FedEx costs

Sounds pricey... but probably because you just shipped one beer.

I can get 12- 750ml bottles UPS from Southern California to Atlanta for $35 bucks, and it's around 25 pounds.

 

Having an account makes it ~10% cheaper, and shipping to a business address makes it less too, but that said your price is pretty steep.

I have an account, but when I last sent a small package (2 16oz cans) as a surprise for an old trade partner it came to $10 or $11, which is only $5 or $6 less than sending a decent box with 7-10 beers.

Their pricing seems to have a floor to it - it isn't worth them taking a package for less than about $10, so you may as well send a bigger box next time if you are going to ship something!

 

Keep in mind, weight means less, than dimensional weight for pricing.

 

It definitely does...especially after they made changes to their pricing scheme. From the Fedex website:

Effective Jan. 5, 2015, FedEx Ground will apply dimensional weight pricing to all shipments. Previously, FedEx Ground applied dimensional weight pricing only to packages measuring three cubic feet or greater.

 

FYI, I just shipped a large shipment from Ohio to Alabama, it was 36 lbs and was two beer cases taped together. It cost me 30 dollars and only had one can casualty.

 

I'm guessing it's because of the distance but for me to ship a smaller (16x16x12), 20 pound box via FedEx from CA to VA, it costs $25.

 

Still not too bad. Unfortunately shipping things is expensive. That's why I haven't gone full bore on trading so far, is the shipping costs.

 

It isn't terrible. But yeah, also the reason I'm not huge into trading. Shipping really adds up.

 

It seems like no matter how much I send or how far it's going, they always charge me $17.

 

For anyone curious about Dimensional Weight, here's a reference:

http://shippingeasy.com/dimensional-weight-calculator/

Basically, UPS and FedEx calculate the price of your box based on what is larger between the actual weight and the dimensional weight. Dimensional weight is calcluated by multiplying the W, H and L of your box, then dividing by 166.

Unfortunately, that means that there's not really a way to "game" the system. You can't reduce your price unless you minimize the weight AND size of your box.

OP--do you happen to remember the dimensions of your box?

 

Well the best way to 'game' the system is don't use a huge box for a couple of beers. I guess knowing the weight of the beers you are sending you can measure the box and see if you are in dimensional weight territory. If you are, you can add more beers to the box without paying more in shipping costs. Just be aware of how they charge you.

 

Yeah, I think it's really about awareness. I'm not sure how often people are going to be using a huge box to send a couple of beers, but I think more often than not, when shipping beer (which is heavy because liquid and glass) you're going to want to use a box that is bigger than needed given the number of beers you are shipping.

Case in point--I sent out a box this morning that contained something like this:



The box was the exact dimension needed to fit the molding. It had 12 spots for bottles, so I included extras to fill the box. Turns out, the weight of those 12 beers was ~14 lbs, but the dimensional weight for this sized box was only 9. So, a box that easily/reasonably fits 12 cans/bottles has a dimensional weight that is only 2/3rds the actual weight. I have a feeling this is probably a common dilemma--your actual weight will likely often outpace the size of the box needed to hold the beers.

I could have payed less by removing 3 of the bottles, but then there are no extras, so what's the fun in that?

 

I think it's better that your shipping price is dictated by the weight of beers sent than size of box used. Unless you are shipping a small amount of fragile beer or something super rare.

 

I've got something similar to this, but styrofoam that I plan on using next time I ship.

 

Costs too much. I can't justify to the wife paying 50+ to ship out 4-5 beers to the states. Using usps flat rate boxes are the way to go if you're shipping to and from AK

 

I just sent 8.8 pounds through fedex and it was $14

 

Just shipped 12.5 lbs in a rather large box and it was $18

 

It also may depend on the recipients location. When certain people ship to me using FedEx they have a $10 or so "fuel surcharge" added because FedEx says I live in a rural location. My house is about 50 yards from a main route, and about 2 miles from I91, so not sure how they make that distinction. UPS does not add this surcharge.