Cops called for shipping beer

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by rynosf23, Jul 9, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 4
  1. rynosf23

    rynosf23 Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2013 Florida

    Ill start out by saying I always ship UPS. To the best of my knowledge (and please correct me if I am wrong) it is illegal to ship alcohol through USPS, but against policy with FedEx and UPS, unless you have the proper credentialing.

    So I drop my box off at the same shipping post that I have used dozens of times. I get a call later in the afternoon that my package is leaking everywhere (I know I know...I shudda packed better). They tell me to come pick up my package immediately. I go and get the package and find out that my label has been voided and they will not be refunding my money. I chalk it up to the game, repack the box, and ship at a different store. Everything is cool right? Not so much!

    A few hours later I have a police officer at my door asking me about my shipment. She was very nice and said she had never had a call like this before. Basically told me not to do it again and that ATF would be notified. She said that they most likely will be too busy doing other stuff to care.

    Has anyone else had a similar situation? I obviously will not be using this store to ship anymore and will most likely be calling to give them a piece of my mind tom. I am hoping that someone can give me some ammunition to tell her that calling the cops was absurd. Also, is shipping HomeBrew any different than store bought?
     
    #1 rynosf23, Jul 9, 2013
  2. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Laws no! That store SHOULD be dead to you.
     
    #2 Bitterbill, Jul 9, 2013
    1Sunshine, clubarsky91, smutty33 and 3 others like this.
  3. nickapalooza86

    nickapalooza86 Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2010 Wisconsin

    Tell then you will be shipping your Olive Oil with a new company from now on!:wink:
     
    #3 nickapalooza86, Jul 9, 2013
    RJM and rynosf23 like this.
  4. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Pretty lame that the store called the cops. Surely they realize that's not going to go anywhere.
     
    #4 JohnSnowNW, Jul 9, 2013
    Cvescalante and dar482 like this.
  5. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I had a shipment from a trade where I got some Sprecher Black Bavarian and a bottle of Darkness. The Darkness broke and leaked all over. Fedex in town called me and asked if I wanted the box sent back or have them repackage the box. Guess which route I went. :wink: They are a very good crew in town.:slight_smile:
     
    #5 Bitterbill, Jul 9, 2013
  6. Jugs_McGhee

    Jugs_McGhee Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,140) Aug 15, 2010 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Amateurs.
     
    #6 Jugs_McGhee, Jul 9, 2013
  7. rynosf23

    rynosf23 Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2013 Florida

    Broke my box....took my money....called the cops on me. I have a new enemy number 1!
     
    #7 rynosf23, Jul 9, 2013
    1Sunshine and hey5hitgoose like this.
  8. Cvescalante

    Cvescalante Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2012 Texas

    I probably wouldn't call them up and give them a peice of my mind if I were you... Probably just start shipping fedex, and learn how to pack your shit bro! lol
     
    #8 Cvescalante, Jul 9, 2013
    Sarlacc83, woodchopper, pjl44 and 2 others like this.
  9. dortenzio1991

    dortenzio1991 Crusader (486) Aug 12, 2011 Connecticut

    That is my Olive Oil growlers in there
     
    #9 dortenzio1991, Jul 9, 2013
    Duff27, cirtap and Lordquackingstic like this.
  10. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    You're going to call to argue with them for you trying to break the law and failing? For your own good, and the rest of ours as well, get a grip. Immediately.
     
    #10 RblWthACoz, Jul 9, 2013
    ant880, pjl44, cliftoncr and 3 others like this.
  11. dortenzio1991

    dortenzio1991 Crusader (486) Aug 12, 2011 Connecticut

    Whats she doing looking through your box? Pretty sure thats illegal
     
    #11 dortenzio1991, Jul 9, 2013
  12. MADhombrewer

    MADhombrewer Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2008 Oregon

    Is there a way to look up thier shipping policy before you call? Take a look and see if there is anything that actually says it is illegal to ship alcohol thru them. If not, have at 'em. What "card" did you play with the store and/or officer? I think I would've just played dumb and you didn't know you couldn't do that. What a waste of the officers time.

    Use FedEx for awhile.
     
    #12 MADhombrewer, Jul 9, 2013
    Duff27 likes this.
  13. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Every bottle of beer goes into a ziplock bag. Sealed. No exceptions.
     
    #13 utopiajane, Jul 9, 2013
    creepinjeeper, jersson, tacosandbeer and 7 others like this.
  14. Cvescalante

    Cvescalante Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2012 Texas

    Probably so, but she wouldn't really need to look through the box to know what was in it, if it was leaking.
     
    #14 Cvescalante, Jul 9, 2013
  15. RJM

    RJM Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2013 Djibouti

    For those of you who don't know, black market olive oil trade is rather well associated with some modern mafias. Real olive oil is actually very expensive (the majority of the stuff you find in grocery stores is only able to be labled olive oil by some random technicality by the fda). So naturally there are crime syndicates surrounding its trade.
     
    #15 RJM, Jul 9, 2013
  16. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    lolz tenchar
     
    #16 ShogoKawada, Jul 9, 2013
    Rempo and domtronzero like this.
  17. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm still trying to figure out what local ordinance you broke. I know for the longest time Florida was one of the most conservative/regressive states when it came to allowing residents to have wine or beer shipped to them, but that was primarily due to tax and revenue issues, and so that locals would be forced to buy local to satisfy their alcohol cravings. I would assume that Florida could pretty much care less about anyone shipping alcohol to someone out of state (I'm assuming that's what you were doing - if you were shipping within state, then that might be a different matter), and in fact probably wouldn't mind a bit if more people engaged in the practice (more revenue, so more taxes, etc.). It might be a concern for the state you were shipping to, and yeah, I can see where the feds might want to get involved if you shipped via USPS (though even there, you would be pretty small potatoes, so they might not bother to get involved, figuring loss of your package was a sufficient future deterrent).

    In any event, to answer your question, I'd just blow this store off and not bother calling them. I can see no purpose whatsoever in the UPS store involving the local cops, and in fact I'm a bit surprised the lady cop bothered to pay you a visit. Regardless, UPS had to know they were going to lose you as a customer, and probably all your beer swilling family and friends as well... but they went ahead and did it anyway. Seems pretty clear that pissing you off is/was not a major concern on their part.
     
    #17 John_M, Jul 9, 2013
    mythaeus and rynosf23 like this.
  18. rynosf23

    rynosf23 Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2013 Florida

    I know its illegal to ship beer through USPS. UPS and FedEx say you need a special certificate to ship alcohol, but not that its illegal. This is where my main question lies...did she have the right to have the cops show up at my door?

    And I def played the "dumb" card. The officer was laughing and interested in what beers and such I was shipping. Said her husband was a craft beer guy. lol
     
    #18 rynosf23, Jul 9, 2013
    mythaeus, 1Sunshine, CityofBals and 2 others like this.
  19. Michigan

    Michigan Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2012 Michigan

    Were you shipping to a guy named Frddy? I hear his grandma cracks down on you criminals
     
    #19 Michigan, Jul 9, 2013
    ridglens, Duff27, elephantrider and 7 others like this.
  20. Cvescalante

    Cvescalante Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2012 Texas

    Not gonna take the time to google it, but if that was just a random bullshit statement off the top of your head to mess with people, then that's pretty funny.
     
    #20 Cvescalante, Jul 9, 2013
    MrDave likes this.
Page 1 of 4
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.