Australia Post Would Now Ship Devices Containing Lithium Battery by Air (with Limits)

scotty on 03/12/2015 - 20:43
Last edited 04/12/2015 - 09:30

Okay this is what happened. Posted the ASUS Chromebook deal from Amazon, bought one the same evening, and parcel got delivered yesterday morning. First impression of Chromebook Flip C100 — great looking 2-in-1 convertible, aluminium base, light weight, nice IPS screen, feels slower than my Acer C720, keyboard is about 90% of normal size but good action… HOWEVER, 4 of the keys don't work (Spacebar, Enter, Backspace and backsplash).

Well, that's the risk I took when buying from Amazon. Although it's the first defect I got from years of buying from the States. So I packed the Chromebook back to its box, initiated the Amazon return process, glued all the printouts from Amazon — all pretty straightforward so far. Next, organising international courier.

It turns out most cheap options won't post because the laptop contains lithium battery. Most online self-service shops won't let you get through once you said there's a lithium battery inside. Pack&Send will require you to use their personalised service at $195 to send a 1.6kg parcel to US. AusPost also listed lithium batteries under Dangerous & prohibited items.

Lithium batteries are often in devices like watches, clocks, mobile phones and MP3 players. All lithium batteries are now classified as dangerous goods. They can't be carried by air.

Australia Post can't accept lithium batteries or devices containing them for mailing overseas or for domestic air carriage. These can only be transported within Australia by road transport.

However a bit of googling brought me to this forum comment on Whirlpool, where "emma@auspost" confirmed that there was a rule change from November 30, where they now accept some types of lithium batteries to be posted domestically or internationally, providing specific conditions are met.

  • Installed in device
  • No more than 2 batteries or 4 cells in a package
  • Under 100Wh (most laptops would be okay)
  • Good packaging

So I used AusPost's contact form on their website to ask them whether they can confirm the rule change. 10 minutes later, "Dimitry" from AusPost actually called me on my phone to confirm and explain to me the changes. He asked me where I would like to send the parcel to (Kentucky US) and check whether there's specific local law regarding to lithium batteries. He confirmed that there shouldn't be a problem posting the laptop. He also said that the local post offices should know about the updates as they had a meeting regarding this. Very friendly guy and top service from Australia Post head office.

I'll verify that with my local post office tomorrow. For now, if you are sending electronics back to the US, Australia Post becomes an option again.

Update 5 Dec: Went to the post office this morning. Costs $63.90 to send 35x25x9cm 1.6kg box to KY US with tracking. Not sure whether they already know about the rule change or just oblivious, no question asked about the battery (although custom declaration clearly stated a laptop).

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Comments

  • bargainslut on 03/12/2015 - 20:49

    nice work OP! Very useful report 10/10.

  • ozhunter on 03/12/2015 - 20:50

    Good to hear and about time.

  • gooddealmate on 03/12/2015 - 21:08

    Nice, lost out on a refund from from a faulty chinaphone because of this rule.

  • scrimshaw on 03/12/2015 - 22:07
    +2

    About bloody time too. They were very strict about the no-lithium condition. AustPOst even said no to me shipping a smartwatch overseas. A smartwatch with a 150mah battery.

  • Diji1 on 04/12/2015 - 08:10
    -4

    $195 … ACCC, where the hell are you?

    Australia Post is yet another formerly publically owned asset that used to provide competitive rates when it was state-owned then got sold off with the promise of competition is lowering prices - experience has shown what a numbskull's belief this is lel. Instead the consumer gets gouged. Just like what happened when da gummints sold off electricity, water, gas and telcos. Has there ever been a case of it working out well for the consumer ever?

    Now Telstra, possibly the worst offender of the lot, has their own man in the job of PM after a stint in the communications portfolio so now they can save costs on lobbying with their own man in there.

    Like most politicians, certainly those of both major parties anyhow, he's busy ripping us off by allowing the entities our parents paid for previously through taxes to ripof their children.

    • scotty on 04/12/2015 - 08:17

      Move your propaganda elsewhere. Also $195 is the figure from Pack & Send, not AusPost, if you care to reply on-topic.

  • chipstss on 04/12/2015 - 08:57

    You're lucky the device was even shipped to you from Amazon, I ordered a Nexus 7 and the shipment was refused because of the battery (which took me just shy of a month to found out because there was no notification)

  • scotty on 04/12/2015 - 09:30
    +1

    Went to the post office this morning. Costs $63.90 to send 35x25x9cm 1.6kg box to KY US with tracking. Not sure whether they already know about the rule change or just oblivious, no question asked about the battery (although custom declaration clearly stated a laptop).

    • OzSikh on 27/09/2016 - 12:54

      Did you claim the postage charges to Amazon ??

  • Clear on 10/12/2015 - 13:33

    Thanks for letting us know. This is going to make returns to China so much easier now.

  • alexshel on 09/07/2018 - 12:10

    Did anyone try to send a mobile phone overseas via Australia Post recently ? Does this work or they are refusing ?

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