RM and water based paint

November2

I have a small tin of 750ml tin of paint. RM accept water based paint however it states under restricted items 150ml per individual item limit but you can place as many items in one package as you like! As this makes no sense whatsoever I called into my PO this morning, Postmaster said that's rubbish and I can post the tin 2nd class parcel. He went through his paperwork and checked online and said it was fine to post. He said he thought the 150ml related to model enamel paint.
Does anyone have any experience posting paint with RM, I've tried contacting via website but it keeps sending me back to the same help pages.
Something I did discover is that if you click through to the RM Business Account holders restricted list it doesn't show the 150ml restriction, but I don't sell enough to sign up for an account. But it seems odd that the two lists should differ.

soolin

November2 wrote: »

I have a small tin of 750ml tin of paint. RM accept water based paint however it states under restricted items 150ml per individual item limit but you can place as many items in one package as you like! As this makes no sense whatsoever I called into my PO this morning, Postmaster said that's rubbish and I can post the tin 2nd class parcel. He went through his paperwork and checked online and said it was fine to post. He said he thought the 150ml related to model enamel paint.
Does anyone have any experience posting paint with RM, I've tried contacting via website but it keeps sending me back to the same help pages.
Something I did discover is that if you click through to the RM Business Account holders restricted list it doesn't show the 150ml restriction, but I don't sell enough to sign up for an account. But it seems odd that the two lists should differ.

Firstly I wouldn't necessarily trust the Postmaster as he isn't Royal Mail and cannot guarantee that your item will be allowed.

Water based paints definitely look like they are restricted to 150ml each and I wouldn't personally risk it as the regs couldn't be clearer.

I can't cut and paste but it definitely says water based paints restricted to 150ml, enamel model paints would be under a different restriction.

molerat

The restriction seems to apply to business sellers only, the consumer leaflet seems to has no mention of water based paints.

November2

Thanks for replies. Molerat - online the restricted list for the general public under unhazardous liquids/paints states 150ml per item but you can put as many in the one parcel as you want. If you click on the RM Business Account restricted list it makes no mention of 150ml. As they are going by same service it makes no sense.
I think I'll try and get hold of someone at RM online, as Soolin mentions maybe Postmaster isn't too clued up

charlies_mum

I was selling water based chalk paint on eBay until one parcel was intercepted by Royal Mail and destroyed. I got a warning letter from them, so haven't been able to sell any more.

I'm a business seller

soolin

molerat wrote: »

The restriction seems to apply to business sellers only, the consumer leaflet seems to has no mention of water based paints.

I can't see how RM can possibly work out who is a private seller and who a business- the rule is all to do with safety- being a private seller doesn't make the paint suddenly safe.

The online guidelines are very very clear -there is a distinct difference between solvent and water based paints with all water based paints being restricted to 150ml in each individual container.

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/96

Paints, wood varnishes and enamels

Solvent-based paints, wood varnishes and enamels

International - Not allowed in the mail
UK - Not allowed in the mail

Water-based paints, wood varnishes and enamels

International & UK - Allowed in the mail, see restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
Volume per item should not exceed 150ml.
There is no restriction on the number of items than can be sent in each package.
The items must be securely closed and placed in a leak-proof liner, such as a sealed polythene bag, so that any inadvertent leakage is contained within the outer packaging. Surround with absorbent material such as newspaper and sufficient cushioning material to protect each item from damage.
The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging

shaun_from_Africa

It might not be related to safety as such.
Even though a 750ml tin of water based paint isn't dangerous, it would still make one hell of a mess and potentially damage or ruin an awful lot of other mail if the lid were to come off the tin and the package was damaged.

I know that there is a requirement for the 150ml containers to be packed in a sealed bag with absorbent material but the amount needed wouldn't be too much for this amount of liquid but for large tins it might not be feasible.

Large tins would also be more likely to get damaged than smaller ones and the lids might come off easier.

November2

Thanks for replies. Just received email back from RM and my tin is definitely prohibited, water based paint has a 150ml limit per item, (even though you can put several of them in one parcel!)

Soolin, sorry for confusion I meant a Royal Mail Business account not Ebay seller account, I got it wrong anyway as I read the wrong section, the 150ml is in force for RM account holders too

molerat

Unfortunately I was reading the printed leaflet issued at post offices which differs from the information on line. Gotta love RM for keeping things clear.


And, as usual, Amazon seem exempt from the rules judging by my 200ml bottle of EDT that arrived in an unmarked package.

martindow

molerat wrote: »

And, as usual, Amazon seem exempt from the rules judging by my 200ml bottle of EDT that arrived in an unmarked package.

Businesses negotiate with carriers to take products that are normally refused. They no doubt undertake to pack them so that leaks etc are unlikely. Carriers cannot trust individuals to be so careful hence the restrictions.

molerat

It was nowhere near securely packed. Just in its normal box slopping around inside the usual Amazon sleeve packaging which is not even taped, just tucked in. In fact the flap of the perfume box had come undone and the bottle was sliding in and out of it.