Military Troops Sabotaged by the US Postal Service?

Denise F

Friday, September 14, 2007

With so many troops depending on power to communicate with thier loved ones, why won't the Postal Service deliver to them?

Many of our overseas troops rely on their laptops for email communications with their loved ones. To document their time, they use their digital and video cameras as a testimonial to their journey. Getting them the power needed to keep their electronic equipment running is essential to making their tour bearable.

Military personnel rely on online companies to fill the orders that they place for their batteries, keeping their money in the US in good faith that their goods will be delivered. However, many of them can not get these items delivered to their off shore military addresses.

Many years ago, the United States Government created APO & FPO addresses so that correspondence could easily reach troops that were stationed in other countries. This special address format is the equivalent of a PO (Post Office) Box… specifically set up for the delivery of mail. As with a PO Box, only the US Postal Service is the only carrier that can deliver to this type of address.

So why is it that they have such difficulty receiving the batteries that they have purchased for their laptops and cameras? Why is the Postal Service refusing to deliver to those same off shore addresses that were specifically established for this purpose? You would think that making the lives of these troops as comfortable as possible would be a priority after the personal sacrifice that they are making on behalf of our country.

However, Federal regulations have placed heavy restrictions on the shipping of lithium batteries. This regulation means that companies can not us the US Postal Service for the delivery of batteries. This poses a big road block, since they are the only carrier that can and will deliver to these addresses.

Why?

With the many problems that have occurred with battery recalls due to “exploding” batteries, the US Postal Service will no longer transport these lithium batteries. This is due to the fact that the majority of US Mail being sent overseas is transported on passenger aircraft, and they simply won’t take the risk. The words “airplane” and “explosion” on the same sentence is enough to put any concerned citizen into a panic in this day and age. Understanding this, and placing our citizens’ security and safety first, the US Postal Service made the only logical decision. Although the batteries that had issues with this type of defect were due to faulty cells within the batteries from a specific manufacturer (all recalled at this point), the risk and consequence to this happening while transporting on an airplane is reason enough for the Postal Service to refuse the handling of these batteries.

What alternative is there?

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Find out the PHYSICAL address to the base or military location. Having this address allows companies to deliver by FedEx or UPS. However, be advised, additional (and sometimes costly) shipping fees will apply. These addresses do not include the FPO or APO abbreviations, and would be formatted the same as all other addresses in the area.
2. Locate your local UPS or FedEx location. Many of these locations will accommodate military personnel by holding packages for pick up. In order to so this, you would need to advise them of the expected delivery date and request that your package be held. You would then need to provide their address to the company shipping the order. As in the first option, additional shipping fees will apply.
3. Provide the company the address to the US Base that forwards supplies to the overseas locations. Many times, with the proper labeling, they can transport these items along with supplies and other mail. In order to ensure delivery, specific information would need to be printed on the label. This information can be provided by qualified military personnel.

Hopefully soon, we can find a more convenient way to ensure that our overseas Military Personnel receive the items that they need to make their communications with family. Or perhaps a better solution is to bring them back to the states!

# comments about: "Military Troops Sabotaged by the US Postal Service?"

1. 11/5/2007 9:30:53 AM | Posted by: Mike Long

It depends on where you are shipping to. Like here in GTMO we have two charter companies that we can have mail routed through in the states. We do not have UPS or FedEX here. Just postal mail but you can have a FedEX package go to FT Lauderdale and have the forwarder ship it to us at an additional cost. If it is a Sealed Battery then your fine but Li/Ion batteries pose an interesting risk. The best thing I could suggest is that you keep current on the postal regulations by going to the website and discussing the matter with your Post Master. I thought I could never get a motorcycle battery shipped here in GTMO. Guess what, the regulations state that I can, just has to be a SEALED battery. You never know until you read...

2. 10/8/2007 5:53:03 PM | Posted by: regina waters

came across this while I was looking for a way to send a care pack to my nephew. This is a shame. If the post office cant be trusted to deliver the mail, why would they be intrusted to be the only method for these types of delivery. maybe this is another way that the goverment can control the information that comes from the military troops. They are already watching the communications between them and family. The military should come up with another way for them to get mail

3. 10/2/2007 6:57:16 PM | Posted by: SemperFiDevilDog

You are absolutely correct Mosaic, USPS is the only form of delivery to APO/FPO. Although I have never experienced this type of inconvenience while I was on tour (before the whole restriction issues), I do know of those who have. Thier solution was simple to cancel anything that couldn't get shipped. You would think that with these new regulations, there would be some sort of alternative implimented. Under the circumstances FedEx and UPS should create special military rates for these situations. In the end, we all win. Oooh-Rah!!!!

4. 10/2/2007 4:00:37 PM | Posted by: Ken

Commercial companies are required by law to disclose what they are shipping overseas so you can't get around that. Regular people can lie and usually there is no problem as only a fraction of the packages sent through US Postal are ever checked. Unforunately, ever since those defective Sony batteries started exploding, this was never an issue. Now, they won't let any battery ship via mail. It should be noted that regular 1st class mail or domestic parcels don't need any special paperwork so they won't know what is inside even if you ship it. But, if they find out, it would be a big federal crime.

5. 9/24/2007 10:57:38 AM | Posted by: Mosaic

From what I understand, USPS uses passenger aircrafts to transport their airshipments. A lot of passenger aircrafts have restrictions on transporting lithium ion batteries on their planes. Therefore, USPS will not take any lithium ion batteries. UPS and FedEx have the own commerical/cargo planes so they are under different guidelines. From what I understand, UPS and Fedex don't deliver to APO/FPO addresses.

6. 9/22/2007 5:13:03 PM | Posted by: Melissa Honelly

My brother purchased a battery with you and was told that you could not send it through the post office. He had his battery sent to me here in MN and I had NO PROBLEMS sending it to him from our local post office. He did get the battery weeks later. Is this something that is nationwide? I don't understand why you can send it from your location, and I didn't have issues. Of course, I didn't tell them it was a battery, I simply stated that it wasn't hazerdous. Can anyone tell me why this is? There are lots of people overseas that use thier laptops to send emails to family, and if anyone knows of a better or faster way to send these batteris?

Military Troops Sabotaged by the US Postal Service?

# comments about: "Military Troops Sabotaged by the US Postal Service?"

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