WARNING about FedEx in Vermont

Had a box destined for VT sent back to me recently and got a warning letter. The "hero" driver opened the box. Personally, I will avoid using FedEx for any shipment to anywhere in VT just to be on the safe side.

 

Thanks...glad I asked first!

 

No problems lately for me, but I would still avoid FEDEX Home as that is where the problems occured.

Once again, hide the liquid sound or have a label that sounds like your supposed to be shipping liquid (

 

Yup, still avoid regardless. I packed vertically and the box I sent had virtually no sloshing noise (I always check). I have a BBQ sauce company name on the box. Still got made. I think the driver who is responsible for delivery to that house just knows that the trader are receiving beers so there was no way around that.

 

If you guys still want to use FedEx to VT, you can consider using Express instead of Ground as they operate completely separately - drivers, sort facilities, trucks, the whole 9 yards. If you use Express Saver instead of Ground the cost difference is almost always negligible, Express Saver is delivered in 3 business days (often they get there in 2), and you might be able to get your packages through to Vermont without issue.

 

ive got a question for you regarding these posts I keep seeing that Fed Ex says the xray revealed alcohol.

Now, an xray can't reveal alcohol. what exactly are they looking for, and what are they seeing that's causing them to open these packages, or flag them?

 

Reading this tread only makes me more happy that I've never shipped and never plan to.

 

One of my packages came back completely intact, down to the label. Took a minute for me to figure out that they opened it from the bottom, ripped through the trash bag to inspect the content. Since they were growlers that were filled completely to the brim, there was no sloshing noise whatsoever. I went and read the FedEx policies and they state that they perform random x-ray scans. My trade partner said he called them and they said the box contained bourbon and the box itself does not have proper alcohol shipping label. This suggests that the box got x-rayed and that they looked at the shapes of the content.

 

You'd think they would let these things slide knowing that thousands of people trade and it brings in revenue for them since the packages aren't exactly small and light. If the beer trading world just stopped I'd think that would be a big chunk of money lost for them.

 

I think for the most part they don't really care. It's money for them in the end and it costs them to return packages as well as administrative fees (answering calls, mailing letters, etc.). I think it's more or less for show so that they don't get fined for being complicit with illegal activities.

 

FedEx handles 3.4 million packages a day. I don't think beermail constitutes a significant percentage of that.

 

Is that # legit? I've always wondered how many packages get sent through Fed Ex or UPS in a given day and how the whole operation works from an efficiency/logistics standpoint.

 

I still don't understand why these different state governments/shipping companies don't allow it, with proper 21+ signature, and charge a tax. Hell, even provide flat rate styro shippers like Priority mail. They would make a killing. I would be happy to pay a little extra for piece of mind and reliability.

 

FedEx employee here. That number is indeed accurate. Everyone in the world could stop shipping beer today and FedEx wouldn't even notice.

 

FWIW Vermont is on the "do not ship list" for both FedEx and UPS in Indiana due to Vermont's state laws. Some states have really tight alcohol laws regarding shipping without proper licensing. New Hampshire, Maine, Texas, etc all have similar laws.

 

shipping charges for beer traders amount to less than .0005% of Fedex or UPS's revenue. they couldn't care less

 

Weird, maybe the laws have changed? I had one rejected a few years ago (that said that it was alcohol on the package).