ShipitAPO Announcement 05/2012-001: USPS Change on Lithium Batteries

To our ShipitAPO Members,

Thanks for being with us and for letting us help meet your online shopping and shipping needs. We welcome the opportunity to serve you!

As you know, we respect your inbox, but on occasion we need to send out broadcast messages such as this one because of the importance of the information they contain. Please read this message completely and keep it for future reference as the information herein affects you when using the services provided by ShipitAPO.

Effective 16 May 2012, companies or individuals can no longer mail packages that contain lithium batteries to APO/FPO/DPO addresses.

Please read the official USPS notice here: <http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22336/html/updt_004.htm> and here <http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22336/html/updt_010.htm>

Discussion Points.

As of 16 May, ShipitAPO will not knowingly attempt to mail out any package to an APO/FPO/DPO address -- under any circumstances -- that contain lithium batteries. Please do not ask us to "make an exception."
If any lithium batteries are found in your packages, you will be notified via email with instructions on how to deal with your non-mailable-to-an-APO/FPO/DPO-address package.
Per our Terms of Use, ShipitAPO can and will open packages to verify the presence of lithium batteries.
While the USPS says effective 16 May, we suspect that they will return packages at random that were mailed out before 16 May. If your package is returned, we will notify you via email with instructions on how to deal with your returned package.
Please do not blame ShipitAPO for this change in USPS policy, for the USPS returning your package, etc. We are at the mercy of the United States Postal Service just like everyone else.

What can you do?

Read and understand the new USPS policy. Contact your local APO/FPO/DPO Postmaster and/or staff for further information.
Ask questions. We will answer your questions as best we can. However, recognize that ShipitAPO is not the USPS; we do not set USPS policy, etc.
Do not have any packages containing lithium batteries sent to your ShipitAPO Address.
Have patience. We know this is going to be stressful.
Delay purchasing items that contain lithium batteries until new regulations are announced, hopefully in January 2013.
Learn more. Google (lithium, USPS) and see what others are saying/doing.
Talk this up. Discuss this issue with your colleagues, Supervisors, Superior Officers, etc. Post on Facebook. Write your Congressman. Get involved. Help each other.

In summary, despite the glimmer of hope as found in the new policy announcement -- ...the Postal Service anticipates that on January 1, 2013, customers will be able to mail specific quantities of lithium batteries internationally (including to and from an APO, FPO, or DPO location) when the batteries are properly installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate. -- the coming months will be difficult for us all.

Simply put, do not send packages that contain lithium batteries to ShipitAPO or other APO/FPO package forwarders until further notice. Under this new ruling, no company or individual can mail packages to an APO/FPO/DPO address that contain lithium batteries. We will let you know as soon as the USPS issues new regulations or exceptions, expected in January of 2013.

Thank you for your understanding and support and, as always, we appreciate your patronage and letting us serve you!

To ensure proper notification to our Members, we will be sending out this notice many, many times. So, if you no longer wish to receive this particular ShipitAPO Announcement, simply log into your account and follow the links you will see.

Do not hesitate to email us should you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Sincerely,

Steve, John and Rachel
customerservice@shipitapo.com
http://www.shipitapo.com
ShipitAPO on Facebook

Please note, per our Terms Of Use, you cannot unsubscribe from these broadcast messages. Should you wish to no longer use our services, you can close your account at any time from within our User Center. Once logged into your ShipitAPO Account, just click the Account Settings button under the ShipitAPO Profile section. Then look for Membership down the page. There you will see the Close Account link. You can log into our User Center from the My Account link found at the top of our home page.