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Comparison: USPS v FedEx , price and illegality!

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by 4thelvofbeer, Feb 8, 2014.

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  1. 4thelvofbeer

    4thelvofbeer Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2011 Virginia

    Just an FYI....I know it is widely known not to use the BA USPS to ship beer for beer trades, beside the ridiculous fact that it is illegal, here is another reason to stay away from the BA USPS not only for shipping beer, but for shipping of all kinds.....

    So I took a box of beer for a trade to the BA US post office, asked to ship it regular first class mail..not even priority mail....that would have been more money .....was given a price of 14.55, with tracking 16.05. Waited in line for 15 minutes.

    Left the broke post office and went to FedEx, right across the parking lot...greeted by a FedEx employee as soon as I walked in the door, "can I help you with that box"...sure I am just going to use your computers to print a shipping label for my account.

    Printed shipping label at FedEx, to the tune of 7.39, and dropped the box at the counter. Total time inside....5 minutes. Tracking, security, peace of mind, less money, no hassle,....done.

    So next time you even think about using the BA USPS, (and BA is not barrel-aged, it is broke-ass), just find your closest FedEx store!
     
  2. life_is_beautiful

    life_is_beautiful Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Also helps to have a Fedex account online. You get a rate discount and you print the labels out at home and drop the boxes off no question.
     
    Siggy125 likes this.
  3. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,072) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    lol brokeass USPS.
     
  4. BeerBaron666

    BeerBaron666 Zealot (748) May 13, 2009 California
    Trader

    yeah but large flat rate boxes from usps are about $16 and ship 2 day air. killer deal. perfect for smaller trades
     
    janky likes this.
  5. Beeryurt

    Beeryurt Zealot (617) Mar 8, 2013 Wisconsin
    Society Trader

    The only time I ever shipped a box using usps I brought it in ready to go: I had written TO: with the address I was sending, along with From: which had my address on it. The lady filled out the shipping form, I told her send it has fast as possible, charged me 18 bucks. 2 days later I come home to find that same box sitting on my door step, here she had put my address down as the ship to address. I took the box back in and they wanted to charge me for shipping it again saying it was my fault. I got tired of fighting with them, left and created a fedex account and never looked back.
     
  6. concealed

    concealed Initiate (0) May 7, 2009 Georgia

    Fedex is always $13-$20 for me, pretty expensive. USPS is cheaper and I have never had a problem.
     
  7. Baab200

    Baab200 Pundit (857) Jan 9, 2013 New York

    I've found Fed-ex to be cheaper than UPS, and they ask less questions....does anyone know how much you save if you open up a fed-ex account?
     
    Siggy125 likes this.
  8. founder26

    founder26 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2009 Michigan

    you do realize its still illegal to ship beer via ups or fedex right?
     
    mtskier likes this.
  9. Baab200

    Baab200 Pundit (857) Jan 9, 2013 New York

    How do places like Letspour or any other online Liqour sales get away with it?
     
  10. jdhende

    jdhende Initiate (0) Sep 27, 2010 Illinois

    They have liquor licenses that allow them to ship.
     
    mtskier and founder26 like this.
  11. PA-Michigander

    PA-Michigander Grand Pooh-Bah (3,248) Nov 10, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    And they don't ship to states that don't allow for beer to be shipped to their residents. Sadly PA is one of those. Damn decade old laws need to be brought current.
     
    kerry4porters likes this.
  12. lowbit

    lowbit Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2013 Wisconsin

    It's not illegal (on the federal level) to ship beer via FedEx or UPS -- it's just against their terms of service.
     
    janky, creepinjeeper and Duff27 like this.
  13. Baab200

    Baab200 Pundit (857) Jan 9, 2013 New York

    A liqour license allows you to sell beer. None of us are selling beer, we are trading. Therefore no money is exchanged.

    So it might be illegal in certain States like you mention. But if both parties are in States that allow it then there shouldn't be any problems.

    I agree! I think this is the real "problem" that us BA have when it comes to shipping beer. These delivery companies most likely don't allow for it because of liability issues.
     
  14. Jaycase

    Jaycase Grand Pooh-Bah (3,554) Jan 13, 2007 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    8% discount on Ground & Home Delivery. That's before they tack on a residential charge & fuel surchage. It basically ends up covering the fuel surcharge. I just like the ability to print my own label & dropping off a box with no questions asked at the store.
     
  15. franklinn

    franklinn Initiate (0) May 29, 2012 Vermont

    It's illegal to ship alcohol across state lines without a license that allows you to do so. Doesn't matter what carrier you use.
     
  16. hiimrichie

    hiimrichie Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2012 California

    Liquor licenses allow them to sell off premises. They can sell to people in other states, but the other state has to allow for it too.

    Fedex and UPS only allow beer to be shipped from Licensee to Licensee (which is obtained through their own application). Wine is the only alcohol that they allow to be shipped from Licensee to Consumer.
     
  17. lowbit

    lowbit Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2013 Wisconsin

    This is incorrect. The Twenty-First Amendment in effect gives complete control at the state level; there is no federal prohibition (literally) against shipping alcohol.
     
    Baab200 likes this.
  18. exitmusic00

    exitmusic00 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Oregon

    This is THE most propagated untruth on Beer Advocate.

    And that's saying something! :wink:
     
  19. lowbit

    lowbit Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2013 Wisconsin

    This is getting old. If you have something to back that up, please cite the federal statute to which you're referring.
     
    Msudukie likes this.
  20. hiimrichie

    hiimrichie Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2012 California

    lowbit is right, there is no federal law that prohibits the shipment or sale of beer across state lines. This is because it is a state issue, not a federal issue.

    People seem to think ship = sell.
     
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