Shipping help (UK to US) (1 Viewer)

[JP1984]

Hi PCF,

I'm trying to ship some leaded chips to the US - https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/pink-leaded-snappers-argosy-2-50.129049/

@texasred bought these about two weeks ago and I did the usual, boxed them up and shipped them out via Royal Mail (USPS once in the US).

Today they got returned to sender with a big orange sticker on them saying "Do Not Fly"...

The tracking suggests "Prohibited goods"...

I have sent over 4000 chips to the US over the last 5 years and never had this issue, anyone got any ideas, have Royal Mail kicked off in the last 2 weeks? I'm tempted to try UPS instead...

 

[cpac54]

Seems very odd. Out of curiosity, what description did you use for the contents on the customs declaration form?

 

[JP1984]

Same as always, Obsolete gaming tokens...

 

[cpac54]

Same as always, Obsolete gaming tokens...

Super weird then. Did you contact the Post to ask what their explanation was for rejecting the shipment?

 

[JP1984]

Usual thing...can't tell me exactly, sent me to a link that lists prohibited items.

Was chatting with @mattross1313 and he said it might just be the x-ray scanner flagging it as something weird. They opened the outer packaging but not the inner packaging. Probably just alarmed by how securely packaged it was

 

[Northern Paladin]

Was chatting with @mattross1313 and he said it might just be the x-ray scanner flagging it as something weird. They opened the outer packaging but not the inner packaging. Probably just alarmed by how securely packaged it was

That's probably it. We like our chips to be well packaged, but it seems that the postal services and customs don't like that. If they were worried, they should have opened the last package. But maybe the person in charge of the control was lazy.

@Organista1 has family who work at USPS. Maybe he could confirm the problem.

 

[Northern Paladin]

They opened the outer packaging but not the inner packaging. Probably just alarmed by how securely packaged it was

If you ask UPS about this I would be interested to know what they say. I'm also hesitant to go with them for my shipments (both directions).

 

[JP1984]

UPS are always excellent, just a bit more expensive

 

[w00zie]

Very weird indeed. My boxes often get opened and inspected (probably because of x-rays looking suspicious) and then DHL ships them to the US after the inspection.

 

[Bronson]

Heavy well packed and protected rectangular box might looks suspicious, especially if you’ll send it with free alarm clock taped to the top

 

[ChippinUp]

Ups told me there is a self pack option and another option where they pack it. Not sure if the the latter woud help your situation?

 

[grandmeme]

Following, worried about future shipments since Australia Post does the same thing. Do you think it'd be more of a Royal Mail problem, or a USPS problem?

 

[JP1984]

Update:

Spent 30 mins on the phone to Royal Mail, they were able to tell me that the X-Ray scanner threw a wobbly because "the item was too dense to be scanned"

Seems I packed the leaded chips too tightly together and the scanner just saw a big old block of something and couldn't tell what it was.

They've been reshipped via UPS, I've slightly changed my packing technique to see if it helps avoid this.

 

[CarlosStorm]

I have had the same issue here on Spain with Correos.
This is the explanation: The shipment was returned due to containing dangerous goods

Have they returned the shipping cost?

 

[JP1984]

They have, I had to fill in a form that was made in 2005 and they are sending me a check in the mail...madness but at least it's resolved

 

[Joe Harris]

threw a wobbly

UKims are top shelf

 

[JP1984]

Sent via UPS. Arrived in 3 days. Will use them in future.