USPS to ban overseas shipments of electronics with lithium ion batteries

[Shawn Knight]

The United States Postal Service has announced that as of May 16, they will no longer deliver a wide assortment of electronics to consumers overseas. Any device that has a lithium ion battery falls under this ban, including tablets, smartphones, laptop computers and digital cameras.

It is thought that lithium ion batteries shipped when fully charged or not correctly stored or packaged could be a safety risk. Fast Company says that lithium ion batteries are believed to have caused at least two deadly cargo plane crashes in the past six years. One such crash happened in 2010 when a UPS cargo plane crashed roughly an hour after takeoff near Dubai.

The ban will likely have a large impact on US soldiers stationed overseas. USPS’ Military Priority Mail rate is far cheaper than any of the competition and furthermore, they are the only carriers that deliver to Army Post Office and Fleet Post Office installations.

Those wishing to send electronic gadgets to their loved ones will have to figure out a workaround. UPS, FedEx and DHL are all viable choices but none of them deliver to military mailboxes. It seems the only way around this hurdle is to have packages shipped to a residential address then arrange pickup or delivery from that point. Shipping rates for alternate delivery companies typically cost more than $20.

The USPS says they may change the rules for APO and FPO packages containing lithium ion batteries next year.

We have included a list of common items that contain lithium ion batteries, as per the USPS.

• Video cameras
• Walkie talkies (two-way radio)
• GPS devices
• Radio-controlled toys
• Cameras
• Scanners
• Cell phones
• MP3 players
• Bluetooth headsets
• Smartphones
• Laptop computers
• Electronic shavers
• Power drills
• Tablets
• Portable DVD players
• Electronic measuring equipment

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/48566-usps-to-ban-overseas-shipments-of-electronics-with-lithium-ion-batteries.html

 

[Guest]

Pathetic.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Pathetic.

What is so pathetic about a company trying to make a safer work environment?

 

[Scshadow]

Pathetic.

I don't agree. As farfetched as it sounds, if Lithium Ion batteries are causing safety issues, causing plane crashes, then they should ban them. I really don't see a purpose for banning it otherwise. I'm sorry the troops are affected because of the special lack of alternatives that only they have to suffer, but it is what it is.

 

[Guest]

and they wonder why they are slowly (forget slowly) going out of business... instead of increasing service levels they are decreasing them...

 

[Mister_K]

2 Cargo plane crashes past 2 years, read it again and tell me how many, oh yeah TWO. Any Scientific evidence to support the claim? If not, then there is nothing to discuss. I know its "at least 2" but I doubt its more then 5. Sure there shouldn't be any crashes regardless but if there is no evidence to back this claim up, then its just another hoax. Insure correct storage and discharge before shipping and then the problem will be fixed.

On the bright side, maybe they will try and create safer batteries or try and move onto a better and newer technology then LIBs that we have now.

(could go into more details but there is no need)

 

[Guest]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/3/report-faults-batteries-plane-crash/

are u saying that the two guys that lost there life was just a [FONT=Helvetica]hoax. ups say that it is no longer worth the risk carrying these things over seas, then u should just expect that and be thankful that this wont happen again (on a ups plane)[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica][/FONT]

 

[Tygerstrike]

See I'm not buying this. Where is the evidence for this conclusion. Is there footage somewhere actually showing Lithium ion batteries exploding? Is it suspected of causing the crashes or is it a convient scapegoat for the USPS and poor overseas plane maintanence? I deal with Lithium batteries all the time, I have never ever had any issues. I would applaude them for taking these measures, but w/o more definative proof that it was the batteries then all they are doing is trying to justify the higher rates for overseas delivery. Which would nicely coincide with all the other USPS issues they are dealing with.
If this is such a big issue, why havent we seen fedex,ups, or usps planes crashing in the states due to batteries? I know for a fact that fedex handles a ton of lithium batteries and devices that use them.
Smell REAL fishy to me.

 

[cliffordcooley]

I'm sorry the troops are affected because of the special lack of alternatives that only they have to suffer, but it is what it is.

I'm not, I for one don't see any need in keeping troops on foreign soil. We should bring our troops home if we are not in a state of war.

 

[Matthew DeCarlo]

My knowledge of the shipping industry couldn't fill a thimble, but surely there's some way to transport batteries with minimal or no risk to workers? Even if it costs more, as I'm sure the couriers wouldn't lose sleep over passing that expense on to consumers. What am I missing? This just seems lazy for some reason.

 

[oldikes]

ok then we make lithium ion batterys safer in general so we dont have to avoid sending electronics to people..

A friend sent his bro overseas fightin an old hacked PSP in the mail, you would not believe how happy he was

 

[Rasta211]

So you can travel with a mp3 player, phone, laptop computer, bluetooth headset on a plane but you can't ship them.

You mean to tell me 1 bluetooth headset can take down a plane? WoW!

 

[Chazz]

You guys can't be serious. Just google the problem, there have been so many product recalls over battery issues it isn't even funny. If there is a chance then they need to evaluate it. They said they could change this next year so obviously they are looking into ways to make this problem a non issue, but since it is a issue atm they are taking the safest precaution for their employees.

They're being responsible and you guys are just being irrational. Sure your one "ipod" may not have an issue but these guys are dealing with thousands of them so the chance does increase.

 

[Chazz]

And at rasta, it's not the explosion that brings down the plane it is the fire. You should read the link that was posted by our guest.

 

[Guest]

If everything that caused two deaths in six years was banned...

You get the picture.

 

[Guest]

Just google the problem, there have been so many product recalls over battery issues it isn't even funny.

LOL. And how many of those recalls involved batteries that were still in the box? Try again.

 

[Chazz]

Just google the problem, there have been so many product recalls over battery issues it isn't even funny.

LOL. And how many of those recalls involved batteries that were still in the box? Try again.

"It is thought that lithium ion batteries shipped when fully charged or not correctly stored or packaged could be a safety risk."

 

[Mister_K]

If everything that caused two deaths in six years was banned...

You get the picture.

Well two deaths, Aircrew consists of 2+ members but yeh.

 

[Scshadow]

I'm not, I for one don't see any need in keeping troops on foreign soil. We should bring our troops home if we are not in a state of war.

Good for you. Thats a completely different issue. All the troops we have everywhere for various reasons including those that don't involve combat doesn't have anything to do with USPS not being able to deliver Lithium Ion batteries overseas, just that we can't deliver to them. Do try and stay on subject.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Do try and stay on subject.

I didn't stray from the topic. I don't see delivery to our troops as an issue when it's my opinion our troops should be at home. Don't tell me I'm off topic, when delivery to our troops is a big part of the subject.

I don't think that came out exactly as intended. :/

 

[NTAPRO]

gba sp batteries

 

[Guest]

All the other companies says : THANK U !!!

 

[Trillionsin]

must have something to do with batteries at high altitudes...

Plenty of lithium ion batteries in storage and never a problem. At least 100 laptops, not to mention all the other electronic devices listed by USPS. Worst problem we get is the battery is completely dead because of a complete discharge over time, some sit for a long time, others only a month or two.

 

[Trillionsin]

I dunno, something I google'd up real quick and skimmed though, might be of interest to a few?
http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/2009highlights.pdf

 

[captaincranky]

I didn't stray from the topic. I don't see delivery to our troops as an issue when it's my opinion our troops should be at home. Don't tell me I'm off topic, when delivery to our troops is a big part of the subject.

I don't think that came out exactly as intended. :/

Well, the government has a massive fleet of cargo aircraft, funded by the taxpayers. If the issue is our military will have to do without their comfort devices, then the logistics need to shift to transporting those devices in military planes.

I do think the troops being brought home because they can't get their rechargeable batteries is a bit flimsy.

The most ironic part of having an all volunteer army, is how everybody complains when they're deployed. I thought that's what armies did, fight. Do you just sign up, and pray there's no conflict until you have your 30 years of service? Wasn't possible war in the recruitment brochure?

Using the same logic, I'm going to apply for a job as a trash man, then complain when they put me on the truck, and expect me to pick up trash. I though they'd let me sit in the break room for 30 years.

That's awful isn't it? I'm jus' kiddin'! I know the truth is a much brighter picture. We need a military so we can have airshows and parades.