International shipping issues with batteries in a second-hand laptop.

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tieke

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#302690 12-Dec-2022 11:28

As my Lenovo X220 laptop is getting quite well-worn, but I still love the keyboard and form-factor, I bought a backup X220 from a bloke in the US via ebay.

The seller is shipping via USPS priority mail and was told that he cannot ship batteries internationally.

The X220 has removable batteries, and he was going to ship it with a standard and high capacity battery - is there a different US shipper he could use, or if he just shipped it with one of the batteries attached to the laptop would it be OK?

timmmay

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#3008913 12-Dec-2022 12:24

Some carriers will take batteries. I know when I shipped something small with a battery via Planet Express (USA reshipper) recently I had more limited choices and you can't ship really large batteries. Their website has an FAQ that might be useful.

tieke

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#3008944 12-Dec-2022 13:03

Thanks for that. I checked the international regulations (USPS section 622.5) and they say that one battery is allowed, but only if it is installed in the laptop and is less than 100Wh, so I'll get him to send it with just the better battery installed.

neb

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#3009105 12-Dec-2022 18:02

Just to comment on that, one installed battery is OK otherwise 99% of phones and tablets, and a great many laptops, would be unshippable.

tieke

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#3009281 12-Dec-2022 22:03

Unfortunately the seller was directed to this New Zealand-specific USPS page which states that even items containing properly installed lithium batteries are prohibited to be carried. As you point out, given the number of air-delivered lithium battery-containing items it isn't a regulation that is widely enforced, but the seller was unwilling to directly contravene regulations, which is fair enough, but it's a bit of a waste of the two batteries.