WASHINGTON: The Postal Service plans for peak season all year. And while customers may not think about the holidays until the season is upon them, it's important to know how to properly ship all the gifts on your list.
Simple planning will help prevent injuries to Postal Service employees and customers. It will also help keep packages from being returned to sender if the contents are not allowed to be mailed, or the packages don't follow size and weight requirements.
Shipping Restrictions There are guidelines to keep certain hazardous, restricted and perishable items out of the mail — both domestically and internationally. The regulations on shipping eligible hazardous, restricted or perishable items safely through the Postal Service can be found in Publication 52, - Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail. Of course, you can always check with your local Post Office location for more information.
At the most basic level, there are items you can't send through the mail. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to
Liquor Ammunition Explosives Mercury (including items which contain mercury such as thermometers) Gasoline
There are also restricted items which have specific guidelines to follow if you plan to send them through the mail. The list below is not comprehensive, and customers are advised to check Publication 52, or their local Post Office, for a complete list
Alcohol (any kind, including hand sanitizer) Perfumes/colognes (they are generally made with alcohol) Aerosols Lithium metal batteries (non-rechargeable/rechargeable, used to power flashlights or laptops)
Reusing Boxes? Maybe That's Not the Best Idea It's suggested to never reuse boxes as they can weaken in the shipping process. But if you decide to reuse, make sure any labels or markings are removed or completely covered over, especially if the box you choose to reuse has labels or markings associated with hazardous, prohibited or restricted materials.
Package Size and Weight Requirements Did you know that there are size and weight restrictions for packages sent through the Postal Service? The price you pay to ship items depends on the shape and weight of your package.
In some cases, oddly shaped packages, such as tubes, are charged a higher price because those pieces must be processed manually.
