Technidol a NO GO!!!!!!!!!!! (shipping)

[sselkind]

The regulations require the shipper (the party that offers the package) to know whether a given shipment is regulated and, if so, to follow appropriate packaging and shipping procedures, including the application of required markings and or labels, the use of special shipping papers when required, and so on. These procedures can become very restrictive for products that are very dangerous in transportation and less so for products that are hazardous but pose a lesser danger. And of course there are chemicals which are not regulated at all. Under the law, the burden of knowing which is which falls on the person who offers the package to the carrier -- i.e., the company or private individual who puts the chemical in a package and tenders it to the carrier. It's a complex business - but very serious if you consider the consequences of a concealed acid leaking on a package handler or other incidents that could occur. The main point is: If you don't know whether a chemical is regulated, don't send it; you could hurt someone (or worse) and you could be fined.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Point well taken sselkind. When in doubt, ask the proper authorities.

Mike

 

[Photo Engineer]

I just received C41 chemistry (developer & bleach) from Adorama via UPS yesterday. Am I missing something?

The fact that you need a special permit to ship this stuff, which I do not have. And, you need special packing material which most UPS centers do not have, and special labels.

For example, acids and bases cannot be shipped even by an authorized site, if they are in the same box. Same for oxidants and reductants. So, ferricyanide cannot be shipped with HQ, and Ammonia cannot be shipped with sulfuric acid.

Also, sulfuric acid cannot be shipped over ~40% by anyone except special carriers.

It goes on and on.....

PE

 

[CBG]

All—
.... If carrier companies and postal services are restrictive in what they will accept, they are being careful for safety reasons. Their attitudes are not an attempt to be difficult for the sake of difficulty.....
--sselkind

I'd guess you are a tiny bit optimistic about the motives involved. Most photo chems are pretty docile, and the level of care forced upon shippers is - at certain times - excessive.

Yes, there are quite a few items that do require great care, and those need more attention. I'd hate to see glacial acetic or poorly packaged selenium metal powder go through the mail, for instance.

Of course no-one is trying to "be difficult" but opportunists and idiots in our media and schools have painted all "chemicals" as inherently awful, and the government is responding to a panicking populace.

Regardless, the policies are as flawed as any other one-size-fits-all solution, and should be reviewed to improve the sanity factor.

C

 

[Sparky]

my big issue is that we've made it all the way through the 20th century without special scrutiny - and that seeemed to work out just fine. I remember the days of being able to buy things like lab grade potassium dichromate at the local pharmacy even - no problems (not a hazmat issue - just an access issue). It seems to me that the only difference between now and then is how deeply we've allowed the lawyers to get into our affairs.

 

[eddym]

If carrier companies and postal services are restrictive in what they will accept, they are being careful for safety reasons.

No, they are being restrictive for liability reasons. Not necessarily the same thing.

 

[haris]

It is well known that in USA they are used to overreacting on many things, so I am not surprised. I only hope here in Europe we will not go that path

 

[dslater]

is it overreacting or is it revenue enhancement? I'm sure that those shipping permits cost money. I also order C41 and flexicolor chemistry from Adorama. I don't see that the permit is enhancing carriers safety in any way. The only difference in packaging for the chemistry is the sticker on the box. The packing material is identical to what they use for any other shipment. It would be just as easy for the carrier to put a sticker on the package for anyone who declares the contents of the box.

 

[Photo Engineer]

is it overreacting or is it revenue enhancement? I'm sure that those shipping permits cost money. I also order C41 and flexicolor chemistry from Adorama. I don't see that the permit is enhancing carriers safety in any way. The only difference in packaging for the chemistry is the sticker on the box. The packing material is identical to what they use for any other shipment. It would be just as easy for the carrier to put a sticker on the package for anyone who declares the contents of the box.

You are quite correct. UPS has informed me that I can purchase the sticker along with assuming liability for the package. I am then registered with 'someone somewhere' that if anything goes wrong UPS is not responsible, I am, and I 'bought' the sticker from them knowing this.

There is only one place here that you can buy the stickers and sign the documents. It is in the inner city at the UPS central shipping depot. Certain restrictions still apply.

PE

 

[bcostin]

Is that the same as the ORM-D (Other Regulated Material - Domestic) stickers that Freestyle sticks on the boxes when sending chemicals?

I've always wondered about all the private individuals who sell chemistry on eBay, or via private sale. I can't believe they've all gone through this process, or even know about it. I suspect they just pack up the stuff and drop it off with no one the wiser. Not good, necessarily, but inevitable.