Do you have to use ground shipping?

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by RoughAndGreedy, Sep 12, 2017.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. RoughAndGreedy

    RoughAndGreedy Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2017 California

    This is my first trade and I'm sending a pretty rare bottle so I want to make sure everything is right.

    Currently was going to use Fed Ex express overnight but wasn't sure if I needed to use ground shipping instead.
     
    #1 RoughAndGreedy, Sep 12, 2017
  2. taylordane

    taylordane Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2015 California

    No need to use ground, but express overnight will be pretty expensive. You're welcome to do it but don't expect your trading partner to do the same. Most people ship FedEx/UPS Ground, even with whales. The main concern is packaging. Use lots of bubble wrap and tape around the cap. And make sure you get the tracking #.
     
    #2 taylordane, Sep 12, 2017
    warrendietrich2001 and jrnyc like this.
  3. RoughAndGreedy

    RoughAndGreedy Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2017 California

    Thanks. What is the significance of tape around the cap? I put it in a bag, tons of bubble wrap, a BUNCH of newspaper padding and some extra padding for the top. Its already in the box but i will unpack if I need to do the tape on the cap
     
    #3 RoughAndGreedy, Sep 12, 2017
  4. Fordcoyote15

    Fordcoyote15 Pooh-Bah (2,368) Nov 19, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's going to get jostled a lot in shipment as well as potentially be subject to big temperature changes.

    Both of which are potentially going to greatly increase the pressure from the co2... maybe more so than the cap alone was engineered for.

    Taping a cap is an especially important step in shipping a sour as they're exceptionally volatile.

    Cheers
     
    #4 Fordcoyote15, Sep 13, 2017
  5. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    You don't need to tape the cap (I never do). That being said, it certainly can do no harm, and is something you might want to consider if you're sending a particularly valuable/rare beer (for all the reasons rypkr has mentioned).

    I once sent a bottle of Dave to a friend, which I guess qualifies as a pretty rare/valuable beer. I didn't tape the cap, but did all the other things you mentioned (and then some). It arrived in OK shape. Shrug. Like I said, it certainly can do no harm to tape the cap, though it sounds to me as if you've already done quite a bit to make sure the bottle arrives in OK shape.
     
    #5 John_M, Sep 13, 2017
    cavedave, mythaeus and Immortale25 like this.
  6. cmukid87

    cmukid87 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2017 Michigan
    Trader

    My theory with taping the cap is when it is shipped any method BUT ground shipping. I figured going up into a possibly not pressure controlled cargo plane and having temperature extremes on that same cargo plane could wreak havoc on the bottle. Every USPS shipment I've ever received w/o tape has leaked to some extent so I conveniently blamed it on being up in the air.
     
    #6 cmukid87, Sep 13, 2017
  7. mythaeus

    mythaeus Pooh-Bah (2,074) Jul 22, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If this is your first trade/shipment, please follow the advice I wrote here: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/tips-for-newbie-on-trading.177530/#post-2413609

    I usually don't tape the cap unless it's a growler or corked and/or sour/lambic. For growlers, it's a must. You should use electrical tapes for taping caps, by the way. They are very cheap at dollar stores.

    My trade partner recently sent me 3x KBBS and 6x Assassin in a 12-shipper and used FedEx Ground. I've sent and received many "rare" bottles over the years and have never sent or received through any service that is not Ground (unless USPS was involved).
     
    #7 mythaeus, Sep 13, 2017
    cavedave likes this.
  8. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    *Screams from the rooftop*
    WHAT.
    THE.
    FUCK.

    What in the world was on your side?
    How the.
    What the.

    *speachless*
     
    #8 Beer_Economicus, Sep 13, 2017
    Vidblain, taylordane and mythaeus like this.
  9. cmukid87

    cmukid87 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2017 Michigan
    Trader

    Local hops....lol
     
    #9 cmukid87, Sep 13, 2017
    Vidblain, taylordane and mythaeus like this.
  10. mythaeus

    mythaeus Pooh-Bah (2,074) Jul 22, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hahahaha...Alien Church. The guy loves TH, what can I say.


    Hahaha...It's for me and another friend/trader. He and I went way back to before all of this nonsense that you see now. We still stick to trading the old way...sending beers back and forth. 1/2 of the box was for the other friend via terms I can't disclose (no $ involved). The other 1/2 for whatever I decided to send him.

     
    #10 mythaeus, Sep 13, 2017
    needMIbeer, Vidblain, cavedave and 4 others like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.