Lost or suck?

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 12 Oct 2017, 19:34

I bought sth in UK. Now I’m waiting for Royal Mail International Signed For. The shop sent me my item 28 of September. And since 28 September nothing has changed. It’s still written
Thursday 28 September
7,58 pm ITEM COLLECTED GATWICK MAIL CENTRE
8.18 pm ON ITS WAY TO HWDC AIRSURE GATWICK MAIL CENTRE

There’s also information: in transit. Your item, posted on 28/09/17 with reference LA457578755GB has been received at our international mail centre and is being made ready for despatch overseas.

Today is 12 of October. My parcel was estimated to be delivered to Poland 3-5 of October.
What shall do? Is it lost? It’s very strange. Two weeks without any update. Could you advice me wat to do?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 12 Oct 2017, 19:46

It might be a problem with the contents. What did you buy?

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 12 Oct 2017, 20:49

Nothing dangerous. Keyboard for iPad.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 13 Oct 2017, 19:30

That is an interesting one. If it the keyboard has a battery to power it then it probably comes under the very strict International laws on sending batteries in the post. It is very easy for the shop to get this wrong and cause a problem. But more likely is that the parcel is suspected of containing a battery so it has gone for further checks. This tends to cause a delay.

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 13 Oct 2017, 21:36

Of course it has battery. I had no idea it could cause the problem. I think it’s my first and last item that I bought abroad.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 14 Oct 2017, 06:13

Sending batteries in the post is a problem for domestic mail as well as international, though in practice you are more likely to get a problem when sending abroad.

It is the seller’s responsibility to get the item to you in the time they said. You need to complain to them.

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 14 Oct 2017, 08:38

Finally. New update. After two weeks : ON ITS WAY TO DO NOT FLY - NRC
HEATHROW WORLDWIDE DC.
I'll write to sender. Hope to get my money back. On the other hand I don’t understand how people buy computers, mobiles etc.
Thanks a lot for your help.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 14 Oct 2017, 20:28

The sender messed up. You can send computers and mobile phones in the mail, lots of people do (including me) but it is easy to get it wrong.

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 14 Oct 2017, 21:06

So how to send electronic items correctly? I can write them. The sender is not a private person. It’s a shop. Maybe I should explain them how to send it. If I only knew how to send keyboard......

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 15 Oct 2017, 14:05

I don't think this is your fight, but here goes:

When you send abroad, you need to check two things. The first is the general list of things that you can't send to any country. This should be almost the same in every country in the world. A link to Royal Mail's page on this is below, it lists all the things you have to do to send items with batteries in. Not following these rules is a crime in the United Kingdom for which the sender could be fined or go to prison. As a receiver, you are at no risk of legal action. Note that there are several different sets of instructions, depending on what type of batteries they are, but most items come under the rules for "Batteries - lithium ion/polymer batteries contained in equipment". Among other things, these rules state that:

The equipment containing cells or batteries must be packed in strong rigid packaging and must be secured against movement within the outer packaging and packed to prevent accidental activation. The sender’s name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.

Lithium ion/polymer batteries sent in isolation or sent with but not contained in equipment are prohibited.

It is these rules that are most likely to cause a problem. The full list of Royal Mail rules is here:

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app ... l/a_id/125" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The second thing that a sender should do before sending abroad is to check the prohibitions & restrictions for the receiving country. Poland has probably the shortest set of rules of any country in the world (basically, you can't send cash) but for some countries the list goes on for page after page (e.g. Brazil). Around 30 countries ban all lithium batteries, even if the sender follows the rules in the Royal Mail link above, these countries include Germany and the People's Republic of China.

Hope that helps. Frankly, a business in the UK that sends to international destinations should know all of this.

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 15 Oct 2017, 16:21

If I could buy this keyboard in Poland I would do that. Unfortunately I found it only in UK and US. I didn’t know the rules. The sender either, as I can see now. He should fix his mistake. I just wanted to know why did it happened. What kind of mistake it was. Thank you very much for link and your help.

Agata · Post by **Agata** » 19 Oct 2017, 20:08

Today's update:
SUSPECTED DANGEROUS GOODS
NATIONAL RETURN CENTRE

AT DELIVERY OFFICE
NATIONAL RETURN CENTRE

Your item, posted on 28/09/17 with reference LA457578755GB is being returned to sender.
It took 3 weeks!