SPSR Express plans to deliver goods from US and European shops to Russia directly

SPSR Express courier service will be delivering pacakges from British and American online stores directly. Expected delivery time is 3-7 days while the price will be about $20 per kilogramm. It is significantly faster than USPS Priority Mail International and USPS Express Mail International (Russian post and EMS).

Starting February 18th, 2013 SPSR Express will start getting packages from International delivery services directly (thus avoiding Russian post). SPSR has signed agreements with British WorldNet Direct and Scandinavian Smartguy already. The former helps to deliver packages from about half of the British online retailers including ASOS. WorldNet Direct has been testing SPSR Express services. SPSR Express is planning to sign an agreement with american Fiftyone that delivers purchases from more than 200 american online retailers inlcuding DKNY, Macy's, Sears, Shoes, etc. By the end of the year SPSR expects to deliver 20% of international packages to Russia.

Hopefully Shipito freight forwarder will sign an agreement with SPSR Express as well. Otherwise it will lose many customers from Russia who can use SPSR Express directly or via other freight forwarders (like Pochtoy, Qwintry, Shopotam, NYCMSK).

How to overcome USPS shipping restrictions for lithium batteries andelectronics sent to APO and FPO military addresses

USPS doesn't allow to ship lithium batteries and electronics with them to international destinations since May 8, 2012. USPS is the only postal service that can be used to send packages to APO/FPO/DPO locations.

But you can overcome shipping restrictions and deliver lithium batteries to APO and FPO addresses using Fedex or DHL. You will need to ship to specific locations like a specific battalion at Bagram Air Base. So you will need to use the name of the base, city, country, additional identifying information such as building number or barracks number, a contact name and phone number, and if possible, an email address.

Do NOT use APO/FPO addresses like

SSGT Kevin Taylor
Unit 2050 Box 4190
APO AP 96278-2050

SGT Robert Smith
PSC 802 Box 74
APO AE 09499-0074
Seaman Joseph Doe

USCGC Hamilton
FPO AP 96667-3931
SGT Jane Doe
CMR 1250
APO AA 09045-1000

when sending through Fedex or DHL. Such addresses can be used when sending through USPS only.

Also note that FedEx accepts consumer electronics containing lithium batteries of less than 100 watts for shipment overseas


Update (November 11, 2012)
Effective Nov. 15, 2012, USPS will start accepting specific quantities of lithium batteries - when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate - to be sent to APO (Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) locations when permitted by the destination or host country.

Package forwarders allowing to deliver lithium batteries andelectronics from USA to the Ukraine

Now that USPS prohibits international delivery of lithium batteries and electronics with lithium, Li-ion, Li-pol batteries, many customers from the Ukraine will face problems delivering electronics from the US. The problem is that when you use courier services like DHL, Fedex, UPS you will need to pay for customs clearance in some cases, even if you don't exceed the limit of 200 EUR / month. Plus when you use courier services the limit includes the shipping cots. Luckily package forwarders (also known as mail forwarders, freight forwarders, parcel forwarders, shipping forwarders) started shipping packages from the USA to Europe in containers. Many package forwarders shipping to Russia won't work for the Ukraine when shipping lithium batteries and electronics due to different logistics. But there are package forwarders that will work for the Ukraine. And their prices are often lower compared to USPS Priority Mail or USPS Express Mail International.

• Shipito is one of the largest package forwarders of the USA. Delivers packages with lithium batteries and electronics to the Ukraine by Polonez Parcel, Shipito Airmail Priority and Shipito Airmail Express.
  
  
  
  • Polonez Parcel delivery is cheaper that USPS for large packages is cheaper than by USPS ($0.79/lbs, min 20 lbs, dimensional weight is used if greater than real weight). Packages sent by Polonez Parcel to the Ukraine are not insured.
  
  
  • Shipito Airmail delivery is cheaper than USPS for light and small packages (1-6 lbs). Tracking for Shipito Airmail Priority packages is not available, but such packages can be insured.
  
  
  • Shipito Airmail Express delivery costs about the same as USPS Express Mail. Shipito Airmail Express packages can be insured and tracked. Max content value is $1,000. Airmail Express packages are delivered to Belgium post and from there to by EMS into the Ukraine.


• Meest America (Most) is a delivery service shipping packages by sea and air. Besides delivering freight from the USA to the Ukraine, Meest provides storage and warehouse services, allows to consolidate and repack packages. Every package is insured with the company for $60.00. Additional insurance is available. Packages with lithium and electronics can be shipped by sea.


• RusBid is a package forwarder pretty well known in the Ukraine. Allows to ship packages to the Ukraine by Meest.


• BosMix is a package forwarder pretty well known in the Ukraine. Allows to ship packages to the Ukraine by Meest.

Do you know any other package forwarders that allows to deliver lithium batteries and electronics with lithium, Li-ion, Li-pol batteries to the Ukraine? If you don't live in the Ukraine, do you experience similar problems with your package forwarder?


Update (November 11, 2012)
Effective Nov. 15, 2012, USPS will start accepting specific quantities of lithium batteries - when installed in the equipment they are intended to operate - to be sent to many international destinations, when permitted by the destination or host country.