DAS hier soillte man beachten:
The problems people often face when sending oil samples from Europe to Blackstone Laboratories usually boil down to two main things: postal workers misidentifying the oil as hazardous, and unnecessary shipping costs due to the size of the packaging.
The core issues and how to easily avoid them include:
1. The "Hazardous Material" Misunderstanding
Many European postal desk workers see a black plastic cylinder or a liquid sample and panic, assuming it is dangerous, toxic, or highly flammable.
The Reality: Used motor oil is completely non-hazardous and safe for air travel because its flashpoint is well over 140°C (280°F)—way above the threshold for dangerous goods. [5]
The Fix: If the postal desk questions the contents, you can print out Blackstone's Official Postal Letter. This letter explicitly outlines the flashpoints and package compliance. Alternatively, skip the official black kit cylinder entirely. [5]
2. Overpaying for Packaging Size
If you use the standard black plastic tube that Blackstone provides, local postal systems (like Deutsche Post) often refuse to categorize it as a cheap letter or "Warensendung". They force you to ship it as a bulky parcel, which can cost anywhere from €18 to over €50.
The Fix: You do not need to use Blackstone's official kit to send a sample.
Find a small, clean, leak-proof plastic bottle with a screw-on lid (about 90 ml / 3 oz).
Wrap it tightly in paper towels, place it inside a ziplock bag, and put it into a flat, padded envelope.
Shipping a flat padded envelope internationally via standard airmail is vastly cheaper and rarely triggers customs or hazardous-goods red flags.
How to Label the Customs Declaration
When filling out the international customs sticker (CN22/CN23), be very specific to prevent customs delays: Description: "Non-hazardous, non-flammable used lubricating oil sample for laboratory testing only. To be tested to destruction."
Value: Declare a nominal value of €1.00 (otherwise you or the lab may be charged unexpected import duties). [5]
