Trade etiquette with shipping issues

I was in a Stout BIF and the biggest bottle I included (an extra) was a Bleurbon Berry (228 bottles) and the cork blew out in transit. I guess it wasn't "caged" that well and I didn't tape it. I told my recipient I was going to replace it. What a bummer that it happened but replacing it was the absolute right thing to do.

 

As far as infected bottles go that is completely out of your control and shouldn't be your issue to deal with. I have received infected or off bottles before. In my mind it comes with the territory of trading beer. packing/broken bottles is another story.

 

Agreed here... One of my BA Muy Bonita bottles that I received in a trade became infected... Nothing the guy who sent them to me can do about that...

 

I agree that infected beer is out of our control, and not our responibilty. That beer, usually becomes a drain pour. If I sent, I would still offer to send a drinkable beer in it's place. If I was told no worries, I would send an extra extra next trade. I would not expect that of my trade partner to do that for me. It's not required or saying you're wrong, it's just what I would do. (Operative words being "If I sent" and "what I would do".)

 

I had the same thing happen, opened my box, smelled of soy sauce. I think the changing temp from very cold to warm and back allows a little leakage if the bottle is not upright. No matter how hard they try, the crown cap is never 100% impermeable.

 

Have you opened the beer that seemed to have leaked yet? Was it ruined?

 

The beer from that trade I opened the next day and seemed fine. I wouldn't age a potential leaker

 

I had this happen for the first time with a box that landed yesterday - guy told me that one of the bottles had leaked maybe an ounce. Thankfully I individually bag everything in 2.5 gallon ziplocs, so no wet box, but I felt like shit about it.

Immediately offered to replace the bottle, but he refused and said he's going to drink it soon. Still felt bad so told him to let me know if there are any issues with it, and I'll gladly send another.

This is a regular guy and we just send boxes back and forth to each other, no not a "trade" per se, but I still feel like its my responsibility to get the beer there whole, and if not, to make it right.

 

I have a scenario. What if a first time trade partner gives you a wrong address in their apartment building, admit to it, try and contact the shipper, but they never receive their box? What's the etiquette then?

 

That's 100% on the person who gave you the wrong address. I would certainly sympathize with them, but if they don't know how to give you a correct address, that's out of your hands entirely...I'd suggest perhaps trying to do another trade with them in the future so you could attempt to send them those beers again if possible...

However, I had this happen to a someone I sent a box to in the past (they gave me the wrong address), but they contacted FedEx and we're able to get the box delivered to their correct address (for an additional fee)...

 

I was in a BIF where we were supposed to include a shirt or glass. The box I received did not have that piece of swag. It's hard to be picky because I loved the beer and everything I got. But the rules are the rules no? I didn't mention it at but felt a little slighted since I went through quite a bit to get my target his shirt.

 

(IMO) I always hold communication as the key to any trade throughout the whole process. I think it is only right to let the person know if there was anything wrong in the box they sent. Whether its the packaging, leaking or broken bottles, etc. I definitely would want to know if my box had issues as well. I pride myself on packaging, as my trader is my "customer", and I ALWAYS want to make sure they are happy in the end. If a bottle leaked, whether a main bottle or extra, I would do whatever I could to replace it no matter how rare the bottle is or if it is a " shelf" beer. Another thing to take into consideration is how you conduct yourself in conversations with your trade partner. You get more bees with honey, so being personable can get issues like this resolved easier, rather than flying off the coup. Stuff like this happens to all traders (experienced and new). Its how you "correct" it that matters in the end.

 

^dmbforever where are you located in WI? Long time DMBer here as well, we need to grab a beer sometime!

 

@Vinithing I live right near Alpine Valley. BM me if you are within driving distance, as I would love to discuss DMB over a beer or two

 

It's about as effective as putting a band-aid on a severed femeral artery.

 

actually, taping caps/cork and cages/flip tops can be useful for poor quality caps/poorly capped bottles/awkward cork and cage bottles/older seals on flip tops. sometimes, these are things even experienced traders can't see.

don't be so quick to dismiss this. it may seem like overkill, and in most cases it is for a "normal" bottle it is...but as they say, a stitch in time saves nine. good traders try to anticipate and mitigate even remote or potential problems. it's rare that we hear a box was too well packed and that the shipper received bad feedback for it.

it may not save a crushed/cracked/broken bottle, but it can help in some circumstances.

tl;dnr: a minute of effort can help prevent a *lot* of heartache. be mindful of what you do when you pack a box.

 

I plan to start taping all my bottles, even those I don't ship. I looked through my duplicate bottles & the taped bottles frequently showed a higher fill level. In no case was there a lower fill level. I suspect the tape can help to alleviate slooow evaporation & possibly reduce oxidation. Am I certain of this? No, but taping 'em is cheap, easy & benign.

 

When I tape around the tops of the bottles, I tear it making sure to have enough excess to fold it over once or twice and tab it. That should aid in easy removal.

 

I am not sure this is true. I tape all of the bottles caps for bottles that I lay flat in cardboard shippers. Thought being if there is any motion of the bottle along the horizontal axis I fear a poorly sealed cap may catch on the cardboard and potentially become loose enough to leak and by having it taped it is a smooth surface and less likely to "catch" with motion. Not sure if this is even remotely scientific and may be complete voodoo bull but makes me feel better and with 200+ boxes sent I have not had one leak. Just my rationale for my OCD.