Apple AirPods Max
UPS reportedly returning several AirPods Max shipments to Apple with many of them marked "hazardous materials." (Photo: Ryan Quintal/Unsplash(BY CC 2.0))

UPS reportedly returning several AirPods Max shipments to Apple with many of them marked "hazardous materials."

There may be some problems with AirPods Max shipments in Canada. Reports indicate that UPS are bringing back to Apple several boxes of such shipments, with many of them having labels declaring them as "hazardous materials." The fiasco happened amid the over-ear headphones' short supply, with backorders running up to 24 weeks.

   

The reason behind such a move is still unclear as even customers in Canada are clueless about why their Airpods Max shipments are sent back to Apple with the label "hazardous materials." There are also reports that some UPS shipments of AirPods Max en route to Canada take a U-turn and go back to Apple ahead of reaching their final destinations.

Some Canadian customers report that they saw the status of their AirPods Max order marked "hazardous materials" upon checking on their orders. Underneath the UPS shipment label is a note that the package will be sent back to the sender. "A hazardous materials irregularity occurred with this package. We'll contact the sender with additional information. The package will be returned to sender," the note reads.

In one of the posts by a Canadian customer, he showed a screengrab of the UPS notification with the message that the shipment is now en route back to the sender. Another Canadian customer confirmed that his AirPods Max shipment took a U-turn and was brought by UPS back to Apple after the "hazardous materials" designation. Another customer living in Calgary reported a similar situation, where his AirPods Max received a "hazardous materials" designation halfway through shipping and brought back to Apple.

As the report indicates, the recent AirPods Max shipment fiasco is particularly frustrating given how hard it is to get hold of Apple's innovative over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max. At present, its shipping time can range from a few weeks to over three months in many stores worldwide. Even with the hefty price tag of $549, many people wanted to get their hands on the innovative headphones because of their superior sound quality and features. With news about UPS shipments of AirPods Max sent back to Apple and marked "hazardous materials," it is unclear when the customers will finally get them.

The AirPods Max also features adaptive EQ, spatial audio, active noise cancellation, and a unique acoustic design. The headphones also have H1 chips and advanced software to drive its computational audio for that breakthrough listening experience. Most people ordered the AirPods Max as soon as they became available and had it shipped through UPS so they could have them in time for the holidays. With the recent UPS shipment fiasco where the AirPods Max is being sent back to Apple with the label "hazardous materials," some customers would have to find a replacement quick enough so as not to ruin their holidays.