The ban covers any devices that use a lithium or lithium ion battery; rechargeable or not. This means that companies cannot ship mobile phones, tablets (including iPads) , laptop computers, other items with these types of batteries using the United States Postal Service to locations outside the United States. Even if the batteries are not physically inside a device but in the same package, it is prohibited.

Graphic above from FastCompany.com

Shippers that need to send these type of items outside of the U.S.A. should look towards FedEx and UPS.

Remember: If you are insuring with Shipsurance your packages are not covered if they do not follow the carrier rules and regulations.

View the complete bulletin here: http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22336/html/updt_004.htm

If you MUST ship to Brazil we recommend sending your shipments via a service like FedEx, UPS, or DHL as the tracking systems they offer are better than First Class or Priority Mail.

Update: This may be a big reason for the problems. See here: http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/ab_028.htm.

Excerpt:

Observations 

1. First-Class Mail International items may not contain dutiable articles.
2. Import licenses are required for many kinds of goods and senders should ascertain from the addressee before mailing that the necessary documents are held.
3. Imports are allowed by mail, including mail order catalog shipments, up to a value of U.S. $500 (U.S. $1000 for computer software) without the requirement of an import license provided the item is not for resale. Shipments valued at no more than U.S. $50 are duty free and are delivered to the addressee; shipments above U.S. $50 can be picked up at the post office upon payment of import duties. Imports that are prohibited or subject to special regulations must comply with applicable Brazilian government provisions. Identical shipments from the same source to the same person or address in Brazil within a 90 day period are considered part of the same shipment and may be subject to confiscation. Other merchandise that usually enters duty free includes items such as newspapers, maps, books, and magazines.

 

So, First Class shipments are not allowed if they are dutiable.

In order to further clarify what we do and how we can help you or your company, here is a nice video to sum up our offerings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saAGLEMbikc

Here is a great example of a First Class International shipment to Brazil:

Tracking/Customs # LJ291774754US (If the tracking link is expired, please see the image, below).

If you track it via the USPS, you see:

Detailed Results:

• Arrive USPS Sort Facility, December 23, 2011, 3:09 am, KEARNY, NJ 07032
• Depart USPS Sort Facility, December 23, 2011, 2:52 am, KEARNY, NJ 07099
• Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility, December 22, 2011, 8:07 pm, KEARNY, NJ 07099
• Electronic Shipping Info Received, December 22, 2011
• Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility, December 22, 2011, 6:52 pm, VERONA, NJ 07044
• Acceptance, December 22, 2011, 4:05 pm, VERONA, NJ 07044

Based on these results, you can assume the package is lost or is in Kearny, NJ on 12/23/2011.

If you track that same package using Brazil’s website (http://websro.correios.com.br/sro_bin/txect01$.QueryList?P_LINGUA=001&P_TIPO=001&P_COD_UNI=LJ291774754US) you would see the package was delivered on 1/23/2012 (If the tracking link is expired, please see the image, below).

That is more details than the USPS provides, plus, it shows that there was a delivery! This gives you and the recipient much more visibility.

A great website to bookmark is http://www.track-trace.com/post. It lets you track locally, then in the destination countries website.

International shipments may not all have tracking services enabled, but make sure to check for those that do. Once the USPS and their partner postal systems start to work in sync, International shipping will be much easier and work just like shipping a package next door.

Our new address is:

Shipsurance Insurance Services
21800 Burbank Blvd
Suite 240
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

We are often asked why 60 days from the shipment date?

Other shipping insurance providers request that documents are submitted by 60 days from the date on the shipping carrier liability check. It you wait that long, there might be problems completed the claim requirements.

To explain why, here is a scenario: Your business ships a widget to a customer and the widget is damaged in transit, 6 days after shipping it. You file a claim with FedEx and they send someone to “inspect” the package. The inspector arrives 10 days later and submits their findings. FedEx “loses the paperwork” internally and processes the claim for their $100.00 of free liability coverage in 70 days. Now, 76 days after shipping, you file a claim with the insurance company and they request an invoice, photos, and a repair estimate. However, unknown to you, the recipient has discarded the item and the packaging because 70 days have past and FedEx already sent someone to review the packaging and the damage. At this point, you cannot provide the supporting documents to the insurance company.

Since Shipsurance requests that a claim is filed immediately and completed earlier, there is a much better chance that the claim will be completed quicker. The recipient will be able to assist in providing whatever is needed to substantiate the loss as they are immediately made aware of what is needed.

The sooner a claim is filed and documentation requested, the smoother the process is. And trust us… it is a smooth process when everyone is informed and communication occurs quicker.

Once again following UPS, FedEx has announced their 2012 rate changes. The changes will take place on January 2, 2012; the same day that the new UPS rates take place. Below is a list of some of the changes

FedEx Rate Changes for 2011:

• Rates increased an average of 5.9%. The rate increase was partially offset by adjusting the fuel price at which the fuel surcharge begins, reducing the fuel surcharge by 2%.
• Minimum rates for FedEx Express services changed.
• SmartPost rates increased.
• Additional Handling Surcharge increased from $8 to $8.50.
• Delivery Area Surcharge - The surcharge for commercial and extended commercial shipments increased from $1.85 per package to $2 per package.
• FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services- The surcharge for residential shipments increased from $2.75 per package to $3 per package.
• FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services – The charge for Direct Signature Required increased from $3.25 per package to $3.50 per package

The rate change that Shipsurance can help offset is the  annual raise in Declared Value cost:

• Declared value fees for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground services – Increased from $0.75 to $0.80 per $100 of value. For U.S. package services, the charges apply to shipments valued in excess of $100, and the minimum charge increased from $2.25 to $2.40.

ShipStation is a new, web-based shipping solution from the developers of the Auctane Shipping Manager eBay Application. Since the program is web-based, there is no software to install on your computers and you can ship from any computer station (pun intended). It currently supports shipments sent via the United Stated Postal Service (USPS), UPS, and through Express One. They also provide you with a free DYMO Endicia account, which allows you to print USPS labels and purchase postage directly from DYMO Endicia. ShipStation also integrates directly to major marketplaces and shopping cart solutions to make managing orders seamless. This real-time integration makes your order fulfillment and shipping process quick and easy. Some of the channels and shopping carts it integrates with are:

• eBay
• Amazon
• Magento
• Volusion
• PayPal
• Payvment
• Zencart
• Google Checkout
• Buy.com
• Etsy
• Shopify
• ChannelAdvisor
• BigCommerce
• X-Cart

Once again, the surcharges take a big hit, especially their declared value fees. Charges will increase from $0.75 to $0.80 per $100 of value. U.S. package services charges will apply to shipments valued in excess of $100, and the minimum charge will increase from $2.25 to $2.40

• Declared Value will increase $0.05 per $100 to $0.80 per $100 of the value declared, with a minimum charge of $2.40.
• The On-Call Pickup Area Surcharge for extended residential addresses will increase $0.25.
• The charges for Delivery Confirmation Signature Required and Delivery Confirmation Adult Signature Required will increase $0.25.
• The Residential Surcharge for UPS Ground Services will increase $0.10

Once again, Shipsurance is not raising our shipping insurance for UPS shipments with the new year, so even more savings will be realized!

For a complete list of rate changes, visit: http://www.rates.ups.com/

Remember, Shipsurance offers complete coverage for your packages in transit and our coverage is real, regulated insurance for parcels and packages shipped domestically and worldwide.

We apologize for interrupting your holiday shipping!