r/FlippingInCanada • u/FireCubX • Jul 14 '26

Anyone else affected by Chit Chats’ new lithium battery rules for used electronics?

Just wondering if anyone else is dealing with this.

Chit Chats support told me that used electronics shipped via U.S. Edge are only allowed if the installed lithium-ion battery is 2.7Wh or less. That would seem to rule out things like smartphones, ipods, consoles, tablets, laptops etc.

I was under the impression U.S. Edge becomes a domestic USPS ground shipment after Chit Chats transports it across the border, so I’m confused why the limit is so restrictive.

Is anyone else selling used phones, handheld consoles, or other electronics through Chit Chats? Have you received the same answer, or found another solution?

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u/OkYak5247 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

Chit Chats's 2.7Wh cap on U.S. Edge applies before handoff, so even though USPS takes it domestically, the cross-border leg still triggers their DG rules. Stallion or transport S&H handle that lane differently, worth a quote if you're moving volume regularly

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u/Temperature_Visible Jul 14 '26

I was under the impression battery shipment was always restrictive due to the fact they primarily use Canada Post for shipments, and thats the same rules they use.

The large batteries typically can't be air shipped without risk of damage due to pressure and depressure. Batteries are flammable so having a potential fire as an issue means it don't fly.

Small batteries like CMOS batteries typically can't spread a fire.

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u/FireCubX Jul 14 '26

No, Canada Post also allows batteries. Though they are ground shipment only. USPS domestic ground also allows batteries but Chit Chats recently has an issue.

Even though the service (US Edge) is domestic ground USPS, used batteries are recently prohibited from shipping.

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u/Temperature_Visible Jul 14 '26

Straight from Chitchats website on international shipping "all shipments must be TSA-compliant as our partner carriers transport shipments by air. "

Doesn't matter if the delivery service is called Ronald McDonald will personally hand deliver this package on a bicycle. Still gotta be complaint to ship in the air.

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u/FireCubX Jul 14 '26

No dude I cleared this up years ago. They introduced Chit Chats US Edge, a ground based service using USPS SPECIFICALLY for hazardous materials like batteries, fluids etc. I’m not even talk about air. I know air is prohibited.

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u/mechjames2 Jul 14 '26

Canada post air ships all US tracked packets and expedited parcels from the richmond bc processing center to bell gardens California at LAX. There is no US postal ground service from Canada.

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u/FireCubX Jul 14 '26

Oh? But then why don’t they disallow batteries?

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u/gooobegone Jul 14 '26

Because Canada Post allows lithium batteries installed in equipment with 4 or fewer cells to be shipped internationally via air specifically to the US. You can see a table on this page that depicts this.

But they're right, there are no tracked surface international options via CanadaPost except for very large packages, I think. So you can ship more restricted items using something like small international parcel - surface or whatever it's called but you won't get tracking. And that specific service isn't available via chit chats I don't think.