a.k.a. Me, A Feel-Good Story I'll try to shorten this long story where I can (it is LONG). But, there is a worthwhile lesson as well as a double happy ending, so get a beer and an easy chair, sit back, and enjoy! I am trustee for 3 people for Crooked Stave. I shipped boxes to the first 2 while waiting for shipping boxes for the 3rd. (This will be the 1st they each learn about it happening to the other. I didn't want to freak them out while it was still going on...) 4 boxes to one, 3 to the other, all FedEx (one guy was shipped thru his account, the other was thru mine, and he paypal'ed me). ONE BOX WENT MISSING FOR EACH GUY!!! Imagine my horror: My first 2 trustee shipments EVER, and lost a box for each!!! I started going back over in my head what I messed up: - I could have included an extra label inside the top of each box - I could have written the Tracking # on the box (neither of which make ANY difference, BTW...) - I could have taped down the original label (in a pouch) better (BTW...this was my first issue EVER shipping. I have only been given stellar feedback on packing.) Skipping a few details, we put traces on both boxes (again independently, as neither of these guys knew this was going on with the other). I soon (few days) got a call from John at FedEx on one of them. "We found your box. It is at 'RESEARCH' (from what I gather, an independent org they send unknown boxes to for...research). The label came off." John and I go thru the info (tracking, 'loose' contents description, etc), and he says he can get another label made and send it on its way, and do the same with the other box when they locate it! AWESOME. BUT THEN...I get a call from John the next day. "Sorry, I wasn't aware, they found ALCOHOL (dun, dun, dunnnnnn!!) inside." I let him know at this point, the same will happen with the other box. Terror sets in. But then, a twist..."So just send me your liquor license, or that of the recepient, and we will get it on its way!" I say, "I don't have one. I will check with the recepients if they have them." (Wink wink...stalling for time. And the wheels turn onward...) "But John, if they don't have one, could I get one from a place near them and have it diverted there?" John says, "Yeah. We could do that." After I came to...I take some Advil for my permagrin and get to work texting my guys to make this happen. I am thinking, I know there are different licenses (distributor, on-site consumption, etc)...do we need a certain one? Story shortened...one guy funnels it through a buddy at a liquor store. The other thru a buddy THAT WORKS AT A PIZZA JOINT that serves beer. They both TEXT me a freaking copy of the liquor licenses on the wall. I print and fax these to the # at the "research" place John gave me. Soon, I get a call from a gal at the research place telling me the license fax pages were too dark. I flirt hard for good measure, and end up emailing the copies. End of the story, both packages make it to destination safe, sound, and with every beer originally packed. As a follow up, I have sent 9 boxes since with no issue, although to other, different recepients. In addition, I have a GREAT relationship with the gal at the research place for any future mishaps. LESSONS: 1. MAKE SURE YOUR LABEL IS ATTACHED WELL. I have always used those pouches, but tried to be strategic so there was more chance the box could be used again. Now, I tape even the pouches with wild abandon. 2. They KNEW it was alcohol, they spoke to me, and it still got through - no big deal. Quit worrying so much. (Although, no guarantee your outcome will go as well, of course. I also believe this can regularly be a case of your local folks, and your LUCK at the distribution centers, as I know of many not so happy outcomes in similar circumstances.) 3. This is a FedEx story, but I am not trying to say such a positive outcome is only possible thru them. The key is tenacity, diplomacy, and cool thinking in the face of shipping issues. 4. Notice, there is no mention here of a broken bottle. Listen to Alewatcher/CaveDave/All Solid Veterans and ALWAYS PACK WELL, my friends. These were partly styro, partly lay-down cardboard shippers, but ALL well packed. 5. Finally, through this process, I learned about the "Adult Signature Required" option when you create a label online through FedEx. I think this will absolutely circumvent the concern around shipping beer (BM me for my detailed opinion on this), with only the small inconvenience that the recipients of all my future shipments from here forward will have to make a trip to the closest depot if they won't be home when it arrives. I may lose out on some trades when I let them know up front, but for me, it will be worth avoiding the hassel on both ends. I hope all my stress turned into a valuable experience for YOU, and you can learn from this and never experience it for yourself. CHEERS!!
Sorry dude, I am going to piss on your parade. Not all FEDEX employees are as helpful, there is a douchebag at FEDEX Ground in Burlington, Vermont that has made it his personal goal to stop all unauthorized alcohol shipments in or out of his shipping location. Once it has been determined that you ship or receive alcohol your packages will be closely inspected. I stopped using FEDEX because of it. It sounds like John is like most of the great FEDEX employees, but just be aware: It's all fun and games until they start hosing your packages.
Why do I have to keep telling people to read more carefully? I guess it was long, so maybe folks don't read as careful for the WHOLE thing. My bottom line purpose...for all of these missing/broken boxes threads, all hope is not ALWAYS lost. Don't give up right away, especially not because you are worried about shipping alcohol being the end of the story. It is not. But yes, if you encounter a DICK, you may be screwed, of course.
The only longer post I've read recently was that instagram bad trader post that I couldn't stop looking at. That was brutal to read on a phone.
I did read the entire post and I actually did do the "Adult Signature Required" and the guy actually openned on of those and returned it. My point is, there is NO foolproof system.
I've got one of those here in Walla Walla / Milton-Freewater area. He opens anything that comes or goes in my name now. If I'm around when he delivers to work he'll shake the boxes and make a crack about it not sounding like beer... So far everything I've had sent Fedex in a buddy's name has made it safely here, but I went straight UPS for my shipments out. Glad it worked out for you though!
Aaron's a hell of dude....I have no doubt he would have made things right, if they wouldnt have worked out........ Glad it all worked out for all involved.......and BTW.. Good story..
Sounds like there is a story there of similar epic efforts for lost box recovery or replacement. Do tell!!
No, Brett would never put a box in jeopardy of being lost or confiscated. He's the type of chap who would hand deliver a box across the country to insure its safety. He also has the audacity to give extras like barrel aged speedway and fresh hoppy apline treats. I miss him. He got caught in the crossfire of people swapping reuben recipes and has been excommunicated from this site.
Well, brother, good on him. I have proven to have great audacity as well, as experienced by many of our fellow BA's, with no end in sight. I am just going to assume you are giving him props, and not here to try and ignorantly rag on me for obvious words of exhaggeration (Best Trustee Ever...HOW COULD I EVEN SERIOUSLY CLAIM THAT?). I was just sharing an uplifting story to encourage folks running into issues, or worried about them. All that said, I hope we get to share a beer someday and get to know each other. I imagine we'd get along smashingly!
Aaron is an awesome trustee to rescue my box when I thought all hope was lost I can't say enough great things about Aaron he's a man that definitely goes out of his way to ship beers to us. There's a lot of things he doesn't have to do but this guy goes out of his way to keep us up with the latest releases as well I can't say enough great things about Aaron..... But high fives and THANKS for all your troubles If it wasn't for you I wouldn't get many Crooked Stave but every great once in awhile.
