I've been waiting patiently for the FP5 with /e/os to get back in stock (the one with more RAM and storage) and I just got the notification email a couple hours ago that it finally is! However when I tried to check out my cart and enter my address, for some reason my country (Cyprus) was not on the list of available countries. I looked into it a bit further and on the fairphone site they have this:
Lithium-Ion batteries are bound to shipping restrictions as they are regarded as dangerous goods, so we are unable to transport them via air freight. This limits us from certain island destinations. We also avoid air freight entirely for our European deliveries to reduce our carbon impact.
https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/17121765976849-Shipping-Costs
Ok, it might be the case and their hands are tied and they cant do anything about it. But looking on Cyprus' postal service site they have a section dedicated to prohibited items which is as follows:
Cyprus Post does not undertake the handling and transportation of items contained in the UPU List of Prohibited Items valid at the time, such as: radioactive materials, infectious substances, sensitive biological substances, explosives, flammable substances, corrosive material, narcotics, compressed gas and any other article whose transportation is prohibited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Cyprus Post has the right to check the item using any method or means, including the opening of the package in order to prevent the transportation of prohibited goods.
Items containing lithium batteries cannot be accepted for dispatch using the traditional postal services. They can be sent using the Courier service QuickPost which is provided in cooperation with DHL Cyprus Ltd.
You should also note that every destination country has its own rules regarding the importation of goods. If in doubt, please ask the Service Agent at the Post Office.
https://www.cypruspost.post/en/faq-prohibited-items
That in addition to me having ordered mobile phones from abroad into here before, makes me think there is something else going on that is preventing fairphone from shipping to Cyprus.
I must admit I'm quite annoyed, because we are a member of the European Union and it feels a bit exclusionary to not get the same benefits other countries get.
That being said, does anyone know the true reason for this restriction? Is it actually a mistake on FPs side, or some weird legislation in Cyprus?
This post is half rant, half genuinely wanting to find out what the issue is, thanks for reading this far :)