Will USPS ship liquid photo chems?

[bvy]

I want to ship some RA-4 developer kits. UPS will ship ORM-D. With USPS, the answer is more cryptic. There's this, but it's hard (for me) to know if it qualifies under their definitions of toxic and infectious. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge on this?

 

[fretlessdavis]

Not the most reliable source, but Wikipedia lists "some photographic chemicals" as ORM-D items that are 'consumer commodities'. You could probably just call any of the camera shops and ask. I'm sure they would know. It seems like they all use FedEx or UPS by default, though.

 

[anikin]

I tried and failed miserably to ship chemicals with either USPS or UPS. USPS simply said no, and local UPS office said that I have to be a qualified business to send ORM-D. Basically, no go for me.

If you succeed, please let us know how you did it.

 

[mgb74]

I tried and failed miserably to ship chemicals with either USPS or UPS. USPS simply said no, and local UPS office said that I have to be a qualified business to send ORM-D. Basically, no go for me.

If you succeed, please let us know how you did it.

I've shipped ORM-D items - as an individual. I did have to got to an actual UPS location, not an "authorized shipping outlet". I think it depends on whether the item is considered a "consumer commodity" which may be a function not only of chemical, but also it's quantity and packaging.

The UPS employee you spoke to may be right or wrong, but undoubtedly recognized that he/she would be more at risk for improperly accepted a hazardous shipment than in refusing a "consumer commodity".

 

[bvy]

Is the "UPS Store" a true UPS location or an "authorized shipping outlet"?

 

[sepiareverb]

Just package it up and mail it? If you wrap it properly and double box what is the problem?

 

[fretlessdavis]

Is the "UPS Store" a true UPS location or an "authorized shipping outlet"?

Outlet. Most of the time, if you do package yourself, just buy postage online and schedule a pickup. I shipped a backpacking stove recently, with used fuel bottles-- empty, clean, and all fumes burned off (BIG no-no for the USPS, though). They wouldn't take it at the UPS Outlet or the outlet in Staples, so I bought postage and took it directly to the UPS Warehouse. No issues there. Confidence is also key-- if you take it in and tell them that it's an ORM-D consumer commodity, then they probably won't question too hard. However, it does seem to be a function of volume, as the exception is laid out for 'home use'. There's no strict definition, though. I'd say just stick to FedEx and UPS, it's not much more than USPS.

 

[John Koehrer]

USPS does take ORM-D stuff at least that's what their website says.
There are about 10,000 exceptions and qualifiers but check out USPS.com.