how to ship shock absorbers from japan?

[robotype]

for the first time in my life I can't bring something out from japan...

while I was there for christimas I got a pair of used coilovers and rear shocks from a friend. bubblewrapped them and threw them in a suitcase, brought it to the airport and checked it in, no problems so far.

boarding time: they call my name and say they can't take my suitcase on board. they x-rayed it and saw the suspensions and since there might be gas inside they could be dangerous etc.

so I asked the flight assistant to send the suitcase back to my friend and then told him to send them over to me by ems. same story. they x-ray the box and you can't send it.

so now I am thinking to send them by sea...
experiences? ideas?

[Vaptor]

It takes a bit longer, but you will get the parcel. Think there will be a fee for shipping them because of the gas.

[robotype]

Vaptor Wrote:It takes a bit longer, but you will get the parcel. Think there will be a fee for shipping them because of the gas.

yes, it takes 1 or 2 months by sea...
you mean I have to pay extra because of the gas? I didn't know

acutally I am trying to find some info about surface shipping regulations but no luck so far, I will have to call the inquiry/FAQs service of Japan Post

[Vaptor]

You have to contact a shipping company, to get those info's.
Got a freind in shipping, she she told me, that if there are some kind of chemicals or gasses, it has to be declared. And a fee would be charged on some of the types, this is the case in Denmark for shipping worldwide by see.

[robotype]

ok so private couriers have a "chemical shipping option" which costs extra, I'll look into that if I can't send them from the post office. thanks!

[asyrigos]

It took me more than 3 months to get a used Ohlins suspension from Japan :-(

[Bean]

I had my Tocicos sent over from the states and it work no problem with regular post... too options realy - have your friend try again or look at fedex or the like I'm sure there are ways apart from sea freight.

[oldskull]

maybe it is new regulation on air freight?

[banpei]

Next time use a lead suitcase!

Seriously: just send it through sea fare and it will arrive at your doorstep in two months. Probably the cheapest offer.
If you need someone to ship it for you better ask Ewan Peterson from Hayatonka. He has shipped some goods for me for a very reasonable price.

[Bean]

oldskull Wrote:maybe it is new regulation on air freight?

seafreight has similar regulations - in general all combustable and pressurized containers/items are prohibited unless especially declared and packaged.
but to be honest it's all just a bit of a scare tactic - yes theoretically something could happen but most of the time it doesn't. Think of how many flammable pressurized cans of deodorant fly every day They may be smaller but I deem them more dangerous than a damper.
Airlines, Postal services, freight forwarders just want to avoid any responsibility if the worst case scenario takes effect and therefor offer it only on special condition which they charge extra.

Also not every box get's scanned... either the box was dodgy or your one unlucky chap.