F**k USPS

[IPD]

effective tomorrow, it will be ILLEGAL to ship lithium-ion batteries--in any form--via USPS to APO/FPO addresses.

Thanks. now i can't order a kindle, a smartphone, a cordless tool-set, a laptop, a watch, or virtually any useful electronic item. ok, well *technically* i can order them, but i can't have the batteries shipped. period. i have to have the batteries sent via UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL or some other--which may not even be possible, depending on the location i'm at. even if it IS possible, the cost is usually astronomical compared to APO shipping.

I'm sorry, but out of all times when the USPS is pitching a fit about not being able to sustain itself, WHY THE HOLY FUCK would anyone decide that fucking over servicemembers in this way was a good idea?

i implore you go give the USPS a piece of your mind about the stupidity of this ban. i know i am.

[ictponder]

They are doing this because major carriers like Verizon & At&T recently shifted from FedEx to USPS for customer replacement devices (old devices get shipped to repair centers overseas) for less money. So, now USPS is saying FU we won't ship batteries lol TBH it was more of a hastle for everyone else.

We get about 3-4 defective Verizon phones brought in each day by customers and the post office closes earlier than us so we end up taking a huge pile of devices to them at the end of the week and they get so pissed off. Imagine how much more workload this caused across the entire country. Of course this is my opinion.

[Alan92RTTT]

Its not just APO/AFO its any international address.

DMM Revision: Mailings of Lithium Batteries

Effective May 16, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) section 601.10.20 to codify that primary lithium metal or lithium alloy (nonrechargeable) cells and batteries or secondary lithium-ion cells and bat*teries (rechargeable) are prohibited when mailed interna*tionally or to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location. However, this prohibition does not apply to lithium batter*ies authorized under DMM 601.10.20 when mailed within the United States or its territories.

International standards have recently been the subject of discussion by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and the Postal Service anticipates that on January 1, 2013, customers will be able to mail specific quantities of lithium batteries internationally (including to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location) when the batteries are properly installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate.

Until such time that a less restrictive policy can be implemented consistent with international standards, and in accordance with UPU Convention, lithium batteries are not permitted in international mail. The UPU Convention and regulations are consistent with the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Technical Instructions). The Technical Instructions con*cerning the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Post do not permit “dangerous goods” as defined by the ICAO Techni*cal Instructions in international mail. The prohibition on mailing lithium batteries and cells internationally also applies to mail sent by commercial air transportation to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location.

In addition, we will revise and renumber Exhibit 601.10.20.7 to reflect “watt-hour ratings” instead of “lith*ium content” for secondary lithium-ion batteries when describing maximum quantity limits.

Finally, the Postal Service has moved the lithium battery standards as it relates to international, APO, FPO, or DPO locations, to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®). These standards appear in this Postal Bulletin on pages 31–32, in the article titled “IMM Revision: Outbound International Mailings of Lithium Batteries and Other Dangerous Goods.”

Unless I am misreading the bolded section devices with preinstalled batteries are fine.

[IPD]

no, it IS all international addresses. that said, for people LIVING at those international addresses--civilians--aren't really going to be impacted by this. they're already used to ordering UPS/etc.

it's the people stuck at APO/FPO with literally no other options for mail that are going to be completely hosed. i have a MAJOR problem with that.

p.s.

no, pre-installed batteries are NOT fine. i just had a nice long chat with my APO branch today. wayne brady is going to choke a bitch. what you're reading is that they plan to lift the ban in 7 freaking months. i'm sorry, but WTF.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Unless I am misreading the bolded section devices with preinstalled batteries are fine.

Except the part where it states "January 1, 2013". So, beginning tomorrow, until New years Day, you aren't shipping li-on battery equipped devices to/from an APO/FPO according to the way this is written.

Jeremy

[IPD]

Except the part where it states "January 1, 2013". So, beginning tomorrow, until New years Day, you aren't shipping li-on battery equipped devices to/from an APO/FPO according to the way this is written.

Jeremy

exactly. now just imagine if my laptop craps out tomorrow and i need another one. i'm stuck trying to buy something shitty in the local area, or--at best--being forced to buy a brand i can get compatible batteries for locally. i can EASILY order batteries for an MSI or whatever online (or used to be able to)--but good luck trying to find them at the local german wal-mart equivalent.

[Alan92RTTT]

Someone needs to get UPS/Fedex to ship APO

[Alan92RTTT]

Thadd, do they have things like UPS stores where you are stationed? Someplace you could rent a PO box and get things like batteries?

[IPD]

Thadd, do they have things like UPS stores where you are stationed? Someplace you could rent a PO box and get things like batteries?

for me, i suppose i could search for something like that...but then again, i live in a relatively modern area. not everyone is so fortunate with their assignments. even still, there's a very large contingent of retailers who charge extra to ship APO (with our without ample justification). i'm puzzled as to why i must incur additional cost for something such as this--which is a purely arbitrary decision. i'm sick of being treated like a leper just because i'm stationed outside of the lower 48.

[MeTarzan]

A secondary battery is a battery that is not installed in the device it is intended to operate.....Trust me I work for the USPS and we have had about 30 calls this morning about this