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Q: TIC, why can't mail cell phone from China?
My GF tried to mail me my iPhone, went to 2 post offices. They say it is not allowed even with surface mail. I think this is crap. I had a phone mailed to me from Beijing and I can't find any restrictions on cell phones. Any idea why she is getting rejected? or is this another TIC?
The battery. It is illegal to ship any battery via air from China. I use to produce GPS units and because of this law I had to ship them all by boat. It is a stupid law, but it is one they actually enforce.
As a side note, by the same law, you are only allowed to carry up to 3 battery driven devices on you when you travel by air. This portion of the law isn't enforced that strongly as I have gotten way more than that on a plane without any problems.
If you want confirmation of this law, contact UPS or any other international carrier, they will confirm it for you.
TedDBayer:
Thanks. I know you are supposed to keep any batteries in your carry on when you fly, so I can accept no air mail, but they won't take surface. No Fedex in Guilin, commercial couriers use commercial aircraft, and will take dangerous goods not allowed in the mail. Post mail goes by passenger planes. I bought a cell phone and batteries from China, they came air.
Xpat.John:
I really can't say. All I know is that I have been told that any battery operated devices must travel by ground or boat. If you are getting batteries by air, then they are circumventing the rules. But that would never happen in China. hahaha
Commercial carriers won't touch them either if it goes on planes. I tried FedEx, UPS, and others. The thing is that the Chinese government told them that if they break this law, they can lose their ability to operate in China. Any GPS units I wanted shipped out by air had to be hand carried to Hong Kong and then flown out from there.
Xpat.John:
I don't think they would do you much good. The ones I made were pre-loaded with maps of Ireland. I don't think that will help you much in finding the nearest pink light district.
Hugh.G.Rection:
In my previous career I used to teach Dangerous goods regulations, the batteries are almost certainly lithium batteries and they are banned for a very good reason, they are dangerous as all hell.
I once saw a demonstration, a box of lithium batteries was thrown into the sea (they are only REALLY dangerous when the lithium gets wet) from about 250ft they exploded within seconds and the waterspout must of been at least 100ft from the surface!
TedDBayer:
Anyone in Guilin going to Hong Kong wanna mail my iphone for me? ha ha . Gf had my iphone even tho it wasn't unlocked, was hoping there would be a software unlock by now. I can buy the unlock code now. I bought her an iphone and she was to send me mine. Seems the Chinese professionals don't know how to buy unlock codes. So now I'm out 2 iphones, phuck.
