The Post Office won't post a watch. Ridiculous?

[BoomerPride]

My wife went to the post office this morning to send a parcel containing a wrist watch as a present. The lady at the counter was adamant that they couldn't accept it because it contained a watch with a battery inside! I thought this was ridiculous. Am I right?

She went to another post office intending to say it was a silver bracelet inside. Seems fair enough to me. But the nearest post office was in the middle of a power cut. So she is now driving around in the rain to find another PO.

I have done some Googling but can't find anything saying you can't send a watch from a post office.

What are your thoughts PHers?

[Richard-390a0]

It's the battery that's the issue. It's on the list of things you can't send attached to every post office counter around near where I live.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/what-can-i-send

[craig1912]

The PO is wrong if you are sending in the UK. You can send a watch with a battery inside. In fact I’m waiting one being delivered this morning after sending it off for repair.
Sent cameras and all sorts with batteries in.

[BoomerPride]

I believe Craig's answer to be the correct one. If the battery is fitted to the device then it is fine.

[JimbobVFR]

Richard-390a0 said:

It's the battery that's the issue. It's on the list of things you can't send attached to every post office counter around near where I live.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/what-can-i-send

Which specifically makes an exception for a battery in a device. "Not connected to or posted with the device it is intended to power"

[Mr Pointy]

Richard-390a0 said:

It's the battery that's the issue. It's on the list of things you can't send attached to every post office counter around near where I live.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/what-can-i-send

If you read the list you posted a link to you will see that devices that have batteries inside them are specifically allowed.

[BoomerPride]

I've sent a complaint about this particular post office counter. It's not a big deal in the great scheme of things but it may save others incurring cost and inconvenience.

[BrettMRC]

A similar thing comes up from time to time when posting air rifles.

Perfectly legal to send a sub12 via Parcelforce 48, but from time to time you get counter operators who refuse it.

[mickythefish]

It feels that stasi interrogation every time you go to post something. I just lie.

[Richard-390a0]

Mr Pointy said:

Richard-390a0 said:

It's the battery that's the issue. It's on the list of things you can't send attached to every post office counter around near where I live.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/what-can-i-send

If you read the list you posted a link to you will see that devices that have batteries inside them are specifically allowed.

Yes I'm aware of that, but it's the mindset of some P.O counter staff who may not be interested in learning the ins & outs of their job role & just point an accusing finger to the poster on the counter of every P.O I've been in which says 'batteries are a restricted item' or whatever it says & send the customer away as the O/P has found.

[untakenname]

Could say the watch is mechanical, seems like they are just covering themselves in case of fire even though the battery will weigh a couple of grams and be a 1.5v button cell.

[bigpriest]

untakenname said:

Could say the watch is mechanical, seems like they are just covering themselves in case of fire even though the battery will weigh a couple of grams and be a 1.5v button cell.

I think it was implemented via airline legislation but irrelevant in this case.

Just get a copy of the proper list from the website link and take it with you to show the fool in the Post Office. Nothing better than proving a fool is a fool. Or just say "jewellery" which technically isn't a lie.

[hilly10]

Just say it’s a Watch and it’s mechanical, meaning no battery end of

[BoomerPride]

I took it to another post office, said it was a wrist watch, and no further questions were asked. It's on its way

[vikingaero]

I can't be bothered with all this interrogation, so anything I send is just "a book", even if it is really just a book!

[soad]

mickythefish said:

It feels that stasi interrogation every time you go to post something. I just lie.

I posted beer cans as candles, numerous times.

Well wrapped and packaged - so won’t puncture/leak, and it’s a decent imported tipple.

Not for profit, to a family member.

[soad]

Sold a cheap watch on eBay earlier this month, zero issues posting it. Only had to confirm value.

Postage has gone up this month too.

[KAgantua]

Always makes me laugh when they ask whats inside 'for safety purposes'

Yeah, if im a terrorist im going to say 'its a bomb' - no ill just say it's a book.

The stasi comment is bang on - no wonder PO is being creamed by it's rivals

[Nigel_O]

Could be worse….

I posted a rare car part a few years ago. PO counter bod asked me what was in the parcel - I said it was ‘a car part’. They asked what car part - I replied is was a ‘brand new cam cover for a 1998 Fiat’. PO took my money (including extra cost to insure the £300 value) and then proceeded to use the parcel as a football, resulting in it being cracked on arrival.

When I claimed, they said ‘we don’t cover car parts’…..

[CHLEMCBC]

Just use Evri