Attention Canadians... DO NOT MAIL BATTERIES

[ballroom_boy]

hi There

I just thought I would post this and warn my fellow Canucks... I ordered 16 MAHA Powerex Batteries (AA NiMH 2300 mAh) from the USA about 3 weeks ago. Usually shipments from the USA to Toronto take about a week. Anyway, I got a letter from Canada Customs stating that all batteries are considered corrosive (thus dangerous materials) and they DESTROY them. That's right, Canada Customs just destroyed about $90.00 worth of perfectly good batteries.

I called them and stated that I have ordered batteries in the past so what is the problem... and why the change? I was told that I was violating the law - and not to continue this behaviour. It is illegal to mail batteries/corrosive materials.

Huh? Am I a criminal now?

Anyway, now I have to find local AA's that are as good as Powerex AA's... and I am also out $90.00

Thanks for letting me vent. :soapbox: :mad: :help:

[Tom Nolle]

Gosh, I wonder if they'd also destroy batteries you carried with your gear going into Canada?

Tom

[Steve Wynn]

Maybe you can find somebody traveling from the US to Canada. I think most of us would be willing to bring you some if we were coming your way.

Steve

[Andre]

It sounds like the store you bought them from has failed to successfully deliver the goods to you!

Thanks for the warning though.

[es136]

Snip ...
"Huh? Am I a criminal now?.."

Ok Roël,
If you could look directly at the camera, so we can take a proper mugshot. I guess this will qualify for a "your tax dollars at work" banner.

Sorry to here about your AAs. there may be stores that ship using USPS and will declare the content as personal items not corrosive materials.
Eddie

[Steve P]

Ok, so when I wanna take my camera on my hols I have to leave the batteries at home!! Bloody madness! :mad:

[Sleeping Bear]

Drive the tunnel to Detroit and get some new ones?

I would call the store and let them know the package did not arrive. It is up to them to get it to your door.

As for customs destroying batteries, what a bunch of maroons. Sounds like they are a few veins shy of a Maple leaf. :lol:

I hope you get your money back. Hey, I wonder how batteries are brought into Canada by the major retailers?

[ballroom_boy]

Hi there,

Thanks for your support, advice, and just letting me vent.

I did call Canada Customs back on Friday and asked about batteries that are shipped with cameras, toys, PDAs, etc., .... why are they allowed to pass through the mail system? They could not answer my question so I was told I was being passed on to a supervisor... then all of a sudden, to my <sarcasm> surprise </sarcasm>, the line went dead. Tried to get back through with no luck. Figures. I will try again on Monday, but my guess is that the batteries are gone for good and now I need to deal with the vendor.

After initially contacting the vendor about this, they have not gotten back to me either. I did call VISA in the event that the vendor does not remedy the situation. VISA said the vendor has 30 days to prove the item in question was received by me, if not, VISA reverses the charge and credits my account. I hope it does not boil down to that and that the vendor comes through with a refund.

Anyway, this has taught me to buy my equipment locally if possible... I might pay a bit more, however, the time and hassle I will save is worth it!

Thanks again everyone.

[Merle bleu]

Hi,
I live in Quebec and just received some batteries from California.
They were shipped via UPS at cost... 43.00 CAN$ for an order of 67.00 CAN$. The problem with UPS are the brokerage fees. At least, I got them.

[ballroom_boy]

... The problem with UPS are the brokerage fees. At least, I got them...

You can say that again! UPS once charged me $36.00 in brokerage fees for $20.00 of CR123's batteries. But like you said, I did get them.

BTW, I found a Canadian distributor for Powerex batteries:

http://www.paulsfinest.com/batts_maha_price_list_sale.php

Now, to order some batteries that won't be destroyed by customs...

[ballroom_boy]

Hi Gang,

I got a note from the vendor... he sent this link:

http://www.canadapost.ca/textonly/common/tools/pg/manual/b07t2-e.asp

According to postal regulations, "wet batteries" (car batteries) may not be mailed. It says nothing about AA batteries and therefore, the vendor told me he cannot and will not refund any of my purchase price as Canada Customs destroyed them in error.

Canada Post keeps telling me it is not their problem and I can't get through to Customs at all. I keep getting put on hold indefinitely.

I am at my wits end about this ... do you have any advice you can offer?

I could call VISA and tell them I didn't receive the batteries, however, it is Customs that messed up. Should I just give up or is there an option I have missed?

Thanks for your help! :help:

[Sleeping Bear]

I would call Visa and tell them the truth, the batteries never made it to you. I would leave it up to the vendor to deal with customs. You paid shipping fees to have the package delivered to your door. It never made it. The vendor is responsible to get the package to you. Again, let them deal with customs, as I'm sure they will.

[ianmcc]

Any one will tell you Canadian Customs is a total crap shoot. One day they joke with you, (Note to all Yanks just say "rrrroll up the rim to win!" to gain access to the country without hesitation), or ask about your trip, the next time they are all hard assed on you...snapping the rubber gloves.

UPS is EVIL with their standard $40 brokerage fee.

let's blame Paul Martin and the 100 years of Liberal dictatorship!

[ballroom_boy]

hi again,

I just had a long chat with Canada Post and Customs. I was told that commercial shipments (company to company) of batteries (except of the wet car battery variety) were allowed to pass through the postal system, however, shipments to individuals are not allowed. It doesn't make sense to me, however, those are apparently the regulations according to Canada Post. I searched their website for it, however, I cannot find it.

The vendor has also been very uncooperative... they told me it was "my problem". Great customer service, don't you think?

Thank goodness I paid via Visa... they will reverse the charge since I did not receive the goods. And, I also found a Canadian distributor for MAHA batteries (and even less expensive the US vendor).

Thanks for your support everyone!

[Tom V]

..... It is illegal to mail batteries/corrosive materials.

Huh? Am I a criminal now?....


What about a material that is deadly if inhaled, corrodes steel, disolves minerals, can be dispersed by air, is colorless and odorless, and currently available to terrorists worldwide?

I have some at my house, and I would even dare to send it to Canada. Would I be a criminal too?

The material?




Water.

[Sleeping Bear]

What about a material that is deadly if inhaled, corrodes steel, disolves minerals, can be dispersed by air, is colorless and odorless, and currently available to terrorists worldwide?

I have some at my house, and I would even dare to send it to Canada. Would I be a criminal too?

The material?




Water.

Colorless and Ordorless? Can't be city water. :)

[nikonuser1968]

Who was the vendor? You received such great customer service that I want to ensure that I don't deal with them...

Cheers,
Wayne Eh!! from Canada

[S_Leeper]

I hope you are successful in getting your VISA refund. Generally once the items are given to the shipper, or postman, you are considered to be in receipt. i.e. the store did their part, you need to get it from the post office or customs.

[ballroom_boy]

To give you a final update, VISA gave me a full refund as the shipper could not prove that I received the goods. All is well in paradise...

[lightwrangler]

Thanks for the link to paulsfinest.com. I've placed an other for some MAHA batteries and a charger, I'll let you know how the transaction goes. Of course they are sending it .... Canada Post!

:rofl:

cheers,
Adrian

[lightwrangler]

Ordered on Saturday and received this morning by post and Monday was a civic holiday in Ontario - the order came from Quebec. Excellent service. The order was complete and they even accepted my sales tax exemption number. Batteries are charged (MAHA PowerEx 2300 NiMH) and seem to be working fine. All in all, I am pleased.

[bchan3rdi]

I can swallow them and run that border but it'll cost ya! We can leave out the details on how we retreive them. =) :tupon: :tupon:

*note, I do not really condone the swallow of batteries. In fact that seems pretty yucky and forget I mentioned it.