Sending Mobile Phones to the UK/Europe

Mick Murdock · 15-07-2015 10:54AM #1

An Post have a policy of not carrying items containing batteries outside the country. Just wondering what affordable alternatives there are?

It seems to be an airline policy so I'm wondering how the many British and Irish sellers are bypassing this? Are they simply not declaring the items or using some other means?

It's a massive pain in the ass in the year 2015!

Thanks for any input.

Edit: I've just noticed that Parcel Motel have a service to send to the UK @ €14.50. A bit pricey but do they accept Mobile Phones?

delahuntv · 15-07-2015 11:54AM

An Post use air shipping for all parcels. It is a general air policy that an post have no option but apply - Royal Mail also apply it, but they also have a road/sea service.

Delivery compnaies such as GLS, DPD, Nightline, Fastway etc use road/sea for UK and don't have the restrictions.

Couriers like DHL / UPS / Fedex can accept prohibited items under special licence and charge accordingly.

Mick Murdock · 15-07-2015 01:26PM

That's great info and explains Royal Mail accepting electrical goods.

Surely An Post could partner with somebody or find an alternative method for packets. Seems a bit antiquated in this day and age!

Still open to alternatives to Parcel Motel but I do like the idea of being able to drop items off so they might be handiest if there's nothing significantly cheaper.

delahuntv · 15-07-2015 03:10PM

Mick Murdock wrote: »

That's great info and explains Royal Mail accepting electrical goods.

Surely An Post could partner with somebody or find an alternative method for packets. Seems a bit antiquated in this day and age!

Still open to alternatives to Parcel Motel but I do like the idea of being able to drop items off so they might be handiest if there's nothing significantly cheaper.

They used to, but the cost of having 2 services airmail & surface mail was higher than the cost of send everything airmail alone, so they changed to just offering one service as 90%+ went airmail anyway.

With so many other companies offering groud service, it wouldn't be worth adding it again.

Grab All Association · 17-07-2015 12:36PM

I have sent two phones before to the UK using An Post (unless rules have changed recently) they got there.

Mick Murdock · 17-07-2015 04:03PM

Prohibited items are sent all the time and usually get to their destination but it's a bit risky sending €200-300 phones on a regular basis because if it's stopped you'll be kissing the phone goodbye.

kleefarr · 11-09-2015 12:16PM

Trying to return a faulty tablet to UK today, Anpost said no.
Need to use a courier. This is costing an extra €8 on top of the €18 it would have cost.
Surely in todays age they can tell if an item is dodgy or not??

Grrrr

delahuntv · 11-09-2015 10:23PM

kleefarr wrote: »

Trying to return a faulty tablet to UK today, Anpost said no.
Need to use a courier. This is costing an extra €8 on top of the €18 it would have cost.
Surely in todays age they can tell if an item is dodgy or not??

Grrrr

Its not an An Post policy - its an international air transport policy.

Also you don't need a courier, just a parcel delivery service that uses road/sea route. Gls parcel shop, DPD, nightline, parcel connect etc.

foggy_lad · 13-09-2015 06:25PM

delahuntv wrote: »

Its not an An Post policy - its an international air transport policy.

Also you don't need a courier, just a parcel delivery service that uses road/sea route. Gls parcel shop, DPD, nightline, parcel connect etc.

I often return items with batteries to amazon and all that is required is a notice showing the item contains batteries.

delahuntv · 13-09-2015 09:26PM

foggy_lad wrote: »

I often return items with batteries to amazon and all that is required is a notice showing the item contains batteries.

Amazon have a different system. All returns are collated in an post and sent bulk via road/sea to their returns centre.

alksander · 22-10-2015 03:49PM

delahuntv wrote: »

An Post use air shipping for all parcels. It is a general air policy that an post have no option but apply - Royal Mail also apply it, but they also have a road/sea service.

Delivery compnaies such as GLS, DPD, Nightline, Fastway etc use road/sea for UK and don't have the restrictions.

Couriers like DHL / UPS / Fedex can accept prohibited items under special licence and charge accordingly.

I am wondering if they are receiving any of the foreign shipments to Ireland via the same route? E.g. tons of chinese and international deliveries with batteries in them.

2 stroke · 22-10-2015 04:37PM

I've received several items via airmail from China containing batteries.
Do they have different international air transport policy? or just ignore the rules?

2 stroke · 22-10-2015 04:40PM

Also I can fly with a mobile phone in my pocket, so why cant I post it?

delahuntv · 22-10-2015 05:06PM

2 stroke wrote: »

Also I can fly with a mobile phone in my pocket, so why cant I post it?

and your phone goes though xray machine.

Its not that batteries are not allowed - they just can;t be lumped in with everything else.

DHL and others will allow batteries, but they charge a surcharge and then they get put through as seperate cargo.

whiterebel · 24-10-2015 10:49PM

2 stroke wrote: »

Also I can fly with a mobile phone in my pocket, so why cant I post it?

The problem is that Lithium can go on fire or become explosive under pressure, if the battery is damaged. Single items such as phones, laptops on a person are ok, but the danger is if you have multiple batteries in a restricted package.

joujoujou · 25-10-2015 08:32AM

Got a box of AA lithium batteries with very similar notice printed on it. Yes, delivered by air mail.

delahuntv · 25-10-2015 11:01PM

joujoujou wrote: »

Got a box of AA lithium batteries with very similar notice printed on it. Yes, delivered by air mail.

And notice how its says "forbidden to transport on passenger aircraft"

Most post goes by regular passenger aircraft, whereas the likes of fedex, ups, tnt etc use freight aircraft.

ED E · 26-10-2015 02:21PM

2 stroke wrote: »

I've received several items via airmail from China containing batteries.
Do they have different international air transport policy? or just ignore the rules?

They flaunt them. Sometimes you'll see them "bounce" in tracking and a new tracking number get issued via surface mail, sometimes they get straight through.

lifianmis · 19-07-2016 05:13PM

My daughter is working in the UK for a few weeks. The phone she had has stopped working so she upgraded and the new phone was sent to her home address in Ireland. How can I get it to her as An post/ DHL won't take it

nava · 19-07-2016 08:57PM

You could try Parcel Motel or Parcel Connect, they do not have same restrictions. More information about them on the sticky.

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Sending Mobile Phones to the UK/Europe

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