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Though power tools are often sharp and dangerous objects, there isn’t anything prohibiting you from shipping them with USPS! However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind before you go boxing up any tools and taking your package to the Post Office.
When Shipping Power Tools, You May Need to Comply with the Process for Sending Lithium Ion Batteries
Here’s the thing about power tools: some of them, such as electric saws, only need to be plugged in for you to use. However, others come equipped with rechargeable lithium ion battery packs. One example of a tool like this is an electric drill. That isn’t necessarily a problem when it comes to sending them with USPS, but you should know that shipping packages with lithium ion batteries requires a different process than others.
When shipping lithium ion batteries, you’ll need to affix special labeling to the outside of your package. When using an air transportation service like Priority Mail, you’ll need the UN3481 Lithium Battery Handling Label.
Sometimes, you may need to ship with a ground-based service, like when the lithium ion batteries are separate from the equipment they power. In this case, you’ll need to affix this UN3480 label.
Use Shipping Software to Save the Most Money on USPS Labels
Whether your tools contain lithium ion batteries or not, you’ll want to make sure you’re saving the most money when it comes time to send them out. To do that, you’ll want to use shipping software to buy USPS labels at the deepest discounts possible. When you use shipping software to buy labels, you get access to the deepest level of discounts that USPS offers, known as Commercial Pricing. Shipping at Commercial Pricing discounts can be the difference of sending a package for $8 or so, verses nearly double that amount at the Post Office!
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