Thursday, December 8, 2011

Is it a good idea to send laptops (notebooks), cell phones (including iPhone), iPods, iPads to Russia via USPS Express or Priority Mail?

Personally I got my laptop, 4 cell phones and a router without any problem. All of these items were sent either via USPS Express Mail (EMS) or USPS Priority Mail. But many Russian customers had their laptops (including MacBook Air), cell phones (inlcuding iPhones), tablets (including iPad), iPods and other items stolen. The problem is that USPS denies insurance claims for the items from the UPU list of prohibited items. So if your laptop (notebook), cell phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod, macbook was stolen you won't get any insurance from USPS, because transmitters and transceivers of any power, except Panasonic radiotelephones, models KX-T7980, KX-T9000, KT-T9050, and KX-T90890 are prohibited items.


USPS just ignores the fact that Russian customs doesn't confiscate items silently (except for maybe weapons and drugs). If something like laptop (notebook), cell phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod is missing, it was stolen, not confiscated. When something is confiscated by the customs, you get a confiscation act. Actually when prohibited items are sent, the following options are possible:

  • Seizure of the prohibited articles only, the rest delivered to the addressee.

  • Return of the item to the country of origin.
  • Seizure of the whole item.


But the fact that you didn't get a confiscation act won't stop USPS from not paying you for the insured items from the UPU prohibited list.

Now you know that sending something like laptop (notebook), cell phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod to Russia via USPS is risky. But there are things you can do to reduce the risk:

  • Do not send send laptops (notebooks including macbook), cell phones (including iPhone), iPods, iPads via USPS.

  • Don't use the names like iPad, iPod, iPhone, MacBook... that are often stolen in the customs declaration. Declare iPad as a tablet, portable electronic device, electronic gadget,... Declare iPhone as a cell phone, portable electronic device, ...Declare MacBook Air as a notebook, laptop

  • Buy additional insurance for your electronics whenever possible. Some package forwarders offer this service.

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8 comments:

  1. Success story on getting insurance from USPS for stolen (lost) iPhone 4 « Discounts, sales, special offers, deal-a-day sites, private shopping clubsFebruary 28, 2012 at 9:55 PM

    [...] my previous post I stated that it might be a good idea not to send notebooks, cellphones (including iPhone 4) to [...]

    ReplyDelete
  2. AlexeyMay 30, 2012 at 11:06 PM

    Just use package forwarders that offer additional insurance for electronics such as cell phones and laptops.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DimaMay 31, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    USPS doesn't deliver lithium batteries to international destinations anymore. You can't use it for shipping laptops or cell phone unless you remove a battery.

    ReplyDelete
  4. realbargainMay 31, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    Great advice! Updated the post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. realbargainMay 31, 2012 at 9:25 PM

    You can't use USPS for delivering lithium batteries, but you can use package forwarders that allow you to overcome USPS restrictions:
    Package forwarders allowing to deliver lithium batteries and electronics from USA to Russia

    ReplyDelete
  6. VasyaJune 3, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    Some freight forwarders have higher insurance for iPhones, iPads and Macbooks. I've read that they are stolen while being delivered to Russia in 2-3% of cases, which is much higher than all other goods.

    ReplyDelete
  7. BarickJune 9, 2012 at 11:11 PM

    I bought iPhone 4S and sent it to Russia, but it was lost or stolen.

    ReplyDelete
  8. realbargainJune 11, 2012 at 1:16 AM

    It is highly recommended to insure your packages when sending iPhones, iPads, Macbooks. Some mail forwarders charge 5% insurance when sending them to Russia, but I think it is worth it.

    ReplyDelete

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