But Wait, Can I Ship This?
Before you buy the gift, be sure you can ship it. While some differences exist, in what cannot be shipped from one carrier to another, here are the most commonly prohibited items.
USPS Prohibited Items:
- air bags
- fire arms & ammunition
- explosives
- gasoline
- marijuana (medical or otherwise)
- aerosols
- alcoholic beverages
- tobacco products
- cremated remains
- dry ice
- glues
- lithium batteries
- perfumes (may be shipped in US via ground transportation if it contains alcohol)
- perishable items (live animals, food, and plants)
- medicines and prescription drugs
– See here for guidelines on how to ship controlled substances).
– See here for toxic substances.
UPS Prohibited Items:
- aerosol
- aftershaves
- air bag
- alcoholic beverages
- ammunition
- animals of any form (alive or dead)
- gas/fumes/liquid containing petroleum
- batteries
- biological samples
- car doors/bonnets/bumpers
- cash/credit/debit cards
- chainsaw
- checks
- dangerous goods
- driving license
- drugs (including prescription)
- engines
- fire extinguisher
- fish (dead or alive)
- knives
- oil
- paint
- passport
- nail varnish
- plants
- tobacco/tobacco products
- weapons
- and more.
FedEx Prohibited Items:
- alcohol beverages
- animals (dead or alive)
- articles of unusual value such as priceless art, jewelry, collectibles and antiques
- cash
- coins
- currency
- stamps
- negotiable stocks
- bonds
- bank drafts
- cash letters
- and other negotiable instruments equivalent to cash
- common fireworks
- cut flowers
- dangerous goods such as: explosives, corrosives, flares, matches, flammable goods, furs
- hazardous materials such as: hypodermic needles, syringes, or other medical wastes.
– Here’s the complete list of prohibited items.
In short, before you ask: “Can I ship this?” Do your due diligence first. You’ll save yourself time and maintain peace of mind during the hectic holiday shipping season.
Go to your local Postal Connections Store for knowledgeable and professional help, where they’ll help guide you to the best service for your holiday shipping needs. Postal Connections also offers expert packaging services, even for those irregularly-shaped packages, and we can ship anywhere in the world!
While not all stores offer all services, most do offer more than 30 different products and services, which will make your holiday shipping needs much easier to bear. Postal Connections Stores are committed to serving all of your holiday shipping needs with superior customer service!