Boots Advent calendars destroyed by RM duo to nail varnish

Mateus109

Girlfriend posted two Boots Advent calendars to friends abroad in mainland Europe as Christmas presents without realising nail varnish is prohibited. That's £100 wasted as RM have just told her the two parcels have been destroyed due to them containing nail varnish. :mad:

tomtontom

Was she not asked at the post office what the parcels contained, or was there a prohibited items poster on display?

kerri_gt

Nail varnish isn't actually totally probibited but there are restrictions,

"Volume per item must not exceed 30ml. No more than four bottles of nail varnish can be sent in any one package. Bottles of nail varnish must be placed in strong outer packaging and be so packed, secured or cushioned in such a way that they cannot break, be punctured or leak their contents into the outer packaging.

An ID8000 label must be applied ( see example ID8000 label Opens in new window ). The sender’s name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.
These items must be presented at a Post Office® counter."

Did these calendars contain more than that? Usually at both the counter and self service you are questioned about the package contents. Sounds like a very unfortunate, and expensive lesson.

Incidentally, if it was the no7 calendars, they seem to only contain one small bottle of nail varnish each, so I suspect the issue was no ID8000 label and / or return details on the package, not the actual contents themselves?

kerri_gt

Mateus109 wrote: »

According to the RM website, nail varnish is a restricted good for internal UK post but prohibited for international post. Girlfriend didn't know (and neither did I) that one small 10ml bottle of nail varnish would result in the parcels being destroyed. It would be nice if RM gave senders the option to collect held items (for a fee).

Apologies, missed the vital point in your original post saying 'abroad'

Mateus109

Looking around other forums, it seems very clear that RM rarely destroy the parcel but instead pass them on to resellers. So we can only hope that these two Boots advert calendars have gone to someone deserving or to a FareShare type business.

custardy

Mateus109 wrote: »

According to the RM website, nail varnish is a restricted good for internal UK post but prohibited for international post. Girlfriend didn't know (and neither did I) that one small 10ml bottle of nail varnish would result in the parcels being destroyed. It would be nice if RM gave senders the option to collect held items (for a fee).

Did you have a returns address on them?

Mateus109

custardy wrote: »

Did you have a returns address on them?

Yes, because RM sent the "prohibited goods destroyed" letters to my girlfriend using the returns address.

Anyway, there's nothing we can do and it's a International Air Transport Association rule, not RM's fault. Just rather annoying the RM don't give us the chance to collect the parcel or simply return the item to sender.

chuckley

the POs always ask whats in the parcels... what did she say?

kerri_gt

To be fair, if I was asked what was in them, I'd prob have said advent calendars and only elaborated further if questioned the contents of those. General assumption could easily have been advent calendar = chocolate.

hollydays

kerri_gt wrote: »

To be fair, if I was asked what was in them, I'd prob have said advent calendars and only elaborated further if questioned the contents of those. General assumption could easily have been advent calendar = chocolate.

I sort of agree but then again I'm guessing nail polish is flammable so it might have been something you should consider.

donnac2558

Yes they do destroy. I belong to a perfume forum and a few people have received letters that the perfume was destroyed, worth £££ and RM will not send it back to the sender.

They cannot send letters warning people about posting prohibited goods being destroyed and they do not destroy! If they are giving away then that is stealing!