Return - Mammotion Instructed me to Cover Hazmat Labels????
I’m currently in the middle of returning my Mammotion robotic mower, and Step 3 of their official return instructions raised a pretty big red flag for me:
"Important: Please completely cover any 'Class 9 Dangerous Goods' markings and battery-related labels on the outside of the package with blank labels. Otherwise, the package may be held by the carrier’s dangerous goods department."
Mammotion issued me a standard prepaid FedEx Ground return label. However, under U.S. DOT shipping rules, large lithium-ion batteries (like the ones powering these mowers) are Class 9 Dangerous Goods. Standard FedEx consumer drop-off locations won't accept a package displaying a Class 9 sticker unless it's accompanied by certified dangerous goods declaration paperwork and a matching hazmat shipping contract.
It seems like Mammotion is providing standard ground return labels to save on freight costs, then instructing customers to cover the hazard stickers so the package passes through standard FedEx drop-off without being flagged.
This leaves customers in an awkward spot:
- If you leave the Class 9 label visible: FedEx will reject it at the counter or freeze it at a sorting hub because the return barcode doesn't match hazmat electronic records.
- If you cover the label as instructed: You're covering up hazard markings on a standard non-hazmat label, and if the clerk asks "Does this contain lithium batteries?" at drop-off, answering truthfully will likely lead to rejection anyway.
Has anyone here shipped a mower back following these exact instructions? It seems pretty unethical for them to provide instructions like this when they know this isn't how it should be handled.
