Importing Powerbanks - any restrictions? advice?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Importing Powerbanks - any restrictions? advice?

dias87

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 240020 15-Aug-2018 17:21

Hi guys,

Been lurking around these forums for a few months now and I am looking for any advice in importing power banks from China, specifically Aliexpress.

I've read a few of the threads on GZ, but some are 6-24 months old and the information presented may be redundant.

I am looking to import a ZMI powerbank from Aliexpress and have been told by the seller there are no restrictions to send to NZ.

I contacted Customs and they said the restrictions lie with the shipping companies, not Customs. They also mentioned i'd be liable for an Import Entry Transation fee.. not too sure why? The overall combined package does not go above the threshold so no custom fees need to be paid via WhatsMyDuty.

Was wondering if anyone had any recent experiences or advice with importing these powerbanks?

Any information would be great!

Cheers

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Reply # 2074117 15-Aug-2018 18:04

Pretty much nobody will ship powerbanks to NZ unless they're using a very dodgy method and declare them incorrectly with the shipper. Lithium batteries are a heavily restricted item globally with significant restrictions.

Even if it makes it to NZ and says it's a Powerbank it will be rejected by any shipper inside NZ for transport since Powerbanks are banned in NZ from being shipped via post or courier.

What's the appeal of ZMI ones? They actually look quite overpriced IMHO.

dias87

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 2074130 15-Aug-2018 18:20

Interesting.. Aliexpress will ship via UBI which is then handled by NZ Post I believe.

The Xiaomi features 20000mAh - 45w PD USB-C, 2x QC3 USB-A ports and can fully charge in 4hrs with a PD-enabled charger. It also has great reviews. Price is $110 shipped.

Ideally I'd opt for Anker PowerCore PD+ but these are hard to import.

sbiddle

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Reply # 2074135 15-Aug-2018 18:26

dias87:

Interesting.. Aliexpress will ship via UBI which is then handled by NZ Post I believe.

The Xiaomi features 20000mAh - 45w PD USB-C, 2x QC3 USB-A ports and can fully charge in 4hrs with a PD-enabled charger. It also has great reviews. Price is $110 shipped.

Ideally I'd opt for Anker PowerCore PD+ but these are hard to import.

I simply would not expect one to turn up at my door if I ordered it. Maybe you'll get lucky, but I wouldn't want to rate your chances unless the documentation is falsified.

I used to bring back lots of Powerbanks back from the US as I'm there a few times per year and sell them on here, but since you can't ship them around NZ now there is no point.

LennonNZ

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Reply # 2074139 15-Aug-2018 18:31

If you are going to fly with them you are legally allowed 100Wh or below (160Wh with permission) and preferably be able to prove it. A lot of powerbanks are rated mAh not Wh and there is no straight conversion.

I have flown with a 98Wh Anker Domestic/International (USA,Canada,Australia) but never been asked the size.

dias87

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 2074155 15-Aug-2018 19:07

I checked NZ Post:

https://www.nzpost.co.nz/personal/sending-within-nz/prohibited-restricted-items

Looks like it is prohibited:

Electronic/electric appliances, devices and toys containing Lithium (including Lithium-ion and Lithium-ion polymer) batteries

Lithium-metal batteries are prohibited. Damaged batteries of any kind are prohibited. Batteries sent by themselves are prohibited, including powerbanks.

In all other cases, a maximum of two Lithium-ion batteries per parcel is allowed*, providing the special packaging requirements detailed below are met.

* Prohibited when using Bulk Mail, ParcelPost Fast, BoxLink or ParcelPost PO Box Priority services.

richms

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Reply # 2074157 15-Aug-2018 19:21

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And this is why they all have a useless LED light on them so they are technically a flashlight not a power bank.

Some idiot deciding to lump powerbanks in with loose cells basically ruined it for everyone.

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PoHq

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Reply # 2074194 15-Aug-2018 19:48

I recently ordered one of these from TradeMe. Dick Smith is the seller and it came from Aus without issue.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/laptops/power-adaptors/other/auction-1728259616.htm

sbiddle

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Reply # 2074203 15-Aug-2018 20:59

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PoHq: I recently ordered one of these from TradeMe. Dick Smith is the seller and it came from Aus without issue.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/laptops/power-adaptors/other/auction-1728259616.htm

I'm sure there are plenty of Powerbanks that are shipped every day by air. None of this changes the fact that in most cases the goods are illegal.

Both NZ Post and Australia Post prohibit anything with lithium batteries being sent unless you make hazard declarations, and I'm not aware of a single courier company in NZ that will accept them. International air carriers like DHL have very strict rules.

It's even a nightmare trying to buy things like Powerbanks in the US on Amazon now as they can only be shipped via ground as well meaning if local distribution centres don't have them they can take days to arrive.

Some of the latest data and modelling around lithium battery fires on planes is rather scary, and with several cargo planes already having crashed due to lithium battery fires it's totally understandable why the rules are set like they are, and why they keep getting even tougher.

sbiddle

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Reply # 2074205 15-Aug-2018 21:02

LennonNZ:

If you are going to fly with them you are legally allowed 100Wh or below (160Wh with permission) and preferably be able to prove it. A lot of powerbanks are rated mAh not Wh and there is no straight conversion.

I have flown with a 98Wh Anker Domestic/International (USA,Canada,Australia) but never been asked the size.

Every good powerbank will have the Wh printed on it as this is now legally required to comply with aviation rules. As a general rule of thumb most powerbanks use 3.8V cells so the conversion is to multiply the mAh rating by 3.8 to get Wh.

dias87

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 2074242 15-Aug-2018 23:42

There is also the Cygnett Chargeup Pro 20k that is available in NZ.

This has 45w USB-C output and 30w input, so not enough juice to charge the MBP 13” as fast as the factory charger, but still decent.

The only thing is it’s expensive, bulky and has no PD wall charger.

MadEngineer

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Reply # 2074244 15-Aug-2018 23:51

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Advice? Buy locally for all the benefits that might outweigh some perceived improvement in price

Shadowfoot

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Reply # 2074251 16-Aug-2018 06:26

Last week an Anker 20,000 mAh power cell arrived for me from AliExpress without any problems.

@Shadowfoot on Twitter

sbiddle

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Reply # 2074271 16-Aug-2018 07:24

MadEngineer: Advice? Buy locally for all the benefits that might outweigh some perceived improvement in price

It's not just about price - the products available locally are all pretty limited. I rate both Anker and Ravpower as the best charging products on the market, and neither are available here in NZ.

Having said that though, over the past year or so neither Anker or Ravpower have introduced a lot of innovation to the market. If you're a typical Android user (excluding some devices such as Huawei which have their own standard) you'll want something with QC3.0 support to deliver the fastest charging speeds. Likewise most new laptops from this year are now all USB-C PD and you need a minimum 30W PD to charge a laptop.

I've finally found my perfect desktop charger at present with my current Zero Lemon one which has 60W USB-C PD + QC3.0, and will probably pick up an Omars 20,000 mAh powerbank when I'm back in the US in October. This does 45W PD + QC3.0 so is perfect for my phone and laptop. I have the 10,000 mAh Omars at present which isn't a bad unit, but only outputs 18W PD so is perfect for iPhone users who want PD, but insufficient to charge a laptop.

linw

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Reply # 2074298 16-Aug-2018 08:57

It is all pretty inconsistent, though. No trouble with shipping a Xiomei vac, with lithium 5,000 mAh bty in it, from China to doorstep.

Bung

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Reply # 2074303 16-Aug-2018 09:05

sbiddle: It's not just about price - the products available locally are all pretty limited. I rate both Anker and Ravpower as the best charging products on the market, and neither are available here in NZ.

Why do these apparent lost opportunities exist? Are local distributors content with the products they already have? It reminds me of how poorly Eneloop batteries were promoted here while they were a Sanyo product.

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