Beer shipping tips

I too am having the same issue. I created two labels on Saturday and dropped both boxes off to wal-greens about 2 hours ago on my lunch, they are still reading invalid tracking numbers and my account also has not been billed. However I do have an email stating that both packages were scanned at the dropoff location waiting to be picked up. I guess I'll just have to give it 24 hours to see if something shows up.

 

In my experience dropping off at a second party shipping agency (e.g. Walgreens for FedEx) the tracking info does not show up until the FedEx driver scans them when picked up.

 

To add to what @jhavs said, I'm not sure about UPS, because i fucking hate them, but FedEx bills you once a month. At least, that's how it's always happened for me. I've never been charged when my package is scanned or picked up.

 

I get billed for each box, usually a couple of days after they are delivered.

 

Is that with UPS or FedEx?

 

So to update on this, it is now showing up as picked up at 1:41, so all appears good! I'd say your information was correct.

 

My fedex account.

 

Wierd. I wonder why you get charged instantly while mine is once a month. It's been that way regardless of whether I have shipped 1 box or 7 boxes that month. It's not the end of the month, but it is certainly a 30day rolling cycle. It's a monthly invoice, effectively, and paid out at that time from my form of payment.

 

I also get charged around a week after shipping with Fedex

 

I completely agree with the styro shipper. I take it to the next level and put the shipper in another box. The double box method is my preference. And if I’m sending a irreplaceable bottle I only send that bottle in a solo shipper in another box.

 

In probably 30 times mailing beer the only time a box of mine didn't go out the day it was supposed to was when I dropped my Fed Ex box at Walgreeens. Never again.

Yep, me too now that I look.

At this point I'm almost exclusively using Fed Ex unless my fellow trader requests UPS. For me, Fed Ex is almost always a few bucks cheaper, delivers a day quicker than UPS (Residential Vs Ground), and delivers on Saturday w/ seemingly no extra charge.

 

I said this before, but I hate UPS so I mean bandwagoning. UPS is mininum 1 day quicker, no matter how close I am shipping. It is - at best for the far reach shipments, sometimes 4 days quicker. It is beyond me why UPS is so god damn slow. I can't even fathom that it is cheaper for them - but it must be, somehow.

 

When people ask for advice on what to use for shipping, I think the best advice we can offer is:

- Try each carrier in your neighborhood at least once (UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc...)
- Compare rates for each
- Pay attention to how long it takes to deliver for each
- See how well it tracks for each

I really think it depends on where you live. I have no doubt FedEx is the way to go in most parts of the country. For some reason they just aren't consistent from one region to the next. Same can probably be said about UPS and USPS.

When choosing FedEx, I really think it helps if you have an actual FedEx location to drop the package off at, rather than using a 3rd party like I have to do (Walgreens). It seems to me that having to drop it off at Walgreens usually adds a day or 2 onto the delivery...just because FedEx has to go out of their way to pickup the package. And for some reason it messes with the tracking, it'll be days before I get an update that the package left the Walgreens.

Based in my neighborhood, I really think UPS is the way to go for me. Everything has gone a lot smoother. Using FedEx through Walgreens has been nothing but headaches. It sounds like people have had the same complaints about UPS, and that FedEx is the way to go based on where they live. Which is fine, your area clearly handles things a little differently.

So if you're looking for which is the best, just try them all and find out for yourself. That's the only way to know for sure.

 

Great take. For the past 2 years, I’ve used Fed Ex exclusively. From an overall perspective, I think Fed Ex is better. It’s faster, it’s cheaper, and I think they give more tracking detail. However, the employees at my local Fed Ex, are intense. They shake the box, they ask about the contents and I always leave, feeling a little uneasy.

Now the local UPS is a cakewalk, Never a question (I always pre label), never an odd look, nothing. So just on that alone, I’d rather deal with the extra shipping day, and the extra buck or two to ship and use UPS. If my local Fed Ex changes employees, I may go back. For now, give me the less stressful experience. Each local shop is a different experience.

 

Exactly! It's different for everyone.

In fact, I'm in the middle of a situation with FedEx right now. This is now the second time in three tries I've had problems with them. I dropped the package off at a certified FedEx drop location (Walgreens) on Monday. I noticed the package hasn't moved and was tagged with an "Exception" status. Finally I called today and had them investigate. Turns out the package is still at the Walgreens (it's now Thursday), and they've been having trouble trying to get the FedEx driver to come by and pick it up. WTF!! So I had to send my trading partner a message, apologizing for the delay and it's not my fault. This FedEx/Walgreens arrangement dropped the ball again.

So fool me once, shame on you....fool me twice shame on me. The FedEx in my area can go (you know what) themselves. I'm going back to UPS. I never should have switched in the first place.

 

For everyone who uses FedEx : is there any special designation you need to use to make sure the shipment is labeled for Home delivery and not Ground?

I setup a trade earlier this week and we both shipped yesterday using FedEx (I shipped from MD and he from MN). My package to him was labeled Home and is scheduled for delivery this Saturday however his package to me was Ground and isn't scheduled until Monday 4/30.

Obviously just a minor annoyance but wondering if anyone makes a habit of explicitly asking the sender to ship via Home or encourages them to click the "this is a residential address" button when creating a label online.

 

So, I use my online account most of the time. Sometimes, for various reasons (including recent issues with a printer), I sometimes have just walked in (when I have smaller packages, knowing It is only costing me about $1.50-2 more) and shipped there.

When creating a label online, the 2 day shipment seems to include Saturdays, like always - even when it is considered "ground" and going to a home. When I ship in store, it seems like "ground" means it ships only on business days, and there does not seem to be any designation that I have been able to come up with that signifies that it will travel quicker, even when I tell them that this is "a residential address."

I'm curious if anyone has a better answer/more experience.

 

I create all my labels at home. It saves me money, is more convenient as I'm usually running a thin margin for time on drop off days (i.e. work days), and makes for less interaction with the employee and your box.

When I make my label I always select the, "This is a residential address" box. Then later when you compare rates and select one, there is always a Residential Delivery (or maybe Home Delivery) option. This method has regularly delivered on a Saturday for me too. Most recently to CA and RI last weekend. Ground tends to add a day and often be slightly more expensive when you compare rates. Don't know why. 2 day is always absurdly expensive for me. Often double or triple the cost of residential and takes the same time or occasionally a day more.

 

To add...yes create a FedEx account and print your labels at home. This way you can just drop off your package with little interactions with workers.

Additionally...if you have a FedEx account and the FedEx place is one of the bigger ones....they'll have a computer where you can log in and print labels. This can save you in a pinch of your printer runs out of ink or you just want to waste their paper and ink lol

For FedEx home delivery option delivers Saturday. Commercial delivery option doesn't deliver Saturday but sometimes is cheaper.

 

I probably should quoted you in my answer above