Peterson Lighter Repair: Catch-22

[BingBong]

Seeing as my Peterson pipe lighter,has had its fall broken by planet Earth once too often, I need to send it to Dublin for repair.

To this end, I made sure it was empty, put it back in the original box with warranty paper (not that this would apply, to be fair), bubble wrapped it and bagged it up for posting.

Oh dear. At the Post Office, after filling out the respective form and getting it all ready, they refused to handle it. It turns out that such things are prohibited items and that's that.

I am non-plussed, to say the least. There must be a repair guy at Peterson's Dublin twiddling his thumbs, with the solid belief that their lighters are so good as to never need repair, whereas in truth there must be loads of broken ones that can never be sent in.

World's mad.

 

[seanv]

Try shipping with a private courier like GLS or DHL. I think you will have less hassle

 

[ssjones]

Use USPS Click & Ship, online, to create the label. You are shipping parts for repair. Drop it in the mail.
(and the online rates are cheaper). For International you can fill out all the customs info right on the page, simple.

 

[ziv]

Use USPS Click & Ship, online, to create the label. You are shipping parts for repair. Drop it in the mail.
(and the online rates are cheaper). For International you can fill out all the customs info right on the page, simple.

Does USPS operate in the UK now?

 

[Homer]

You cant ever order new lighter because they cant deliver package that is so dangerous.

 

[BingBong]

You cant ever order new lighter because they cant deliver package that is so dangerous.

There's an exemption for brand new unused in original sealed packaging. All else is banned. How people ship vintage lighters off eBay? No idea.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Like... you're telling whatever delivery company this is that you are shipping a lighter? WTF is wrong with you. It's a part, or a small tool, or a small machine.

I mean come on... you might as well have told them, "I'd like to mail a small bomb."

If they ask what the machine does, you tell them, "nothing, this is why it needs to be repaired."

 

[BingBong]

Like... you're telling whatever delivery company this is that you are shipping a lighter? WTF is wrong with you. It's a part, or a small tool, or a small machine.

I mean come on... you might as well have told them, "I'd like to mail a small bomb."

If they ask what the machine does, you tell them, "nothing, this is why it needs to be repaired."

Yeah, well, I'm basically honest and could see no possible harm in a very dead empty lighter with a small bag of its bits - I might very well try again and label it "parts", because that's what it is. But, technically according to the prohibited list, the gas canister itself, even empty, is verboten. Reason flew the coop.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

You cant ever order new lighter because they cant deliver package that is so dangerous.

one year ago or so, I ordered Zippo Fuel lighter from the states, it come to me safe& sound, then some time further down the road I decided to sent the very same lighter back to the US State P.A, it stuck on the national post outbound sorting center , they refused to process it, I went further had removed that fuel insert ,did put a notice label on the package surface , sent it again out and eventually it went through and came back yo me 3 weeks later insert changed for free of charge

 

[telescopes]

There is honesty, and then there is something else. When a system is broken or basically cobbled together by baling wire made of nonsense, there is no such thing as an honest response. The system is incapable of supporting honesty and honesty will actually cause the system to be less effective and efficient. Case in point - I was filling out a government form for my daughter - it seems I am always doing this type of thing - and from time to time I am given clear options to choose before I can proceed. Many times these options don't apply and unless I choose one, I can not proceed. There is no option for does not apply. Choosing an option that does not apply is dishonest, but it allows me to proceed.

The government is always happy with my bit of dishonesty. My daughter is happy. I am happy. All is well. In the face of stupidity, don't blink.

 

[pylorns]

Also, where did you get your Peterson Lighter - I think the Peterson Lighters were made by the same manufacture that does Kiribi - and I think... smokingpipes might have some options or referrals for repair?

 

[bullet08]

Tell them it's highly combustible, very unstable, plastic item and it's totally safe. After they call the cops, MI6 and Wales Guards, they will only find empty Peterson lighter and say "this wanker thought he was funny. Just send it".

 

[ssjones]

Use USPS Click & Ship, online, to create the label. You are shipping parts for repair. Drop it in the mail.
(and the online rates are cheaper). For International you can fill out all the customs info right on the page, simple.

Does USPS operate in the UK now?

Sure, you can send to anywhere in Europe

 

[irishearl]

Or, then again, the cost of shipping plus repair will probably cost you 75% of simply buying another new one without all the work and hassle.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Thing is, when posting something to another country from good old Blighty one is obliged to fill in a label that gets stuck on your package identifying its contents. This seems to be the sticking point (pun noticed).

I myself may well experience this stupid rule as I may soon be posting some vintage silver coins to someone in the US. I can just imagine Johnny postman with a pocket sized package loudly advertising the contents to be antique silver coins thinking 'this would fit in my pocket just nicely'.

Best to do as suggested above and be creative in your description of the contents.

Jay.

 

[daveinlax]

Have you inquired about this with Laudisi? I guess I assumed they were disposable. I would be great if you could get it fixed especially if you could send it to them.

 

[anotherbob]

Seeing as my Peterson pipe lighter,has had its fall broken by planet Earth once too often, I need to send it to Dublin for repair.

To this end, I made sure it was empty, put it back in the original box with warranty paper (not that this would apply, to be fair), bubble wrapped it and bagged it up for posting.

Oh dear. At the Post Office, after filling out the respective form and getting it all ready, they refused to handle it. It turns out that such things are prohibited items and that's that.

I am non-plussed, to say the least. There must be a repair guy at Peterson's Dublin twiddling his thumbs, with the solid belief that their lighters are so good as to never need repair, whereas in truth there must be loads of broken ones that can never be sent in.

World's mad.

You wouldn't be too happy if you had a letter come from that silver fox you meet that one day that got burnt up in a mail lorry (is that the right word?) Cause somebody promised they took all the flammable (also inflammable which is the worst word in English)gas out. So maybe not so mad.
If you've ever worked retail you'd know that there are many people out there that make Darwin cry for humanity up in Heaven.