WARNING about FedEx in Vermont

This is disheartening. Have had nothing but superior service with Fed EX, whereas with UPS it's always the same dude asking what's in the package and t g at it may be scanned. Then when I tell him it's fragile, he holds it over his head and asks is this a safe enough drop point. I guess if thinks go bad at FED EX, I'll just try another store or different UPS store.

 

Was this box headed to VT? If so mind sharing an approximate area?

 

So is Fedex corporate cool with their employees stealing from their customers?

 

White River Junction, VT

 

Are they cool with people illegally shipping alcohol?

 

Does that make it ok to steal?

 

No, 2 wrongs dont make a right

 

Fedex probably won't do anything but if a bunch of these guys put in a complaint about that particular VT location, maybe those employees would get some much needed corporate oversight.

 

does it cost money to open an account with ups? And can you also print labels off of the website? I talked to a couple local UPS stores and they said opening an account isn't worth it, unless sending 300+ packages a week

 

Should we be doing something to confound the xray?

 

Yeah, like put one of the bibs you wear during x-rays at the dentist over the beer while packing?

 

This is distressing news. I never use FedEx, only UPS, have never had breakage outbound or inbound with UPS, nor a box opened and beer taken by UPS, only by FedEx inbound, but based on some of what has been said here it seems that may be changing. Strange to think USPS may be the best option now, even though it is only affordable to use it for small shipments.

 

That is a complete crock of shit. They are just trying to keep your business. I started getting discounts after I shipped a couple dozen times, but make sure your a "business". Just make up some name.

 

I recently sarted lining my boxes with 1/2" foil faced foam. It makes great additional cushioning, thermal insulation and limits x-ray vision. The down side is someone may get suspicious and open the box.

 

I, like @cavedave , use UPS exclusively and have not had a problem. I pack the "holy crap" out of my boxes, but that's a topic for another thread. It also does nothing to elude x-rays. Some of this problem, and correct me if I am wrong, could have arisen from the "black market Heady Topper" issue last year. Maybe FedEx has taken an aggressive approach to parcels in this area of the country. Of course, I am aware that UPS will x-ray boxes as well. I've only been asked at The UPS Store if there are fragile items in the box. I tell them no.
It could also be that we have more traders every day and, more of them use FedEx on recommendation of the trading forums. (FedEx is supposed to have a better reputation for repacking your box if a bottle breaks.) It seems that trading is less under the radar these days. That's why I try to pack my boxes to be as inconspicuous as possible. Again, a topic for another thread.

 

I was thinking the exact same thing. Call me paranoid but I could also see certain brewers/breweries up there alerting the Vermont Liquor Control authorities about traders and worse, online resale in an effort to curb it. I've heard that a few up there are very against it.

 

That whole "black market Heady" thing gave trading a bad name there. I really didn't think brewers would mind the word getting out about their beer and, they probably didn't, at one time. It's when greedy idiots started profiting from their beers, screwing the drinkers and giving their brewery unwelcome publicity is when enough became enough. Just a guess ... @PatrickInAustinTx

 

Not sure if this would help with the problem in VT, but when I was trading I would like to pack the shit out of a box, put a garbage bag around the box, then put that into a 2nd box.

What's so different about that, you ask?
The 2nd (outer) box would be a brand new FedEx box.
I know, I know...they cost a little more than the same box at Wal-Mart or Boxes-R-Us.
But by using their boxes, I believed it took away 99% of suspicion, and just justified the extra expense as a form of cheap insurance.
Never had a problem.

Pack well
2 boxes
Outer box = New FedEx box

 

If nothing else it shows them that you're spending even more money with them, giving them even more reason to leave you the hell alone.

 

Everything is back in my possession. Nothing was damaged or frozen. So fing relieved