Parcel posted overseas returned by Royal Mail

[HotRats]

I posted an audio amplifier to Canada 2 weeks ago.

It sat for a few days in Edinburgh before the tracking said ‘Now being sent by road’. Which is an impressive way to get to Canada from Scotland!

The tracking didn’t change and it’s now been returned with a sticker saying This Item Contains Goods Which Are Not Permitted To Fly.

I can’t see anything on the prohibited list about an amplifier not being allowed to be flown.

Any ideas?

[POSTMAN]

Batteries?

[HotRats]

Batteries?

Nope, no batteries. Did think of that but this doesn’t have a remote control.

[Snaggletooth]

A bit of a long shot, but does it contain valves or other non-standard components?

[HotRats]

A bit of a long shot, but does it contain valves or other non-standard components?

Nice thought but no valves inside. It’s a British made Naim amplifier from the 90’s. It’s very heavy and obviously contains electronics but nothing unusual.

[yellowbelly]

From my limited knowledge, speakers/amplifiers and the like contain magnets don't they? Perhaps it's something to do with that and they're erring on the side of caution?

[HotRats]

From my limited knowledge, speakers/amplifiers and the like contain magnets don't they? Perhaps it's something to do with that and they're erring on the side of caution?

I imagine they do, but audio equipment isn’t restricted and doesn’t appear on any list.
Would have been better if they gave an actual specific reason. Oh well, claim for refund and another carrier being used.

[SpacePhoenix]

Could it be that there's a potential issue with Canadian customs?

[HotRats]

Could it be that there's a potential issue with Canadian customs?

Possible, but there’s no indication of that anywhere so I have no way of knowing what Royal Mail did it like about it.

[BenacreNick]

Customs is customs - so there is not much anything can be done.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mail to Canada has probably been suspended; they are on strike.

I asked my AI, and it kicked out this answer

Based on the latest available information:

**Is Canada Post still on strike?**

**Yes,** the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is currently engaged in a nationwide strike against Canada Post.

* The current strike began on **September 25, 2025**.
* The strike has resulted in the **halt of all mail and parcel processing and delivery** across the country, as Canada Post operations are shut down for the duration of the national strike.
* **No new mail or parcels are being accepted** into the Canada Post network.
* The dispute stems from ongoing contract negotiations and the union's opposition to the federal government's proposed reforms for Canada Post, which include ending door-to-door delivery and closing some rural post offices.

**Has Royal Mail suspended service to Canada?**

**Yes,** Royal Mail has suspended most of its services to Canada as a result of the Canada Post strike.

* Royal Mail has stated that they were asked by Canada Post not to dispatch mail from the UK to Canada because Canada Post's operations are shut down and no new items are being accepted into their network.
* **Royal Mail services to Canada were suspended from sale from September 29, 2025.**
* Items already sent but not delivered at the start of the strike are being held by Canada Post and will be delivered once the strike ends. Items currently in the Royal Mail pipeline are being returned to the sender.
* **Parcelforce Worldwide** (a subsidiary of Royal Mail) has also suspended most services to Canada, with the exception of their **globalexpress** service, which is delivered by a different provider and is not impacted by the industrial action.

[HotRats]

Thanks for the replies.

The most infuriating thing is not that it’s been returned.
It’s that it been returned with almost no info.
‘This time can’t go by air’ (paraphrasing). Ok, but why?

Anyway it’s off with UPS now.