Shipment of a/express multimeters returned by China customs due to magnets. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 06:42:35 am
content: This is a new one on me!Quote from: aliexpress_vendor_to_methis purchase in question was of six RM113D multimeters, which have a magnetic, err, magnet, on the back of them for sticking to stuff (or picking up crud on your bench more likely), not like some massive neodym monstrosity capable of throwing out of what the entirity of an airliner's navigational system.While I don't care that they don't have magnets, I hope (probably in vain) that "removed magnet" means "replaced the holster with a non-magnet one" rather than "ripped the magnets out and now there is a big hole where they were".Sigh. Not having much luck with multimeter from Aliexpress lately, a set of 5 got lost in the post last month legitimately, somewhere between Auckland Airport and Christchurch they vanished, 2 lots before that the seller never sent them (usual tracking number no work)....

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 08:43:54 am
content: New Zealand does not allow magnets in the mail? That's weird.

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 09:02:55 am
content: Seems more likely they removed the battery and translated it wrongly.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 09:12:49 am
content: Quote from: soldar on April 28, 2019, 08:43:54 amIt will be China customs, given the timing it wouldn't have hit NZ yet.But that said, yes NZ Post technically does not allow magnets of any size, technically. It's not like they have magnetometers scanning parcels looking for every fridge magnet or clasp though.Quote from: donotdespisethesnake on April 28, 2019, 09:02:55 amUnlikely, I've never had a multimeter out of china (or anywhere) supplied with batteries, and even if so it would only be some crappy zinc-carbon or something.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 09:45:03 am
content: Seems a bit strange. I've actually ordered a stack of neodymium magnets before from Aliexpress without issues. Other than about 3 inches of padding on all sides, packaging was typical for china packages -- plastic mailing pouch.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 11:59:20 am
content: Yes, I've never heard of magnets not being allowed in the mail and, while I have never ordered any, I do know someone who has.OTOH, detectors are getting to the point where you can't hide anything.In my last visit to China I took a very small Lion battery from a camera. The battery was totally spent and no good any more but I wanted to see if I could find a replacement in China. I put it in a pocket in the suitcase and totally forgot about it.On the return trip, when I arrived back in Europe and opened my suitcase I found a nice note by the nice police of China explaining they had opened my suitcase to remove some prohibited battery. I had totally forgotten about the battery and it took me a while to figure it out but it seems they have some scanner which detects these batteries and they went directly for the battery I had totally forgotten.They have scanners that can detect explosives, vegetables, meat, different metals, etc. It is amazing how technology advances these days.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 06:26:36 pm
content: I suspect they are prohibited because they'll stick to the processing equipment or other packages. In fact, that's probably what happened and caused them to be returned.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 07:28:14 pm
content: Some foam packaging should take care of that.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 08:07:16 pm
content: Ali page:Quote

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 08:17:31 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on April 28, 2019, 06:26:36 pmYes, that must have happened several times. I also ordered magnets (for 3d printed parts), I'm quite sure they are just going in circles in a mail sorting machine forever.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 09:31:31 pm
content: The shirt less Aliexpress guy is looking for your package to be delivered on time!

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2019, 10:27:59 pm
content: @MT lol,When I was a young man I worked at Air Canada Cargo for a while .. I thought that place was f-upped.