Gadgets using lithium to be barred from overseas shipments

STars and Stripes ^ | May 11, 2012 | By ERIK SLAVIN AND STEVEN BEARDSLEY

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty/Retiree Ping.

[satan69]

Might be better to UPS it to yourself.. Safer anyway!

[RetroSexual]

“Until January 2013, the Postal Service will not be able to accept packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries addressed to international destinations,” the U.S. Postal Service stated in a recent service alert. “This includes mail destined to, or from, APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations.”

Makes sense.

From what I hear, they don't really need the business anyway.

[teacherwoes]

Let me see if I get this right. The Post Office is already losing money so they have decided to ban shipping of certain items. Therefore, they are going to lose more money because they are forcing customers to ship somewhere else. Makes sense to me. Shrug.

[Venturer]

USPS should just close up.

[EGPWS]

Let me see if I get this right. The Post Office is already losing money so they have decided to ban shipping of certain items. Therefore, they are going to lose more money because they are forcing customers to ship somewhere else.

Sounds like an 0bama directive.

If it makes sense and is good for the country then stop it!

[The Duke]

Sounds to me like somebody in the lithium battery business has found the right palms to grease in DC.

[wrencher]

They could go to every other day delivery and close a lot of old facilities, but then govt. employees would lose jobs.

I think it would be fun to swamp them with postage due mail, things they have to stop and try to collect a nickel on. It’s the civil disobedience side of me, take an agency down.

[philetus]

Sounds to me like somebody in the lithium battery business has found the right palms to grease in DC.

HUH?

[DUMBGRUNT]

Lithium watch batteries ?
Many small lights and interments use lithium button cells.
This will be fun/NOT!

[Chickensoup]

why the ban? Some international UN thing. Are we nuts?

Yes.

Right.

[CaptainAmiigaf]

As a watchmaker, I’m laughing myself silly. Does anyone but those of my trade, know what a HUGE proportion of WRIST WATCHES, worn by one and all, are powered by LITHIUM BATTERIES?
Additionally, the proper thickness and diameter batteries for all these watches are ONLY found as LITHIUM.
Of course, on a sunny day, the traditional SUN DIAL can still be used.

[QBFimi]

In the good old days (1960s), the USPS used to say “we can’t make money because we have to carry all those packages”. After UPS and FedEx came into being, the story changed.

[353FMG]

Aren’t most DC palms greased easily?

One wonders if this is what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they created this nation.

[muawiyah]

"The ban follows safety rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Universal Postal Union, “both of which currently prohibit lithium batteries in mail shipments that are carried on international commercial air transportation,” the USPS alert said"

This has to do with international commercial air transport governed under various treaties, and the two organizations cited above act as a consequence of treaties already in place.

USPS didn't think this one up on their own!

[muawiyah]

This is pursuant to an existing international treaty ~ not USPS, not even anyone currently in DC.

[muawiyah]

No the story didn't change.

UPS and FedEx aren't carrying these items either.

[muawiyah]

The international agreements governing this latest rule predate the UN by many years.

[Mears]

Years ago when one of my daughters was in high school she and her friends had a little post office scam going. It was for greeting cards.

They would mail it to themselves with the person they wanted to receive it as the return address.

No postage.

Voila,return to sender.

Greeting card received.