UPS - When is an account flagged?

Did they say why they opened it? I can't imagine being put on a list for one time, there have been people that had bottles broken, their box repackaged and sent back to them only for them to try again with no issues.

 

Whenever this happens I use whichever shipper I didn't try initially. There's no point in having the same box re-enter their system IMO.

 

Why do they get to open a box because they "hear" liquid? Aren't there plenty of liquids allowable by UPS/Fedex? Seems odd to me...

 

It could be that a LOT of us are shipping beer these days and they are catching on to just how much it is. I think some appropriate labels/notes on the outside might make someone reconsider opening, if only briefly, and that may save your shipment. Something like "Gourmet Olive Oil" "yeast samples." I have taken some labels off of nice olive oil bottles or kombucha labels and glued them onto my shipping box to run a little distraction, fwiw.

 

yes, liquids are allowed. But there is a big grey area concerning alcohol. Different "hubs" have different rules, some locations dont care, some make it where you have to have sign signature, or proof of age.

 

I never have any issues dropping of at FedEx/Kinko's locations. The employees always seem so preoccupied with the print jobs, other projects or helping people figure out the copy machine that my box is the least of their worries.

 

Try 4-5 rain sticks, all pointing in different directions. That'll keep em guessing.

 

I do start to worry about this as well. Styros are pretty obvious, and I'd imagine certain hubs, particularly in a region like California, can identify them without even picking them up. You'd think that the more the volume goes up, the less they can ignore alcohol shipments. But that line of thinking hasn't held for Ebay...

As for masking liquids... for every story you hear about liquid causing a problem, there's one out there about noise causing a problem because it sounded like something was broken. I do think an "olive oil" or something sticker is probably the best thing to do.

 

hmmm, there is a nice olive oil and vinegar company near me, maybe I should see if they have stickers or some labels I can have.

 

also, I don't know if this helps at all or not, but I tape the label (I don't use the holders) across the seam of the box. That way if they want to get into the box they have to cut my label, meaning they will have to print a new one. I am of the mentality that the workers probably work on the path of least resistance. If something looks difficult or may cause more work, they will skip it.

I did have one bottle break before (in a VERY secure box), they repackaged the box and sent it to the destination, I have not been flagged because other things made it since then. I was not even notified. I am guessing someone royally screwed up in breaking the box so the moved it along with out saying anything. It isn't like I am going to call up and say "hey you broke a bottle of beer I sent!"

 

If UPS is noticing "a growing population" then Fedex must be downright flooded and liking it. Fedex seems to have about 90% of the trading market...

 

What did you say was in it? If you didn't say anything that has to do with liquid then they would wonder why the hell they're hearing liquid. If you said olive oil or some shit like that, it is kinda odd that they opened it just for hearing liquid.

 

You know more about this than me. But I wonder if that memo is a "cover your ass" type thing. They don't really want to a) put the effort in and b) take away business. However, they don't want to look like they are ignoring an issue.

 

So you don't have to declare what's in it online when you just do the drop off option? That may be it then, I always get my label there and they ask and I say Arden's garden juices which I think are only available in GA. So if they've ever wondered what the liquid noise coming out of my packages are, they know. I keep wondering what this noise is though because I've never heard it and I've pretty much walked 2 blocks with the package to drop it off every time I ship. Maybe for some reason the way I pack you don't hear it? Otherwise I'm still confused whenever I hear about the liquid sound coming from beer boxes.