FedEx (almost) problem

I've never put rice, tic tacs, etc in my trade boxes for that very reason. If I can't pack my bottles vertically, I just write "Olive Oil" on the top corner of the box. I figure if someone is handling the box and feels/hears a sloshing noise, they would look a little closer and see "olive oil" and put 2 and 2 together.

EDIT: You could also use marinade, BBQ sauce, yeast samples, or any other non-alcoholic liquid.

 

Also, rice, Tic Tags, etc can be a pain in the ass for whoever opens the box. Got a box not too long ago in trade that had lots of rice and pennies in it, and was still finding rice in the area I opened the box two days later.

 

I used to put a few pennies inside a spent water bottle. It creates some noise, but doesn't sound like anything breaking. Other people suggested macaronis inside water bottle. I stopped doing it though because the one time my package got returned it was intact. Apparently they scanned the box at one of the facilities, saw the growlers, and opened it up. There was no sloshing whatsoever in that box.

I'm curious why they would open the box at the destination facility if they thought something was broken. If it's leaked, that's one thing, but "sounds like something was broken" doesn't seem like a legitimate reason to open a box up.

 

I got that same call yesterday, only the FedEx guy I talked to wasn't as nice! He didn't say why they opened the box, just that they found beer in it and were required to send it back to the shipper. Looking at the tracking, it says they repacked it and it's on its way back to Oklahoma. Now I have to wait for it to be shipped back using a different carrier.
Should I be concerned about other boxes that are being shipped to me or anything that I need to send out?

 

Draw as little suspicion to your box as possible. That includes any interior "noise makers", FRAGILE stickers on your box, etc. In fact, the latter seems to be a challenge for the shipping company to see how much of a beating they can truly give it.

 

My Fedex across the street had this nosey as hell early 50s woman who always asked me what's in the box. Months later and several packages later I get a call that they opened my box because they didn't think it was packaged well (it was in a 12 bottle styro shipper) and discovered alcohol. Duh Duh Duh

From there she proceeded to ream me that it's illegal to ship alcohol. Long story short, I cut her off (to end her whining) and told her I didn't know and either give me my box back or call the cops. At this stage I didn't break any laws, so from my understanding I figured I couldn't get in any trouble.

I have since stopped using that location and rotate between a Fedex in the harder parts of town or office pickups. Never an issue, doesn't seem like I've been flagged...

 

"It's personal lubricant for my special online friend."

Should put an immediate stop to those inquiries.

 

FedEx confiscated 12 slot shipper[all HF] from me yesterday. Shipped to NYC last week, on truck for delivery then got delivery exception--driver reported package damaged, recipient calls to request redelivery or he'd pick up, they told him he could pick up but then called back saying package was already scanned for return to sender, makes it back up to Maine ystr morning, get second delivery exception-damaged package, call local office playing dumb ask if I can pick-up, power-tripping local manager refuses to release box to me, informs me I should call upper management if I wish to pursue, get nice guy on phone who contacts local facility manager requesting she cut me some slack, she calls me back tells me her decision is final-finders keepers, I retire from trading w/ shipping--not worth risk/reward anymore, the end.

Careful young grasshoppers, ain't all fun&games.

 

I don't want to jinx myself, but probably have sent out 75 boxes with no noise maskers and never had a problem with box not making it to its destination.

 

If they weren't certain at first, they definitely knew you were guilty when you replied with "whatever do you mean".

 

I've never used rice....lol.....and I NEVER put any fragile stickers....gives an employee a great reason to take out his/her problems on ur trade box by punting it around the warehouse/truck.

Glad ur box was ok.

Cheers

 

Rosie: "You are not allowed to ship alcohol, sir..."
Me: "Rosie, but I'm not shipping alcohol, I'm receiving it".
Rosie: "Oh yeah."

But seriously, glad to hear you got the package fine in the end. I always try to pack vertically to avoid the need to mask any sloshing.

 

I am brand new to trading. I have only shipped 2 boxes and they have both arrived unscathed. But these are the things that tend to worry me about getting to deep into this. I have been wondering what to put on the box. On one of them I labeled it "Glassware." On the other I labeled it "Collectible Bottles." What do most people write on the labels?

 

If you've not done so already, create a Fedex account and print your own labels at home. There is no need to label your box as glassware or anything. I never have and haven't come across an issue <knock on wood>. Pack your box well, print label, drop off box. Easy.

Great resource if you've not seen already.
http://alewatcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-trader-tips.html

 

Homemade salsa. Works like a charm.

 

I've shipped some packages in industrial glue boxes. Some asshole might steal olive oil but who's going to steal glue?

 

Why do people even put rice, pennies, whatever in boxes to mask noise? It doesn't even make a difference because you can still hear light sloshing walking with a box but it's not enough movement to have the rice make any noise.

And either way - I wouldn't attempt to make my box sound less suspicious by making it sound more suspicious.

 

I'm thinking of putting a tambourine, a cowbell, and a pair of maracas in the next box I ship.