Shipping Beer

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by deford, Nov 12, 2015.

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  1. deford

    deford Pooh-Bah (1,559) Nov 11, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah I know...your not supposed to. This is just a little heads up for anyone who trades and uses USPS, Fedex or UPS.
    Last week my daughter packed up a wonderful box full of Darkness....yes, she's the best! She camped out overnight with her big brother (in the rain) and they had the best time ever at Surly (by the way, thanks to those cool folks in line who hooked them up with dinner). Anyway, before you go all mulecrazy on me...they went on their own...I didn't send 'em.
    So, back to my story....she packed up a nice lil box full of Darkness and T-shirts and other cool stuff from Surly. After she packed it she actually rolled it around on the floor to listen for clanking or any other bad noises....when she was satisfied it was safe...she shipped it off via USPS.
    Well I bet you guessed the rest of this story...yep...I got a box with a section of her original box taped to the top of it. It had a sticker saying "Damaged in handling, Please accept our apologies. Rewrapped and repaired at VINDC Memphis, TN."
    ...and yes you guessed it....the beers were nowhere to be found. I got the t-shirts and paper goods which incidentally don't smell of beer and are not wet or stained at all...and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.
    The hardest part of this for me is my daughters excitement for me to receive the beers....I couldn't even tell her they were stolen.....so, just a heads up...be careful.
     
    #1 deford, Nov 12, 2015
  2. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    That sucks! But that's USPS for you.
     
    #2 BMBCLT, Nov 12, 2015
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  3. turfy

    turfy Pooh-Bah (1,872) Mar 17, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    NEVER go USPS!!! Fedex, with UPS a distant second.
     
    #3 turfy, Nov 12, 2015
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  4. Raime

    Raime Pooh-Bah (1,935) Jun 4, 2012 North Korea
    Pooh-Bah

    Employee theft? Demand they look into it.
     
    #4 Raime, Nov 12, 2015
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  5. PJ_

    PJ_ Zealot (662) Nov 13, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    USPS use their boxes to play rugby in their warehouses. I ship a lot with the USPS flat rate boxes (not beer though) and they always arrive in really really bad shape.
     
    #5 PJ_, Nov 12, 2015
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  6. turfy

    turfy Pooh-Bah (1,872) Mar 17, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    USPS? NEVER!!!!!
     
    #6 turfy, Nov 12, 2015
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  7. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    Hey USPS! Somebody illegally stole my illegal shipment.
     
    #7 fredmugs, Nov 12, 2015
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  8. anonymoose

    anonymoose Initiate (0) Sep 29, 2015 North Carolina

    Fedex has never let me down. Though the most recent shipment they demanded to double package my "barbecue sauce" which costed me a little extra
     
    #8 anonymoose, Nov 12, 2015
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  9. Raime

    Raime Pooh-Bah (1,935) Jun 4, 2012 North Korea
    Pooh-Bah

    So shipping beer is illegal eh? Never knew. Thanks. Even less reason to attempt a trade :wink:
     
    #9 Raime, Nov 12, 2015
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  10. turfy

    turfy Pooh-Bah (1,872) Mar 17, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Did I mention to NEVER SHIP USPS !!!!!!
     
    #10 turfy, Nov 12, 2015
  11. prost2hefeweizen

    prost2hefeweizen Initiate (0) Aug 6, 2015 Oklahoma

    so fedex huh? I have a friend living in Minnesota and ive been wanting him to send me some local beers he has been drinking. now I know how. cheers
     
    #11 prost2hefeweizen, Nov 12, 2015
  12. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    UPS is fine too, but never USPS.
     
    #12 BMBCLT, Nov 12, 2015
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  13. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (5,025) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Beer trading 101: Never ship beer using USPS.

    Your daughter sounds awesome, btw.
     
    #13 Treyliff, Nov 12, 2015
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  14. Dogtirednj

    Dogtirednj Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2014 Pennsylvania

    It isn't "theft". And it doesn't matter which carrier you use. I work for one of them. Shipping alcohol is against the law. By "policy", when discovered the contents are to be "destroyed". Sometimes, a kind-hearted soul will repack a damaged package and send it on. Very often, we do so w/o the including the alcohol. It's the chance you take. I can't stress enough the importance of packaging. Hate to admit it, but rolling it isn't a good stress test. Package handlers throw boxes. They shouldn't, but they do. Can the package survive a 5 foot drop? That's what you need to be considering when shipping with us. If a bottle breaks and leaks, the package will be opened as a safety issue. Sorry about your loss, but I can't say I'm surprised.
     
    #14 Dogtirednj, Nov 12, 2015
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  15. PJ_

    PJ_ Zealot (662) Nov 13, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    There is a difference between breaking federal law and breaking private company policies.
     
    #15 PJ_, Nov 12, 2015
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  16. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    FedEx only for me. Even found a favorite one Early AM guy never asks questions. Just cash or credit. Never tried USPS because or horror stories and personal poor experiences with everyday mail. Even has written off UPS due to a couple damaged shipments.
     
    #16 MVP09, Nov 12, 2015
  17. Dogtirednj

    Dogtirednj Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2014 Pennsylvania

    Not federal law, but most state laws.
     
    #17 Dogtirednj, Nov 12, 2015
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  18. Raime

    Raime Pooh-Bah (1,935) Jun 4, 2012 North Korea
    Pooh-Bah

    Heh you don't say. Thanks for the input
     
    #18 Raime, Nov 12, 2015
  19. Brolo75

    Brolo75 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,134) Aug 10, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah

    UPS, never had a problem with them.
     
    #19 Brolo75, Nov 12, 2015
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  20. gratefulbeerhead

    gratefulbeerhead Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2009 Indiana

    I have been shipping pottery and other items that relate to this site for over 20 years using UPS, and I have never had a problem. The most important thing to remember is not to rely on the system. Pack it well so that nothing short of a natural disaster will break what's inside the box. I take full responsibility for the packing job, and if I can drop my box off the roof and kick it around with nothing breaking inside, then I packed it well. Using "Fragile" or "handle with care" stickers are like putting a bullzeye on your box. Poorly packed boxes do get through and I have received many, but for me, it's not worth the risk. USPS is not the best choice, but if you are shipping internationally, there really isn't another affordable option.
     
    #20 gratefulbeerhead, Nov 12, 2015
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