Cold Weather Trading / Winter Shipping Thread

I'm a ginger so I like it here just fine. I can now rest easy and put the SPF 50 away for the next 5 months

 

I have been really trying to get into massive amounts of trading. I haven't really used this website yet, I am going to soon but I had a quick question?

Has anyone ever had problems shipping fed ex or UPS in the winter and having beers freeze? If so, how would one go about preventing it or do most people not ship during winter to the northern states?

Any answers would be helpful.

 

Never had a problem with this so far but the best thing I could say is get it to your shipper first thing Monday morning and get it on the truck and moving same day. It could start to hit warmer areas before it gets the chance to freeze.

 

If you are in cold weather area,don't drop off a box on Friday afternoon.
If it is going to sit in a cold warehouse all weekend you run the risk of beer freeze

 

One caveat OP... "Massive amounts" of trading can be quite expensive. I'd hate to see you get over stretched in trading and forget, or fail to do a trade. Bad feedback isn't worth it. Do a few to test the waters, then move into it more. Good luck!

And to answer the question, I've never had any trouble shipping in winter at all either.

 

I have shipped and received in the dead of winter, without issue. If you are really concerned, be explicit in your communications with your trading partners.

EDIT...

...including with this guy. Heed his words.

 

Ya, was thinking to do most my ships on mondays, to avoid the chance. Thanks for the advice

 

GF and I shipped 2 cases from Michigan to California last January. Mine was well insulated with stuff like socks, tshirts, and a little newspaper and got home no problem at all. Hers was mostly newspaper and had 2 bottles freeze and pop their caps (fortunately it was from a 6 pack, not cool singles). It was my first time shipping beer so it might be rookie's luck. If you're really worried you can always put each bottle in a zip lock bag, just in case...

 

Being a Minnesotan, you're probably the authority on this issue. lol

 

Tons of threads out there if you use the search function:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...ybody-get-frozen-bottles.228828/#post-2973698

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/cold-weather-trading.222754/#post-2903391

http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...rom-a-cold-climate.139400/page-2#post-2108890

I'm sure there will be at least six more threads on this topic by March.

 

Make sure your trading partner gives you the ok to ship. When in doubt, do not ship.

 

merged a bunch of these threads from the past year into one to try to keep information together in one place.

 

Lol, great stuff right there.

 

Definitely use FedEx. No guarantees during holiday season for incredibly slow UPS, which counts Dec. 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1 as holidays. Shipping Monday, Dec. 22 got you a Friday, Jan. 2 projected delivery. Pathetic.

 

Had FedEx drop a package off today at 11:36 AM and I won't be able to grab it until maybe 5 PM. It's currently sitting on the porch and its low 30's right now with a reel feel of 25. What are the odds that it will get too cold and freeze?

 

I had a box delivered yesterday that sat for several hours and temps were right around 32 - everything was cold but not frozen.

 

I have a 12 pack of boston lager that has been sitting in my trunk for like a week (couldn't pass up a $7.99 sale). Its getting pretty cold in Madison, I guess I should have brought it inside.

 

They'll be fine. You might want to put this under the beer trading help/talk section. Next cold snap its best to hold your boxes at a FedEx location. Best part is that its FREE!

Hope your beer is safe, stay classy

 

Dont worry bud. It'll be fine.

 

Mid-30's in Ohio....your beer will be fine.....takes much colder temps than that to freeze or damage most beer