Shipping Tips (pass on the knowledge)

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/creative-new-ways-to-safely-pack-a-box.22227/#post-273690

Lots of tips on packing materials. Make sure everything is tight and nothing moves around inside the box.

 

I try to use boxes that have separations. Like wine boxes or bomber boxes.

 

Use wine shippers. Best way to get that great combination of safe shipping and quick packing.

 

Maximize your space. Use the right size box for the job. Bubble wrap the bottles and use packing peanuts. Bada bing, bada boom.

 

Don't try and trade beer you don't have in hand. (low hanging fruit)

 

More of a general trading tip not shipping but be generous. It'll pay itself back 10 fold with great trading partner relationships.

 

If you don't have a wine shipper on hand and are using a regular ole box, here are a few random tips and opinions that I have formed about packing:

-I hate packing peanuts, they are messy and annoying. If you send me a box with peanuts then you must hate me too.

- pack the box tight, but not too tight, it takes some learning, but I've received a box or two that had too many beers crammed into it and it suffered breakage. It is hard to define, but apply some common sense when deciding when it is just right or too tight.

- Less tape on bubble wrap. I try to reuse bubble wrap, and am kinda annoyed when the guy or gal uses a roll of tape to encase the bubble wrap, thus forcing me to shred it to get at the beer. Simply roll the bottle in a layer or two, and secure the flap with a single piece of tape. That is all that is needed of you pack the box correctly so it doesn't slide around. Remember- common sense. Does it show me that the shipper was taking care to ensure no breakage? No it shows me that they are slightly irrational and over compensating with tape.

- I always put a layer of cut foam, wadded newspaper or bubble wrap down in the bottom of the box first, then pack bottles standing up. The bubble wrap around the individual bottles will be held secure by the other bottles. I also try to put another sheet of bubble wrap or paper between the wall of the box and the bottles nearest, and then another layer on top before closing the box. Stuff enough in to be snug, and again use common sense. If someone has trouble with this, then go find a capable adult to help you (this isn't directed at the OP, but rather the readership we know it applies to.)

I've done this, and ive never had a broken bottle. It is really simple and based upon using common sense. Ask yourself: "what method would prevent glass from breaking, without going overboard?"

 

Set up a trade with me and I'll send you a box first that is packed so well it'll blow your mind. Not to mention that you will end up with enough leftover, reusable packing material for at least two other trades.

 

If you have the choice of selecting shipping methods make sure to choose still deliver to recipiant if damaged. I had two boxes get damaged by Fedex within 24 hours. When I went to the Fed Ex office to pick them up one of the traders selected to return to sender if damaged. His box was sent back and he had to resend everything even though only one beer was broken. The other box I was able to pick up minus the one damaged bottle. So that trader was able to just send me a replacement box which was a lot easier and faster.

 

Don't use tape on your bubble wrap if shipping to this guy.

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/quality-noob-trader.19206/

 

Pack well.

 

Pack in really tight and use enough padding that you could drop it off your roof and it'd be fine. I always dry to think of it this way--if something breaks because I was lazy and didn't spend 10 extra minutes packing it well, I'd feel like crap.

 

I make good use of old plastic grocery shopping bags to pack around bottles once they are wrapped up. Free thing you get when you buy groceries and can be reused and I find it very good for filling space, while not making it so stiff as to potentially break bottles

 

I use rubber bands instead of tape on all of my bubble wrap. I have never had any complaints.

If you use a styro shipper, pack the bottles snuggly with wads of newspaper. I have had FEDEX open and reject boxes where the bottle was "squeaking" against the styrofoam( hence they found the forbidden beverage).

 

you can tape cans in bricks for maximum storage/space use. Three in a row, in a plastic bag, taped. Stack as many as you want and just do one layer of bubble wrap around the perimeter of the stack. They should look like kilos if you wrap them right.

 

Yeah, I learned how to pack boxes from my days in the cartel...

 

Last trade box I received had an ingenious way to resolve the (incredibly annoying) situation of taping bubble wrapped bottles...he wrapped bottles in bubble wrap and then wrapped that in saran wrap. Each bottle was a neat little package and I was able to easily open them by unwrapping the saran wrap and bubble wrap. Tape is annoying, use rubber bands...or, now, I know to use saran wrap.

Shippers are great...but 90% of my trades have 4-packs of cans going out. I end up with tons of shippers and not enough outgoing bottle-only trades to use them.

 

I had a 12 bottle shipper sent to me. I just cut the single bottle styro sections apart and use packing film (saran wrap but more expensive and on a roller) to wrap. pack in box and there you go.

 

Either use a trash bag to contain your whole shipment inside the box or individually put each bottle into a gallon zip lock bag. Most of the boxes that are caught in transit, flagged and sent back to the shipper or "confiscated" are ones that have a bottle break or leak which can be avoided with the correct leak resistant packaging.