Shipping Tips (pass on the knowledge)

Thanks

 

This is actual UPS delivery footage. Pretend this is your box and pack accordingly.

 

Don't listen to the BA'ers who start nitpicking about how your pack your box. It's annoying to hear complaints about securing bubble wrap with tape or peanuts are too messy.. blah blah blah. For me, all I care about is if the box and it's contents get to me safe and sound. I've received many a trade where each bottle is wrapped and taped or peanuts are flying out everywhere. Not once did I think it was a hassle to unwrap or griped about cleaning up peanuts. The BA'er who packed that box took time and effort to make sure my package got here in one piece. That should be applauded.
I use bubble wrap, peanuts or packing air bags to pack my boxes. (or a combination) I individually wrap each bottle with bubble wrap or a large padded envelope. Once the bottles are wrapped, I will layer and evenly distributing them within the box. Then line the sides and the top with packaging material.
Just use common sense when packing. If you "think" the package will make it, go back and pack it a little more. Cheers!

 

I like peanuts. Open the box and it becomes a scavenger hunt. Think of it as playing in the ball pit a Chuck E Cheese's, except you're hoping not to find a stray hypodermic needle.
As for noise makers, I pack the box up and before I tape it shut, I shake it and see if there's any discernible sloshing noise coming out of it. If there is, I add something to mask it. Out of the 5 boxes I've sent out though, I have yet to have to add anything.

 

I found an empty prescription bottle (no label) in a box once. And yes, it was buried amongst peanuts.

 

It was empty. Maybe he had a few too many while packing up the box.

 

You know those little plastic, two-piece and semi-round things that hold trinkets from quarter machines at grocery stores that your kids always want? Buy your kid a trinket and keep the plastic egg, into which you can put a few whole peppercorns or popcorn kernals to create noise makers. Plus my kid loves me for it!

 

I did not know it is was a crime, just sent two packages in the last week through USPS.

Has any BA on here been in trouble with the law for shipping beer? I've heard stories about bottles breaking and the shipper opening, cleaning, repackaging, and continued to deliver the package now knowing there was beer in it.

 

I started using noise makers but then stopped, reason was that you can ship tons of different liquids via UPS/FEDEX, so sloshing isn't some crazy noise that makes them automatically think beer, BUT if you put noise makers they could open the box because it sounds like something in the box is broken...then they find your stash with coffee beans rolling around.

 

I read a post from someone saying USPS opened their package, made them come get it and informed them it was against the law. I shipped my package before double checking legality and read afterwards. No big deal though, I DOUBT you would get in any kind of real trouble, maybe a talking to.

Something to think about: Pot growers in California send hundreds of pounds of weed in the mail every day to drug dealers all over the country. Beer isn't too high of a priority. that said, it doesn't hurt to send ups or fedex where the WORST case scenario is a missing package of beer