WARNING about FedEx in Vermont

Sorry for the constant nagging, but whow do you create an account via UPS? Because every time I go they always ask me what's in the packaging. Also, when you print your own labels do they ever question the size or weight when you drop them off ?

 

Set up the account online, when you create a shipment, you enter the dimensions and weight. You also pay online so there should not be much interaction at the depot as all you are doing is leaving off a pre-llabelled package.

Create a fake company name that sounds like a food product that contains liquid ( Bill's BBQ Sauce, Pete's Pickle Place, Jim's Jam Joint, Delaware Dave's Seafood Boil). If they see that it probably contains a food product they never ask.

If you do not have a UPS distribution center find a drop-off location like a Staples or Office Max, the drop-off sites are listed at the UPS website.

ALL of the above applies to FEDEX as well as the USPS. Stamps.com is the USPS online site and works incredibly well for Customs/International shipping. Same things apply, if you ship as company that has liquid as part of the product they don't even ask about the sloshing sound.

 

^^^^ - Good stuff @youbrewidrink

 

Taking it to the next level, I've received several boxes with professional looking company stickers/labeling that match the company name on the label. As long as you do this, you learn new stuff.

 

I actually received a box from a guy with a fake invoice from some hot sauce company, not a bad idea lol

 

I also give my FedEx driver a $50 gift card as a "christmas gift" every year.

 

Just because criminal prosecution hasn't occured, doesn't mean it isn't against the law.

 

Not in Vermont, but I got the ole "Package held for improper shipment" this week in Chicago. Package was shipped to me from California and one of the low abv bottles froze and exploded. Made it 2000 miles and the last 30 proved too much for it. Luckily, FedEx held the balance of the package and allowed me to pick it up with an ID saying I was over 21. Good on them, but also a reminder for this time of year to plan shipping dates accordingly so your product doesn't freeze. Always ship out on a Monday. This particular shipment took way to long to get here as it was shipped over the holidays and no doubt sat in at least one trailer, outside in frigid temps over the weekend.

 

thanks for all of the info.....you learn so much from fellow BAs....does creating an account cost money? And do you weigh your boxes or just estimate?

 

Actually it is not just USPS law that it violates. Each state has tax laws that shipping in alcohol without the payment of excise tax is illegal. Most states won't go after small dollar things like that, for instance in MN the tax on beer is $4.60 per 31 gal barrel, so shipping in a couple bombers is pennies worth of tax. The state won't try to prosecute that, but it is still a violation of the law.

You may not like this answer, but my background is in tax compliance, and specifically alcohol tax compliance. Trading is against the law in many states, just not a big enough issue to be worth it for the state to pursue.

 

I weigh the heavy ones, but now that most of the carriers are using a price by dimension, the esimate is usually close enough.

 

Thanks again for all of the info.

 

FedEx is a public company in the private sector. USPS is in the public sector. Both types of entities must operate within the law, there are no exceptions. I think TimG did a nice job explaining it above.

 

meant to give credit to deadbody. oops.

 

I was merely clarifying some butchered terminology above. I understand where you are coming from and you may in fact be right that no punishment has ever been handed out for shipping beer out of state. What I cannot say is whether breaking the law in this case is considered criminal or merely an infraction (referring back to the speeding ticket analogy, most of speeding charges are not criminal charges, but rather infractions punishable by fines). Nonetheless, I have never heard of anyone having to pay a fee when they were nabbed shipping beer.

 

And I think that has a lot to do with the fact that Fed Ex and UPS are private companies. I would be very surprised if they have ever turned over someone to the Police for shipping beer. Weapons or drugs I'm sure is a different story but I just don't think they care about beer.

 

It's because they would need to report it to law enforcement and it simply isn't worth the time. I am not sure why them being private (sector) companies matters...USPS is in the same situation. Now that we have established that shipping beer out of state is illegal, but absolutely never punished (well, by more than lost beer and perhaps a letter from the carrier), let's move on.

 

Shipment last week So Cal to CT, arrived in NJ & apparently was 'lost'. No info other than that. Will try the claim thing I guess. Sucks though.

 

right before christmas there was a Fedex truck that was in a massive accident, packages were strewn all over the highway. though that was more than a week ago

 

Any update on issues with shipping to/from VT?