Anyone have this problem while trading

Considering this website is pretty easy to get to; I'm gonna guess that yes, they do. 'Comfortable' or not, you really need to complete the trades that you've already received your end ASAP. If you're concerned that your fedex/ups accounts are being watched, use a friend's account and ask for the favor of dropping the boxes off for you too; if they're a BA they will totally understand, and even if not it's not that huge a favor to ask.

 

I'm too cheap to put pennies in, lol. I use my old bottle caps.

 

I've shipped USPS flat rate a few times across the country as well as receiving a couple on my end. One that was sent to me actually contained a broken bottle, leaking and smelling of beer, the mail carrier apologized for the breakage and made sure we knew it was broken at the center and not in his care. They even wrapped it all up with plastic wrap before they delivered it. Other than that I've been using UPS.

 

Box within a box is the way to go! If you lose a soldier and they yell at you tellem you are running an olive oil business. Ups was ready to revoke my privileges when they suspected beer. Refunded everything and some. Box within a box and peanuts rock. My new hobby besides beer is collecting packing supplies from work scraps that come in. I now know what one of those guys pushing carts around collecting aluminum cans feels like!

 

I agree with that and I cannot stress this enough. I have shipped more with UPS than I have FedEx lately, because I have heard FedEx is randomly x-raying packages. UPS has been just as successful as FedEx. Yes, I always double box; outer box filled with packing peanuts to surround the inner box. My inner box, that contains the beer, is lined with a contractors grade garbage bag. Bottles always in a zip lock bag. Bottle is always wrapped in newspaper before it goes in the baggie. If a bottle breaks, I don't want a leak to alert UPS/FedEx that it's beer. I like the redundancy. I have dropped a box from six feet onto a concrete floor. I have sent that same box down a flight of 22 steps. I then sent that box out. The beer arrived safely, contents intact. Double boxing also helps to deaden the sloshing and eliminate the need for a noise maker. (I feel like they actually bring attention to the box.) In my mind it is equally about getting your trading partner his beer and not getting caught.

 

This sorta explained it. The FedEx box was a victim of random scanning. I think it's a fluke that the local shipping company "made" you on the UPS boxes after you dropped it off and proactively prevent the boxes going at all. They may be holding the packages for procedural reasons. I'd continue shipping via both, but drop it off at a different location/authorized shipper.

It's a little late and I'm too lazy to look up the documentation/policies, but both of them do random scanning, based on what I've read directly from their websites. I wouldn't be concerned about this either way.

 

Not to take anything away from your method, which I've done a couple of times in the past, but I've found a happy medium between that and being sloppy. My packing goes very quickly now and I'm pretty confident as to its effectiveness against breakages: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/tips-for-newbie-on-trading.177530/#post-2413609

 

I'd try 1 more box, but schedule for pickup this time. Anytime you show up at a physical location, you're likely noticed. There isn't a flagging system, as far as I know and that it would be nearly impossible/too costly to build such a system that can be very problematic (false positives, name/address changes, similar name, etc). If you get another box returned, then yeah, you may want to either reconsider trading or take a chance with USPS.

 

I think the worst that will happen is you get another letter and potentially get your account suspended. I highly doubt you'll be prosecuted. As mentioned earlier, have them pick up the box or try a different drop off location than the ones you've used thus far.

 

Where are you in Washington? I'm in the middle of nowhere PA and I've got 7 places within 20 miles I can drop off including multiple Office Max and Staples that many people don't realize allow you to drop off packages and leave. No questions.

 

Time to find yourself a lawyer.

 

This is why I was suggestiong use someone else. Yes, technically you're putting someone else at risk, but unless that person is also on their watch list as you seem to be, the risk is as minimal as it is for any other John Doe.

 

I've never scheduled a pickup, but I print labels at home at drop off at busy Fedex stores. No one has ever expressed the slightest interest in what's in my boxes. "Just dropping off?" "Yup" "Need a receipt" "Nope" "Okay, have a nice day". I'm rarely even inside the store for more than 10 or 15 seconds.

 

Are you shipping via your work's account? If so the first thing I would do is stop that and set up your own account.