FedEx "What's in the box?!?"

Was that at the downtown GR FedEx place? I hear they are getting a bit weird. I've never had them ask me though.

 

Yessir it was. I've probably dropped 10 boxes there the past few months without a problem... I had started to hear rumors of issues but it's like 3 blocks from my office and figured I would keep going until I personally had a problem. Ended up going out to the 28th st location the next day with no problems, outside of the hassle.

 

I think another issue is the size/shape of the box. The Fedex employees have a read good idea what a 12 bottle shipper looks like. And nobody orders that much salsa or bbq sauce. There is something to be said about keeping the size of trades reasonably modest. Also, when there is more tape than box, it might be time to retire the box. Beat up boxes also raise eyebrows.

 

Cant be nearly as bad as when I went to drop off a box in Austin,Texas with my husband there. Guy asks whats in the box and my husband goes 'bottles' , I gasp and undergo brain freeze and stumble out 'its agave nectar'. Guy nearly can't hold a straight face but manages to go 'oh well ok', tapes it up and away it goes. Lets just say the conversation in the car driving away afterwards was a bit tense. 'Bottles' SMDH.

 

I send out a lot of Polar Seltzer waters

 

I start with a general answer. Sometimes saying, "It's a birthday/bridal shower/baby shower/etc. gift" is all you need.
But, I always have a detailed story in my back pocket, ready at a moment's notice. Ever since my cousin got pregnant, I like the "I'm sending baby-safe laundry detergent (accounts for sloshing and weight) with [enter miscellaneous baby stuff here]" story. The detailed, small talk component is key and I have a due date and potential baby names ready to share, too.

 

This happened to me yesterday too. I just took my box and left. He said he wanted to make sure I "packaged it correctly."

 

When they ask, I say glass and ceramic artwork. Lately I've been using the USPS boxes if I'm just shipping cans. There's one size that holds 12-12oz cans perfectly, and my post office has a self-serve kiosk, so no pesky questions. The Fedex store has been giving me grief about using wine boxes, they say I can't use anything that even says alcohol. Well, a free box is a good box, so I've taken to turning the box inside out.

 

I use a fake soda syrup company name last time. If they ask I just say we are testing out new syrups for bottling. I have ideas for all like floors like kiwi or something.

 

I've been asked every time at the Fed Ex store (4 trades so far). I just say organic olive oil and no further questions.

So what exactly happens if you screw up though and they open the box and see the beer?

 

Because I live right near the Napa Valley, my typical ready to go answer is Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. Either that, or I'll say personal items. One of my regular trade partners has me ship to their work which is a titling company. I've used documents and thank you trinkets as a made up excuse.

I've been considering getting some stickers made up for a faux olive oil company.

 

Vintage containers

 

The only reason why my "fake business" thing wouldn't work out is that the boxes I use are pretty variable, seems like if I was running a small business I'd be using some standard boxes, yes? The one time I was asked I was shipping to Wine Country Hackettstown and I said I was shipping them winemaking equipment.

 

Even when I have my labels pre-printed from my account, I'm still asked nine times out of ten what's in the box. I now even put "Speciality Olive Oils of Orange County" business cards on my boxes.

While traveling for business in Portland, I brought a box "ready to go" into Fedex and surprisingly was immediately called out. I set the box on the counter and they said, "We don't allow wine or beer to be shipped." Ha ha. Fake business card and all, I didn't want to push it. I drove a couple miles down the road to a different Fedex.

 

So if you are at Fed Ex or UPS and for whatever reason they discover you are shipping beer, what are the outcomes? Fined/legal actions? Just giving you back your box and saying you can't ship this? Banned from using Fed Ex?

Just wondering what the risks are we are taking.

 

I think I'm going to stop going with olive oil, and start saying jars ofpickles and homemade salsa....stuff that is more common to make at your home if you are into basic gardening. Olive oil making just seems more of a rare/less realistic thing to me.

 

Sounds like the AV store morning lady! She's a *(&#%*&%#. I go at night.

 

probably cause of all the people shipping their degarde bottles home from visiting the brewery haha

 

You can say Jones Soda. You know how you can do your own label on the bottle for special occasions and send them to your "brother in law". Probably won't work too many times though. You can ship UPS and go through Staples, they don't ask any questions or care what you are shipping.

 

I always say I'm shipping "collector beer steins" they weigh enough and they place a fragile sticker on it. Nothing else is ever asked.