Sending Spray Cans By Post/Courier

[JohnH]

I'm trying to 'legally' (!) send some unused paint and varnish spray cans back to someone and I'm struggling to find any courier to take them.

 

My local Post Office has said they can't accept spray cans or paint for posting.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks as always for any help or suggestions.

[kevinlms]

56 minutes ago, JohnH said:

I'm trying to 'legally' (!) send some unused paint and varnish spray cans back to someone and I'm struggling to find any courier to take them.

 

My local Post Office has said they can't accept spray cans or paint for posting.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks as always for any help or suggestions.

Don't know the answer, but a former work colleague, told me he once posted some home made fireworks to his sister!

 

Nothing came of it, so presumably made it through the postal system. He looked at me as if I was joking, when I told him that was a serious breach of the post regulations and something that could have led to jail time.

[teaky]

A brief search brought up this company: https://www.overlandexpress.co.uk/paint-courier

 

It looks like they use UPS, DHL and APC but I couldn't see anything on their individual websites to clarify.  The website above didn't mention spray paints.

 

You may just have to chat or phone during office hours.

 

N.B. I know nothing about this company and haven't used them so this isn't a recommendation.

 

[Alex TM]

Hi,

 

I've just had spray paint delivered via DPD.  It may also be worth trying someone like 'My Hermes'.  I understand that courier companies need a license to carry 'dangerous substances' such as paint so it may be worth looking into who does the licensing, and see if they have an online register.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

[Paul H Vigor]

How do Phoenix Precision Paints deliver their paints to online customers?

[andyman7]

24 minutes ago, Paul H Vigor said:

How do Phoenix Precision Paints deliver their paints to online customers?

The shipping part of their website explains that they have to use courior services for any order containing items on the Royal Mail prohibited items list. They don't say who they use.

[teaky]

I think this works for businesses shipping paints and similar all the time because they sign up to a code of conduct and demonstrate they can adhere to safe handling and packaging regulations.  Thus the courier companies know they can be trusted.

 

I am beginning to wonder though if the OP is going to reach the point where the cost of a courier is more than the value of the paints.

[Geep7]

Try DPD Local. I've only ever received stuff, including aerosols, via them, but seem pretty good. Usually next day delivery from a certain Cornish model shop......

[Mike_Walker]

10 hours ago, andyman7 said:

The shipping part of their website explains that they have to use courior services for any order containing items on the Royal Mail prohibited items list. They don't say who they use.

Last time I tried purchasing from Precision Paints they used Yodel who failed to deliver after three attempts and having had a Streetview image of the house sent to them. They got to a pub 100 yards away but said that my property did not exist - it's on the same main road. When I contacted Precision Paints to cancel the order I was told it was a regular occurrence and they thought "most of their couriers couldn't speak English". When I asked why they used that courier I was told "because they are cheap". Says it all really, be warned!

[Guest Half-full]

38 minutes ago, Mike_Walker said:

Last time I tried purchasing from Precision Paints they used Yodel who failed to deliver after three attempts and having had a Streetview image of the house sent to them. They got to a pub 100 yards away but said that my property did not exist - it's on the same main road. When I contacted Precision Paints to cancel the order I was told it was a regular occurrence and they thought "most of their couriers couldn't speak English". When I asked why they used that courier I was told "because they are cheap". Says it all really, be warned!

Last time I ordered from them was by phone and they told me they would send via Yodel, I cancelled the order there and then.

 

Anyone who uses Yodel or Hermes I wont buy from, too many missing or damaged parcels

Edited June 11, 2020 by Half-full

[Guest Half-full]

I recently bought some spray paint from a well know retailer - I wont name here - they sent the cans by Royal Mail!

[Alex TM]

Hi again,

 

According to Yodel my local delivery depot is in the Manchester area!  According to the real world it was, at that time, on the other side of the city where I am.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

[meil]

UPS usually have local agents - much of the time it's the local newsagent. However do a search on their web site. Also do the same for DHL who also have local depots/agents.

 

I simply don't understand Royal Mail - anybody else would see this as a business opportunity - charge a bit extra for doing the same job. Instead their "last thing you think of is the customer" attitude wins through.

Edited June 11, 2020 by meil

[JohnH]

Thanks for all the replies. 

16 hours ago, teaky said:

A brief search brought up this company: https://www.overlandexpress.co.uk/paint-courier

 

It looks like they use UPS, DHL and APC but I couldn't see anything on their individual websites to clarify.  The website above didn't mention spray paints.

 

 

Strangely, the three companies they mention they use, have all advised me that they can't transport spray paint... 

 

Edit - Just checked their 'Prohibited Items' page -

 

It is not possible to send any consignment that contains the following items with Overland Express (or through any other courier).

 

Dangerous / hazardous goods including but not limited to aerosols, flammable substances, dry ice,.....

 

I personally received 4 cans of Hycote primer yesterday from quite a large, well established motor body repair company in a plain, non padded cardboard box with a simple address label - no special instructions, hazard warnings, nothing  

 

Thanks again

Edited June 11, 2020 by JohnH

[Steamport Southport]

1 hour ago, meil said:

UPS usually have local agents - much of the time it's the local newsagent. However do a search on their web site. Also do the same for DHL who also have local depots/agents.

 

I simply don't understand Royal Mail - anybody else would see this as a business opportunity - charge a bit extra for doing the same job. Instead their "last thing you think of is the customer" attitude wins through.

 

Because people send things like bombs through the post. They don't tend to use couriers. Remember the phrase "letter bomb"?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_bomb

 

I was there when the anthrax scare happened in Liverpool Sorting Office. I was lucky, some people had to go for decontamination wash down by the military. But wondering whether you had breathed in something fatal is not a nice feeling.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/16/afghanistan.terrorism13

 

 

 

Use someone like DPD. They are about the same price as RM anyway.

 

If something like an aerosol does go off in a package you have sent, and your name and address is on it expect a massive fine.

 

 

 

Jason

[JohnH]

I fully sympathise with the reasoning behind restricting the transport of paint, especially aerosols through the post. A Post Office or courier van loaded with a fair percentage of spray cans could be potentially disastrous.

 

What I'm not quite clear about is how some companies/individuals seem to be exempt from the regulations. Presumably, as was mentioned by a previous poster, they have obtained some sort of 'certification' to send these items 'safely' (although some of the spray cans I have received have been very poorly packaged). 

 

Or perhaps some are just sending them and hoping for the best...

 

Thanks again for all the replies and suggestions.

[5050]

On a similar topic I'm soon to run out of lighter fuel that I use for degreasing and cleaning and also cellulose thinners and Evostick (or similar).  On e-bay there are UK based companies offering these items so are they not on the 'hazardous' listings?  I suppose I could go to B&Q but at the moment I would prefer to avoid it!

[Wheatley]

We've done this before several times. The issue is not the aerosol or the liquid on their own, you can send aerosol deodorant up to 500ml and bottles of wine up to 1l  by post, but not paint in any form because it gums up the sorting machinery if it leaks. 

[Metr0Land]

On 11/06/2020 at 15:23, JohnH said:

 

What I'm not quite clear about is how some companies/individuals seem to be exempt from the regulations. Presumably, as was mentioned by a previous poster, they have obtained some sort of 'certification' to send these items 'safely' (although some of the spray cans I have received have been very poorly packaged). 

 

 

 

Courier firms aren't exempt from regulations, it's just that domestically in the UK their items travel by surface.  Some RM traffic in the UK is transported by air and post offices have no idea which legs of which journies might involve air transport (the regs being tighter by air).  Thus RM introduced blanket bans a few years back to keep things simple (for themselves).

 

Edit - I hadn't realised it was as long ago as 2003 RM tightened up their acceptance policies as part of a radical overhaul which also saw the end (almost) of dedicated mail trains.

https://postandparcel.info/9008/news/uk-royal-mail-announces-new-network-for-moving-mail-by-air/

Edited June 14, 2020 by Metr0Land

[Torper]

Some companies specialise in shipping "dangerous goods".  I belive that they have to have a specific licence to enable them to do that, and in order to get that licence they have to comply with numerous and expensive conditions as to packaging, vehicles, staff training, equipment and so on. Because of that, they tend only to deal with businesses that have fairly large quantities of dangerous goods to ship.  Ordinary UK door-to-door couriers with their cheap prices obviously don't think it economically worth their while to apply for such a licence and fulfil the conditions required.

 

DT