Beer shipping tips

Welcome to trading...
Sending first is a nice gesture until you get some completed trade feedback to your profile. I typically throw in a extra or two just as it doesn't impact shipping costs all that much and of course people enjoy new brews from out of market areas. Also, just be nice, responsive, and pack well..that's about it.

As of your friend shipping you beer - you can easily send the pdf label via email to the person so all he/she has to do is attach label to the box and ship. Usually finding a box is easy - just make sure they pack it well. If they haven't shipped beer before they probably need guidance. UPS/Fedex preferred as USPS is the sketchy service in regards to legality. This is very debatable on this forum but I never use USPS. Packing advice - use a foam shipper if sending large quantities. If smaller, tape bottle cap tops, use ziplock bags to enclose cans/bottles, plenty of bubble wrap around bottles and around all edges of box. Finally tape all seems to the box and ship away.

Given your logo - I accept any Angry Chair shipments to me as a test run

 

I use the USPS priority flat rate boxes for all shipments that fit (unless it is being sent close and the other options are cheaper). These travel very fast and are very affordable. I have sent maybe 200 and have never had an issue.

I use FedEx for large or close (distance traveling) packages. I don't like UPS.

When they ask if it is liquid I say yes. Typically they don't ask for further information. The few times they have I said Snow Globes or Maple Syrup.

FedEx in Vermont can be shady. You may see other threads/posts about other specific geographic regions and different shipping companies.

Put everything in zip locks and or garbage bags. If a bottle or can leaks at least everything will stay dry (and it will be more likely the package makes it to its destination).

If you open a FedEx account it can be more affordable.

Always communicate well with your trading partners. Always make sure to go through the system and not ship if they don't want to accept a trade request.

Have fun and don't go overboard until you get a few solid deals under your belt.

 

Will UPS pack the bottle for you if you hand them the bottle?

 

Some good info so far. Here's my shipping advice drafted a while back:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/tips-for-newbie-on-trading.177530/#post-2413609

 

If you are going to be trading regularly, re-use the boxes, bubble wrap, shipping peanuts....

When shipping, it is important that the bottles not jostle around. Get them packed tight so they aren't bouncing off each other.

Be aware of weather. In Florida, you don't want a box sitting in a 100+ degree warehouse all weekend. Also pay attention to the recipients weather.

IMHO, USPS flat rate boxes are great. Especially if you are shipping cans. I can get 88cans in a medium box and 12 16 oz & 4 12oz cans in a large box.

Dont be afraid to ask questions. There are alot of helpful people here and, in general, there is less snark here than most of the internet

If you want some NJ beer, send me a message. I would be glad to do your first trade with you.

 

Frack , I can only fit 6! Seriously though, 8 cans. There's hardly any room for packaging. That's safe?

And I definitely haven't been able to fit 12 big cans plus some small cans in a large.

I guess I use too much packaging?

I did ship 3 bruery bottles in a large box safely across the country. Not my idea, but im a trustee and thats what he wanted.

 

If shipping cans, i don't use much packing. Just single sheets snaked between the cans.
This is how I pack a large box:


Again, i don't use too much bubble wrap

 

You don't bag them?

The thing that worries me most about cans and subsequently using small amounts of packaging is what happens if the box falls. Seems like a can is bound to leak/explode.

 

Due to an unfortunate circumstance (I am on the receiving end =/), I thought this might be a good time to reference these threads.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...-in-transit-all-merchandise-discarded.530777/

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/help-fedex-situation.532517/

 

I have been shipping 16 oz cans like this recently in Large Priority shippers. Each can gets 1 layer of bubble wrap. All cans go into one really big zip lock. I then tape around the zip lock to pack all the cans tightly against each other and compress the entire package. The fit is snug, which is good.
Each rectangle below represents 4 cans packed as they would sit in a four pack holder.

 

I recently was packing a box with cans in it. I was putting 16oz cans into a 6-pack holder, with just a thin piece of "crinkly" paper between them. They were going into a log box that had bubble-wrap all around, so the 6-pack holder essentially served as a partial divider between them, but also a way to keep the beers standing up, and to easily sort the box.

The cans were tight, but not so tight you felt like you had to pry them out or anything, just comfortably snug IMO. Well, after sitting in that for a day, I heard a pop the next day, touched the top of one of the cans, and it exploded. Moments later, same thing with a second. Both were the same exact beer, same brewery, from the same 4-pack, same run, etc. They were IPAs.

Not sure what happened. Has anyone ever seen something like this?

 

This is one of the reasons I started using USPS instead of UPS or FedEx. (also due to FedEx being shady in VT).

I've never shipped a USPS box that had a leaky can/bottle, but I have received a few. One came in a large plastic bag. Other was just a wet (and beer smelly) box. In my experience they still deliver. I have heard tons of stories of FedEx/UPS discarding or sending back to shipper. I don't remember hearing much about similar results with USPS shipments. Has anyone had a package discarded or shipped back to sender when using USPS?

 

I have had the entire tops pop off when I am taking them out of a 4 pack holder. Happened with a Tree House can like a month ago. Top stayed in the four pack holder. Beer ended up all over the place!

Did your cans "pop" from the top lid? Or another area?

 

The entire top did not pop off, but they "blew." So, the top center got warped and then blew (think the shape of a spoke, almost like it had been frozen and forced through the top center). I can upload a picture if needed.

 

I have also sent cans in the 4 pack holders. I use boxes that are no longer suitable for shipping and cut rectangles out. Make the rectangles into X's and slide in between the cans in 4 pack holders as dividers. Then wrap the hole thing in a layer of bubble wrap. Sent one to CA from NH that way this week. I think 3 four packs and a few 12 oz cans were in that box using that method. No issue.

 

No need for pic. Odd. Think it was a structural issue with the cans themselves?