USPS To Ban Overseas Shipments On Tablets, Smartphones, More

OK, I can understand that there is a potential risk for the improper packing/charged lithium ion battery. That included a list of other electronic items.

I'm sure a risk analysis was done, but the articles doesn't state anything definite. It does state maybes.

As the article states, "The most likely reason for the ban ........".

I do not know what the potential business this represents, but with the falling use of the USPS, the losses its taking. And to turn away possible revenue without a firm explanation of the reasoning or mitigation for this type of business development, one begins to question, "Is this the beginning of the end for USPS?"

...just how the heck does the USPS figure all those items first arrived (from China) here, on our shores, in the first place?

This is being done because international agencies are banning them until further studies can be made.

This change is required by standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) that currently prohibit the mailing of lithium batteries on international commercial air transportation.

 This change will not apply to packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries when mailed within the United States on domestic commercial air or ground transportation.

 International organizations apply different rules to the carriage of lithium batteries in mail shipments carried on commercial aircraft as compared to domestic requirements.

Too bad, because they could probably be shipped in the discharged state with no problem.

Unfortunately people send them charged and several in the same unprotected state. They short out, start fire and burn anything flammable. On a conveyor filled with packages, this is not good. In a plane it's a catastrophe.