So, if any lighter is left open, will the fluid evaporate?

At USPS, can I say it is a lighter with no flint & no fluid? I think I would have to say that, for insurance purposes.

Thanks!

Carol

Your references are DMM 601 and Publication 52.

The confusion comes between a butane lighter and a petrol (lighter fluid) lighter. A butane lighter generally is thought to constantly contain a flammable substance. You have to consider that the average window clerk is pretty unknowledgable about these kind of things.

Make sure it’s sealed prior to shipping. Customs can inspect it if there’s any questions and it will clear without problems. The clerk may not know the rules as well as they do.

Either use the USPS.com online Click-n-Ship tool to generate the custom form and postage, then drop it directly into a blue box, or go to a contract postal unit, instead of the local post office.

In their zeal to enforce postal regulations, which is what they’re supposed to do, there is often some confusion between clerks and supervisors as to what you can or cannot ship and how to prepare it. In each district, there’s a department called Mailing Requirements that local offices can use to clarify what the actual rules are, but most people are to stubborn to ask for help. USPS.com’s Click-n-Ship walks you through this process avoiding the local post office’s confusion.

Hey, I can’t remember the last time I actually asked for directions to a destination or read a software manual. I’d rather die than call any manufacturer’s customer support. And I’ve shipped lighters, prepared correctly, without any problems, as well as received them from overseas.

If you don’t read this, I hope this helps clarify things for someone else wanting to ship things internationally. And by the way, I am a post office supervisor, so I’m not pulling this out of my fanny.

[...]My Indo Heritage « JackTales[...]…