Can I post a lithium battery?

[Simpo Two]

My laptop expired but the battery is absolutely fine, so I thought I'd sell it on eBay . But the PO is terrified of almost everything, and even Evri won't accept them unless it's in its original equipment, which it isn't.

There must be a courier that takes them because I see business sellers selling them.

[stargazer30]

I looked into this for an ebike. Based on what I read the key difference is that business sellers have insurance for posting them, so if they burn the post van down or worse its covered. Whereas Joe public doesn't. There are some other requirements to do with the box used too, like double walled etc..

I wasn't able to find any UK courier at the time who would take an ebike battery but that was a about a year ago, things may have moved on since then?

[DavePanda]

Wrap it in something then put it in a box, then put that box in the box you ship it in. We deliver them all the time although as they're classed as dangerous goods they have to be from approved shippers. This doesn't stop any man and his dog shipping them. Protect it from a possible short circuit and it'll be fine.

[Simpo Two]

I think you're right. So basically, 'Post and be damned'!

[Evoluzione]

I have the feeling that if we all stuck to the rules maybe 10 parcels a day would be delivered.

Blatant C&P:

Prohibited Items:
The following items (or any item similar in description or content) cannot be carried on any service.
Any person sending such an item may be subject to their order being cancelled without notice:


Select a Country

Select a Courier
Animals Or Organisms Of Any Form
Any Perishable Goods Or Perishable Food
Batteries And Items Containing Built In Batteries
Biological Samples
Compressed Air & Empty Cylinders
Cosmetics
Covid Tests (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Drugs, Medication, Prescriptions, Tobacco And Tobacco Products
Food Items - (All Food Items To Spain, Including Non Perishable Are Prohibited). (FedEx Express, UPS, TNT, UPS Access Point, Landmark)
Geochron
Hand Sanitiser (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Hazardous Goods Including Aerosol, Asbestos, Explosives, Fire Extinguishers, Lighters Including New, Used And Empty, Fireworks And Christmas Crackers. Items Containing Alcohol, Flammable Or Explosive Substances.
Illegal Goods - Including Any Items Considered Illegal In Either The Exporting Or Importing Country.
Large Vehicle Parts - Including Vehicle Panels, Spoilers, Doors Or Engines, Any Car Parts Containing Oil Or Liquids Or Items Related To
Lighters And Refills Containing Flammable Liquid Or Gas (Including New, Used And Empty Butane, Petrol Cigar And Cigarette Lighters). (Parcelforce)
Liquids, Creams, Oils, Wax Or Gels
Medical Equipment
Monetary/Currency Including Cash, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Coins, Cheques, Stamps (Unless Franked) And Any Financial Documents.
Paint (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Perfume (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Personal Effects (Suitcases or Personal Belongings) (DPD)
Personal Identification Documentation, Like A Passport, ID Card Or Driving Licence
Poisonous, Toxic Liquids, Solids Or Gases Including Pesticides
Radioactive Materials
Weapons - Including Replicas Or Ammunition
White Goods Including Cooker Hoods Or Hot Tubs
Wood And Wooden Items (Items Made Out Of Wood)
Items Protected For Loss Only:
The services provided to us by the couriers will send the following items, however, they will not protect for any damage.

If the item is lost within their network they will refund the cost of the carriage and the items value (Parcel protection must be taken out for any loss to be claimed)

Antiques
Any Type Of Wooden Flooring Including Laminate
Coffee Machines, Coffee Grinders, Coffee Roasters
Cycles, Bicycles, Unicycles, Tricycles.
Electrical Appliances - Such As Cameras, Monitors, Computers, Drones, Tvs Or Items Related To
Fishing Rods
Furniture
Knitting Machines Or Sewing Machines
Models, Kits
Musical Instruments Including Amplifiers, Speakers Or Turntables. All Musical Instruments Must Be Sent In A Hard Case And Boxed
Suitcase - A Suitcase Will Not Be Protected If This Is Used As Packaging For Internal Items.
Surfboards
Telescopes Or Microscopes
Wall Decor Items Including Canvas Prints, Clocks, Framed Pictures, Pictures, Posters, Prints, Paintings
No Protection items:
The following items (or any item similar in description or content) can only be carried on a no-protection basis on any service.
Any person sending such an item does so at their own risk:

Ceramics / Porcelain / China / Stone / Granite / Marble
Glass Items Of Any Type - Including Glassware, Crystal, Bulbs, Screens, Fiberglass, Fish Tanks, Mirrors, Spectacles, Windows, Perspex
Musical Instruments - Musical Instruments Are Excluded From Enhanced Compensation. Guitars And Brass Instruments Are Particularly Prone To Damage And Should Be Packed Very Carefully, In A Hard Case.
Packaging - Including The Box, Media Packaging, Suitcases Used As Packaging
Precious Metals And Stones - Including Gold, Silver, Gems, Diamond - Including In Jewellery Form
Small Vehicle Parts Including Headlights, Taillights, Gearboxes
Watches
Cosmetics

[Simpo Two]

You're right. And yet you can buy most of those by mail order...!

I once needed to send 140 packs of unexposed camera film to 140 UK addresses. The Post Office said they might X-ray them, which is obviously a non-starter, so they lost that gig to Hermes.

This interrogation of 'What's in the parcel?' so that everyone round you knows what you're posting is annoying.

[AndyAudi]

You could be lucky, maybe not.

I was buying a replacement battery for a set of optics, kept getting stopped by Aberdeen sorting office.

Guy supplying said he’d had no issues elsewhere, Aberdeen must be more strict in their screening.

Looking back attempt 3 he used a courier, no idea what happened to the 1st two

[Mr Overheads]

Simpo Two said:

My laptop expired but the battery is absolutely fine, so I thought I'd sell it on eBay . But the PO is terrified of almost everything, and even Evri won't accept them unless it's in its original equipment, which it isn't.

There must be a courier that takes them because I see business sellers selling them.

If they'll take the battery in the original equipment, then just send the battery buyer the knackered laptop as well with the battery installed.

[Simpo Two]

Mr Overheads said:

If they'll take the battery in the original equipment, then just send the battery buyer the knackered laptop as well with the battery installed.

Bit late for that, I was so annoyed with it I smashed it up with an axe

[dirky dirk]

Batteries contained in eqpt are a nightmare as freight

Batteries on their own
Pretty much not accepted other than by one airline
I’d just go to the post office and see what they say

[DavePanda]

Evoluzione said:

I have the feeling that if we all stuck to the rules maybe 10 parcels a day would be delivered.

Blatant C&P:

Prohibited Items:
The following items (or any item similar in description or content) cannot be carried on any service.
Any person sending such an item may be subject to their order being cancelled without notice:


Select a Country

Select a Courier
Animals Or Organisms Of Any Form
Any Perishable Goods Or Perishable Food
Batteries And Items Containing Built In Batteries
Biological Samples
Compressed Air & Empty Cylinders
Cosmetics
Covid Tests (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Drugs, Medication, Prescriptions, Tobacco And Tobacco Products
Food Items - (All Food Items To Spain, Including Non Perishable Are Prohibited). (FedEx Express, UPS, TNT, UPS Access Point, Landmark)
Geochron
Hand Sanitiser (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Hazardous Goods Including Aerosol, Asbestos, Explosives, Fire Extinguishers, Lighters Including New, Used And Empty, Fireworks And Christmas Crackers. Items Containing Alcohol, Flammable Or Explosive Substances.
Illegal Goods - Including Any Items Considered Illegal In Either The Exporting Or Importing Country.
Large Vehicle Parts - Including Vehicle Panels, Spoilers, Doors Or Engines, Any Car Parts Containing Oil Or Liquids Or Items Related To
Lighters And Refills Containing Flammable Liquid Or Gas (Including New, Used And Empty Butane, Petrol Cigar And Cigarette Lighters). (Parcelforce)
Liquids, Creams, Oils, Wax Or Gels
Medical Equipment
Monetary/Currency Including Cash, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Coins, Cheques, Stamps (Unless Franked) And Any Financial Documents.
Paint (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Perfume (FedEx Express, FedEx UK, TNT)
Personal Effects (Suitcases or Personal Belongings) (DPD)
Personal Identification Documentation, Like A Passport, ID Card Or Driving Licence
Poisonous, Toxic Liquids, Solids Or Gases Including Pesticides
Radioactive Materials
Weapons - Including Replicas Or Ammunition
White Goods Including Cooker Hoods Or Hot Tubs
Wood And Wooden Items (Items Made Out Of Wood)
Items Protected For Loss Only:
The services provided to us by the couriers will send the following items, however, they will not protect for any damage.

If the item is lost within their network they will refund the cost of the carriage and the items value (Parcel protection must be taken out for any loss to be claimed)

Antiques
Any Type Of Wooden Flooring Including Laminate
Coffee Machines, Coffee Grinders, Coffee Roasters
Cycles, Bicycles, Unicycles, Tricycles.
Electrical Appliances - Such As Cameras, Monitors, Computers, Drones, Tvs Or Items Related To
Fishing Rods
Furniture
Knitting Machines Or Sewing Machines
Models, Kits
Musical Instruments Including Amplifiers, Speakers Or Turntables. All Musical Instruments Must Be Sent In A Hard Case And Boxed
Suitcase - A Suitcase Will Not Be Protected If This Is Used As Packaging For Internal Items.
Surfboards
Telescopes Or Microscopes
Wall Decor Items Including Canvas Prints, Clocks, Framed Pictures, Pictures, Posters, Prints, Paintings
No Protection items:
The following items (or any item similar in description or content) can only be carried on a no-protection basis on any service.
Any person sending such an item does so at their own risk:

Ceramics / Porcelain / China / Stone / Granite / Marble
Glass Items Of Any Type - Including Glassware, Crystal, Bulbs, Screens, Fiberglass, Fish Tanks, Mirrors, Spectacles, Windows, Perspex
Musical Instruments - Musical Instruments Are Excluded From Enhanced Compensation. Guitars And Brass Instruments Are Particularly Prone To Damage And Should Be Packed Very Carefully, In A Hard Case.
Packaging - Including The Box, Media Packaging, Suitcases Used As Packaging
Precious Metals And Stones - Including Gold, Silver, Gems, Diamond - Including In Jewellery Form
Small Vehicle Parts Including Headlights, Taillights, Gearboxes
Watches
Cosmetics

Literally all these items can be sent via the companies concerned by shipping directly with them, using a third party agent means they massively limit what you can send in order to keep their prices low and limit their responsibility