FedEx Shipping Problems - Big Concern!

According to the radio story it has though. Individuals spooked by the possibility of liability. Probably blow over quickly either way.

 

Have always used fedex to ship. Don’t ship as much as anyone here, usually a box or 2 to my brother and 1-2 to my buddy in Colorado a year. Last 1-2 years though whether label was pre-paid or not was always getting questions about what is in the box, whether I was shipping beer or not. Wedding gift/b-day present/Christmas was always the answer. Last time my wife dropped off a shipper some guy ran in front of her and got the 3rd degree from the man behind the counter and wouldn’t let up. Guy came from the back and took the box and asked if she needed a receipt and she said no and left. Since then have just used home pick up, no issues.

 

I have always shipped via UPS and have never had a problem. I preprint labels and usually drop the box off at my company's shipping room. If I drop it off at a store and am asked the contents, I tell them the truth, "glassware".

 

I've used fedex with only a couple minor issues. I always try to be very careful.

ALWAYS PRE-PRINT YOUR LABELS. The primary time for someone to hear liquid is in the fedex office with the person handling the package to apply a label. I feel this is the MOST important piece.

Try to ship the bottles/cans upright. less chance for the liquid to make sound. I don't use noise makers, but that's personal preference.

I personally avoid 12 bottle shippers (very obvious too much risk), and 1 bottle shippers (very obvious). I also try to avoid new boxes. If I have new boxes, I'll dirty them, add pen marks in different locations to make it not look like a styro shipper.

Chat with your fedex person. be friendly!

Prepare a story if you're asked contents! Local olive oil and Balsamic. Fresh local Salsa. Since I live close to Napa Valley, I sometimes specifically say, "it's not wine!". But as others have said, you'll just run into a rogue employee who is on a mission. You'll have to avoid them.

 

I never had a problem, but I print my own labels use drop boxes so I never go into the store directly and the most important part is I put BBQ sauce labels all over my boxes.

 

I was running late and had UPS Store put the label on bc I was out of label envelopes. Big Mistake!!! He asked what I was shipping.

I said "olive oil".

He responded "you know what people are usually shipping if they say olive oil? alcohol. craft beer".

I replied "seriously? My wife runs an olive oil business. its not alcohol haha".

I sweated it out big time but I think the only thing that saved me was that I dropped it off right at pick up time and he didnt have time to be the hero.

1) Don't go with "olive oil". Its run its course.
2) Drop off right at pick up time (downside....once I forgot to go on time even though I could have dropped off earlier....its easy to forget to hit that window of time if you get tied up)

 

I've run into the same problem with fedex. I never go into a store to ship. I would always print the label and drop it off at Office Depot and I don't get any push back from an employee. That being said i've had several in route get confiscated and even received a nasty letter from Fed Ex with a warning. Not sure if i'm flagged in their database or not. At the same time I received that letter there was a box I had just sent using them that made it safely.

My advice until things calm down...Ship small using USPS, limit human interaction if you have to use other shippers.

 

I don't know how it is everywhere but around here CVS, walgreens, and staples ship for multiple carriers. You can drop it off there (usually with an over it ass teenager or some hearing impaired elderly person) and they will put it in a big pile of boxes for when the carrier's driver comes to pick everything up. No questions ever and by the time someone who actually works in shipping sees it it's just another box in a big pile of boxes that they have to load quickly and move on

 

I've heard of this but since FedEx is so close I just go there. They've not taken to asking questions as many have lately but if they did....CVS drop off is my next move

 

Reading through the thread and people nervously saying “olive oil” at the counter makes me wonder what the dark web forum looks like for shipping meth and opioids.

I use FedEx and preprint. Drop off with no questions. Had one bottle break with Fedex. They opened the damaged box, removed the ziploc with the BA peanut butter stout that puked, and sent the rest of the beers back to me as the shipper. Was pleasantly surprised. No other FedEx issues experienced.

I shipped a box home via USPS while on vacation last month. Asked if there were liquids, blurted Olive Oil, then got into a debate with counter person on whether olive oil was an allowed substance to ship.

Bottom line I gather from this thread, ship with whomever you trust and doesn’t make you feel like a criminal.

 

My reminder was more for the fact that you can use these kinds of services for any of the three major shippers and the benefits remain the same. You don't interact with people who work in shipping all day and might have a bug up their butt for corporate rules. You aren't interacting with people who would even receive the corporate memo that says 'watch out for beer shippers pretending they are sending olive oil!'.

 

The Key with Fed-Ex is to open an account and print you own labels. Fed -Ex kinko's has a drop off area and it is swept every day for pickup. They also just signed an agreement with Dollar stores and Wal-Mart for shipping and for deliveries.

 

Walmart? Reeeaaalllyyy

 

So to beat a dead horse 1) print your own labels regardless where send and 2) if you can hear liquid sloshing around you did a poor job packing.
Yeah, you really shouldn't say olive oil as USPS/FedEx/UPS can and sometimes will call you on it as being a flammable liquid and therefor unfit to be shipped. Thankfully, I only ship homemade Carolina Reaper hot sauce and jellies. Been doing that for a decade now, course doesn't help that I became such a regular at my USPS and FedEx that I gave workers there actual Carolina Reaper plants. No one asks questions.

 

Also, I can't stand noise makers in boxes. Pennies in plastic 4 pack rings, tic tac contains, boxes of mac and cheese...terrible. It makes it sound like something could be broken and makes your box stick out. I've been told point blank by FedEx employees that when they get a box like that they default open it up to inspect under the guise that something might be broken.

 

I always love the folks that say they have an olive oil company in ohio. I get it if you live in central california but who the hell believes anyone has a home olive oil company in ohio or pennsylvania or georgia? go with some liquid that might actually be produced in your region, hot sauce, vineagar, marinades, anything.

 

Exactly. Common sense.

 

I had a buddy say lube and sex toys. He said the look on the workers face was priceless

 

I’d rather have a pack of tictacs right near the top of the box then the sound of liquid sloshing. I suppose this all depends on your FedEx or post office in general. Ours in Montana are slow and quiet. It’s small sound, and with a well packed, tight box with no movement, doesn’t come across to me that something is broken.

A unique story is a must. I like your’s with the hot sauce. When my father passed away 10 years ago I inherited a house full of antiques and collectibles. Now I sell them online.