Sending Cash. Receiving Magnets DHL FedEx

[Eddiegnz1]

I'm sending cash by mail in the amount of $10.00 so that my contact in China can buy a gift that I was not allowed to take on the airplane. It was a toy that consited of two magnets and they look like very shiny marbles. You hold them in your hand and throw them in the air and they make a very curious sound. I don't read any Chinese unfortunately.

My questions are

1) 福建省厦门市思明区厦禾路1006号302室（刘新生）收

that is how they emailed me the address for me to send the cash to. Is that the right format or can you tell me which part goes in the first line and which part in the second line and third?

2) I don't see a six digit zip code for the address above. Should there be one?

3) the package going to China is just a plain letter size envelope with cash. so which way do i send it, Fed Ex or DHL or other

4) the package coming back is a very small box just big enough to fit your two fingers in it. so how should that come back to me, DHL, FedEx UPS, other

[roddy]

Ahem

[Eddiegnz1]

WOW, you just saved me a lot of trouble. that's exaclty what I bought while in Xiamen at the Gulanyu island. Thanks so much. Where did you first see these magnets? I have never seen them in USA.

[Eddiegnz1]

by the way, althought i no longer need to send cash for magnets, thanks to Roddy, I still would like to know about the address questions i had so I can mail them photos and things.

[roddy]

I think they started appearing maybe a year or two ago? Basically you'd see (and hear) touts at tourist attractions chucking them up and down. They're quite fun, but a hell of an annoyance when you're trying to enjoy some peaceful scenery at the Great Wall or Summer Palace and someone comes up behind you with the latest buzzing novelty. I figured there was no way something like that wouldn't be on sale elsewhere, so just searched for 'magnets buzz'

[cdn_in_bj]

OMG, this is the perfect gift for my friend's nephew! I'm so glad I checked the forums before I headed out on my shopping excursion.

You can find these everywhere in BJ, and yes they are VERY ANNOYING! My friend is going to kill me after his nephew gets a hold of these.

[cdn_in_bj]

a gift that I was not allowed to take on the airplane

Can you elaborate on this? Did you have the magnets in your carry-on, or were they in your checked luggage?

[LaoZhang]

They're known as rattle snake eggs.

I've seen them in the mall here in the US (Spencer's Gifts).

This vendor was selling them outside of the Forbidden Palace and was like “两块，两块钱!" I went up to him and asked how much in English and he said "FIVE."

http://www.sciplus.com/singleItem.cfm/terms/11284/cartLogFrom/froogle

[Lu]

福建省厦门市思明区厦禾路1006号302室（刘新生）收

that is how they emailed me the address for me to send the cash to. Is that the right format or can you tell me which part goes in the first line and which part in the second line and third?

You can write it like this:

福建省厦门市思明区厦禾路1006号302室

刘新生 收

The last line is the receiver's name and 'to', which in Chinese is put at the end of the address. When the envelope is too small to fit it all on one line, I usually break it after the city name, like this:

福建省厦门市

思明区厦禾路1006号302室

刘新生 收

2) I don't see a six digit zip code for the address above. Should there be one?

I think you can do without one. Address is clear enough.

[LaoZhang]

I've sent/received quite a few packages to/from China/US. EMS from China to US is fine, but slow(er), and cheap(er). DHL/FedEx best tracking/expensive. I've had no problems using USPS to send packages and envelopes to China. No tracking available, tho.

Also be sure to write CHINA in English on the envelope going to China. Zip code is not necessary at all but could help it get there faster (I've heard).

[Eddiegnz1]

regarding the airplane issue.

I actually thought in advance that they might not be allowed so I diversified them.

I put one set in my pocket, 5 sets in my carry on, and 5 sets in my checked luggage. All three areas were caught and disallowed. They kept them and said sorry. I explained that it was a toy for my kids. they said sorry. I looked onto the xray screen and they appeared very clearly on the monitor and by far the darkest blackest objects on the screen.

[cdn_in_bj]

I actually thought in advance that they might not be allowed so I diversified them.

I put one set in my pocket, 5 sets in my carry on, and 5 sets in my checked luggage. All three areas were caught and disallowed.

I did check the web and they only mentioned explosives, flammable goods, and seafood (!) as being prohibited items, but nothing about strong magnets. Though it doesn't surprise me that they are not allowed - I'd think that magnets this strong might interfere with the navigation systems. And given that this toy can be found back home now (although at 10x the cost), I think I'll just keep them here. The last thing I want is for my luggage to get flagged, or to cause the plane to crash.

[Lu]

I'd think that magnets this strong might interfere with the navigation systems

I highly doubt that. First, that would make it all too easy for people with bad intentions to crash a plane. Security personnel can miss such things, and there you go. Second, if these magnets can't be carried by a plane or anything with navigation systems, how would they get to the US at all? I don't think there is a real reason they weren't allowed on the plane, more an idea of 'we're not sure, so better safe than sorry'.

[nomad]

Maybe I missed this part, which way were you flying? Going back to the States? Coming to China? A friend of mine just left Beijing (Sunday) for Canada and had no problems with the magnets- checked luggage, but he only had 2 sets. I'll have to have a plan b for late Christmas gifts.

[Eddiegnz1]

this was captured by the Chinese in the airport in Xiamen, Fujian province. I was leaving from Xiamen to Beijing, then from Beijing to USA. It may have been a case of "not sure, better safe than sorry".

[nitropuppy]

Magnets. Just for your info. I flew in last year on Continental from the U.S.. Then to Chengdu on China Air. In my "checked" luggage was a very large magnet. A very powerful magnet at that. (It's for a magic routine) I had checked with the airliners prior to flying. They both said "no problem" as long as it was packed in my check-in luggage.

I had no problems getting through checkpoints or Customs. That was Jan. 07' ( 'course that was then, this is now!)