FedEx: New "Box Policy"?

When shipping precious cargo I always use Home Depot heavy duty boxes. Never heard a peep. I try to stay buddy buddy with the workers though. I've gotten some great fantasy football advice

 

I heard that BS from some idiot manager at a FedEx store I don't normally frequent the other day. She told me "we cant ship boxes that have been shipped before even if they are in perfect condition". I then took the box to the FedEx store I normally frequent and they took it without issue. I filed a complaint with FedEx against the manager at the location and sent pics of the box I was shipping. A week or so later my GF took a "previously used" box to that same store that refused it at first and they took it. But I do think they are cracking down on bad boxes.

 

I used to buy boxes at lowes/depot but have since started buying the moving boxes from Walmart- I think they are Duct brand- and they are just as strong and im pretty sure cheaper.

 

Me too, I purchase the 'Heavy Duty' ones from there. Quite strong, and quite cheap.

 

I frequently reuse Spirited Shipper boxes with FedEx and I've never had an issue with them being refused.

I always opt for the home pick up though so I don't have to deal with the chuckleheads in the store.

 

This happened to me a couple weeks ago. They made me buy one of their enormous boxes which added to my weight cost so I switched to UPS

 

I had a pretty ugly box a few months back and the person working the counter said they couldn't accept it because it already looked in bad shape. I told her that I didn't want to repack it as I did a great job protecting the items inside and that I was confident that it would arrive safely. She had me initial on touch pad that I was aware that if the box was destroyed that they wouldn't be held liable. I signed. Box arrived with the contents in perfect shape. Note: This was not a beer shipment - I'm not crazy

 

I've had this happen a few times too -- box looks "too beat up" for them to insure. Didn't bother to tell them that the inner box was nice and sturdy. Never lost a bottle but they did make me waive the insurance.

 

Just tell them it's double boxed...I do it all the time.

 

I've used ugly boxes several times but they contained styro shippers. I taped the hell out of them to heavily reinforce all sides, seams & corners so there was no shift, strain or squishiness when they were lifted.

I can't fault carriers for wanting to see packages shipped in sound, sturdy boxes. Most of us have rec'd packages that were wtf experiences, too often containing rare, tough to acquire beers.

 

Same thing happened to me. Theyve really been cracking down on old boxes and cheap boxes.

 

If you were over in my neck of the woods I've heard the same monologue from the manager in Eden Prairie. It's kind of a pain, but if you still want to use those boxes you can flip them inside out and they can't tell the difference without the markings on the outside. Those home depot boxes are plenty sturdy, so this rule is super dumb.

 

during thanksgiving week, i dropped a box off at a store i never go to (it was in orlando and on the way to see santa claus with my family)...i get dropped off, run in, and usually jus tleave it...the people asked for my ID and everything...a 30 second deal took me like 5-7 minutes...glad my local doesnt require all that!

 

The duck/duct brand boxes at the walmarts near me are not even close to the quality of the HOmeDepot heavy duty boxes. Before moving to styro shippers I always did double boxed HomeDepot heavy duty boxes and have had zero failures due to box in ~150 ships.

 

Did you go to the one in Eagan? They are awful.

 

The manager there has asked me what I'm shipping a few times now. I now give my packages to @mrpeterandthepuffers and give him pours of whalez. He never seems to have an issue.

 

I got the same script when I was at the uptown FedEx. I kind of wanted to reply that if they maybe treated boxes better they wouldn't get destroyed, not to mention just a week earlier a driver was just throwing boxes into the back of the truck. They want sturdier boxes so they can continue to treat them like shit.