Questions Regarding Liquid Noises

1. Not likely but it does happen from time to time.

2. Not likely but it does happen from time to time.

3. Package bottles upright and double box.

 

I've had guys put empty cans in the box with bottle caps in it to cover up the sloshing noise.

 

I'm always nervous. But it's always turned out OK. I doubt FedEx has people standing there shaking every box that comes in, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. There are noisemakers you can add in the box if you're that concerned. I've heard of (1) Nerds, (2) Pennies in a tin box, (3) Empty cans with bottle caps inside them, (4) Rice/Beans in the box and (5) even cans/bottles with rice/beans in them. I think that as long as you don't have anything break, you should be OK.

 

It really depends on the employees at your local UPS/FedEx. Some of them get excited about following the rules.

Almost all of my boxes have sloshing sounds (I pack with the bottles sideways). I never do anything to mask the noise.

 

I throw a handful of dried beans in the box. Cost next to nothing and I think it helps.

 

I really don't think anyone at Fedex cares if they hear liquids. There are thousands of liquids that are perfectly acceptable to ship with Fedex. They would have absolutely no reason to think it might be beer (or something else against policy) unless you gave them additional reason for it.

 

Guess that makes perfect sense. So is it better to declare your shipment as a liquid? Like perfume, or vintage coke bottles or something?

 

I have shipped massive amounts of olive oil, snow globes, and maple syrup in the seven months I have been trading!

 

My FedEx shop believes I home-produce and trade olive oil and balsamic vinegar all the time.

 

This is the answer. I hate getting boxes with rice and crap floating around in them. I worked for UPS, and we'd be more likely to open a box thinking something was broken if we heard stuff like that rolling around inside than if we heard liquid, which is fine to ship. The whole masking the sound thing is just a BA old wives' tale.

And to Hanzo and all the other people that get asked to declare what they're shipping, is this some policy or just nosey employees because I've never been asked and would be insulted if I was. Privacy should be part of a shipping companies customer service.

 

I don't know, maybe they don't ask at FedEx or UPS anymore, I rarely ship anything but I have been asked general questions like "anything fragile in here?". But today I already had my label printed and just dropped the box off at a dropoff location. No one asked anything.

 

I was only ever asked what was inside the box once by FedEx, and that's because I put on the upwards directional arrows when I shipped my first growler. In retrospect, that was a stupid thing to do as they get tossed around without thinking twice. I said glassware, they noted it down, and that was it. Aside from that, I've never been questioned what is inside my packages and some are very loud.

 

This story should serve well to get the point that cbeer and dvelcich are making across:

My first few boxes, I did that whole pennies in a can thing. Guy at the counter refused to ship until he examined the contents for loose/moving parts. Have shipped a few boxes since then w/o any sort of masking... has worked out quite alright.

Sidenote: double boxing your beer helps greatly in masking the sound.

 

I've only been asked about what is in my box between FedEx/UPS/DHL/USPS one time, and that was one of numerous times that I was shipping a box through USPS internationally. Collectible Glassware with a lot of packing material.

I would suggest using the search function for keywords like "FedEx" or "UPS" and checking out the various other threads that have popped up (assuming they're still around). There is a lot of previously posted information out there that you might find helpful on top of this thread.

 

two options: mask the sound or explain the sound.
Some people drop pennies, rice, beans, tic-tacs, etc into the box to create a rattle sound and cover the sound of sloshing.
Other people create fake businesses: Phil's Sno-Globe Emporium, Mike's Aquatic Supplies and pH Testing, Jeff's Vitamin Supply Shop, Bill's BBQ Sauce Co, Nate's Olive Oil, etc. These names being in the shipper info would certainly explain any sloshing sound to a nosy employee.

Tons of boxes get delivered without covering or explaining the sloshing sound, and many users will tell you that either approach is unnecessary.

Personally I'm of the mindset that it certainly won't HURT your chances of a box arriving safely, and if it helps even once, then it was completely worth it. For the record, standing all the bottles upright inside the box will minimize sloshing sounds... Laying them down, pointing different directions will create more sloshing sound.

 

I agree-- as a ups driver I'm less worried about liquid noises than rattling ones.
Rattles imply that something is moving around which implies it isn't packaged very well.
The only issue is that the employees at the counter might be nervous if they hear liquid sloshing because liquid can leak and they might want to ensure that the contents are packaged securely.
So...
My shipping info has "MrVitaminMan.com" as the company name... Whenever I get asked (usually only at mom&pop drop off locations) I tell them I'm shipping vitamins and nutrition supplements. FedEx office never asks.

In any case, I've never had any issue save for once a bottle leaked-- but the remaining contents were returned to me.
Like I said-- having a company name like I do might not make a difference, but if it prevents any employee from opening my box, then it was worth the 10 seconds of effort to add it to my shipper info.

 

TRAITOR!!!!!

 

Haha.
I've answered to this charge before, but I shall again--
Ups has an "honesty and integrity" policy of which violation may result in termination... Rather than even face the minuscule risk of being caught wantonly violating this policy, I ship via other companies.