick!


Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[philtrum]

Id love to be able to stock and ship some, but they are still on royal  mails banned list

[Hands0n]

Id love to be able to stock and ship some, but they are still on royal  mails banned list

Yeah, but how';d this fella get these LiPo out to me with a package plastered with labelling saying what it contains, plus the hazard symbols and all. Yet there it is, the Post Office franking stamp.

He used to send out anonymous packages and I reckon he got caught out with confiscations. Hence his new approach. 

[Ross]

It';s still illegal and obviously some post office staff could not care less (and sub post offices get a percentage of the "take").........it';s money in the till......I am regularly asked what is in packages by the postmistress at my sub post office.

She is on the ball!

[Hands0n]

Well, I';ve had another delivery of 1500mAh LiPo, this time from HobbyKing UK warehouse, delivered by ParcelForce and with the same Lithium Battery warning label on the packaging!

So thats two independent sellers now ...  Something';s changed.

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[flybywire]

I think PF have arrangements to convey lipo';s from commercial operations Danny?  As long as it';s clearly labelled.  That';s my understanding anyhow.
RM class them as incenduries.

[Hands0n]

RM class them as incenduries.

So here';s the dilemma Watson.  Look carefully at the label on the white box.  It has Royal Mail franked label for 48 hour delivery!  That white box came via RM.  So what gives? 

[barneyg]

http://www.royalmail.com/help-and-support/tell-me-about-restricted-goods

TL;DR - business customers can send lipo';s

[Hands0n]

Nope!  Still doesn';t work.  In that document there are two links very specifically

In the section titled "Batteries - lithium ion/polymer batteries sent with, but not connected to, an electronic device"

Lithium battery handling label to be applied ( see an example lithium battery label  Opens in new window ). The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.


Lithium ion/polymer batteries sent in isolation are prohibited. Please see www.royalmail.com/prohibitedgoods/business (NB: this link is broken!)

The sellers are using the label illustrated in the first link from that page.  However, the second link and its accompanying comment expressly forbid Lithium batteries to be sent "... in isolation..." which mine were, by the two sellers.

So it looks like the sellers are making an incorrect interpretation and that sending Lithium batteries in isolation remains prohibitive!

Still, one musn';t complain I suppose.  We';ve got to be able to transport these items around by some means ... ::)

[barneyg]

oooppps missed that bit.

The simple work around is to send a battery alarm with each battery ... you';d be able to send 3 then

[flybywire]

More meaningless regulation really.