Ever had problems shipping sours in the summer

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by warrendietrich2001, Jul 1, 2017.

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  1. warrendietrich2001

    warrendietrich2001 Pooh-Bah (1,692) Feb 13, 2013 Nevada
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had an entire box of 6 750 ml sours break. Based on the cost of each bottle from $20 - $30 I packed the box to make it bomb proof. I have shipped at least 75 boxes and have only had one bottle break in the past and this bottle was padded better than just about anything I have sent. Just wondering would the sours react negatively to the heat and thus possibly explode?
     
    #1 warrendietrich2001, Jul 1, 2017
  2. Dka67

    Dka67 Savant (1,032) Nov 27, 2014 California
    Trader

    Not in a few days of shipping
     
    #2 Dka67, Jul 7, 2017
  3. eppie82

    eppie82 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,377) Apr 19, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    How did they break? And by that I mean, did the recepient of the of the box receive the beers and all were broken in a similar fashion? Did the shipping company (FedEx? UPS? Other?) inform you that your box broke and they discarded the contents?

    That sounds really bizzare that all would break unless they were shipped in the winter, and had a point at which they all froze.
     
    #3 eppie82, Jul 11, 2017
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  4. Lazhal

    Lazhal Pooh-Bah (1,890) Mar 13, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sounds like you may have over packed, and made everything too tight inside.

    As the poster above me said, it would help to have some additional details.
     
    #4 Lazhal, Jul 11, 2017
  5. warrendietrich2001

    warrendietrich2001 Pooh-Bah (1,692) Feb 13, 2013 Nevada
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for the input. Having shipped at least 75 boxes and more likely over 100 I don't think that I shipped too tight. Also I am only going by what FedEx said that all bottles broke. But they were wrapped with three sheets of bubble wrapped, the lids were dipped in wax. The bottles were in in zip lock bags. Inside a garbage bag. The box itself was padded with butcher paper, balled up bubble wrap and some peanuts. My concern is that since they were all sours perhaps they reacted to the heat negatively or the heat restarted a fermintation. The time I shipped temps would have been 110 or higher who knows what the temps were in the truck which would have traveled through Arizona.

    I realize that FedEx could have just said one bottle broke and decided not to ship anything back. My partner went to the FedEx office who advised him they destroyed the box and there was nothing left but obviously that is their story not a fact.
     
    #5 warrendietrich2001, Jul 12, 2017
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  6. eppie82

    eppie82 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,377) Apr 19, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks you for the additional info. Sure doesn't sound like it was packing issues. Even with some kind of a leak (likely the caps would go and not glass/bottle breaking or exploding), it should have been contained by zip lock and garbage bag.

    Personally, I've never had issues with sours breaking or popping in the summer months. I can't say I've ever shipped in that high of temperatures so who knows.

    But my guess is, and this is based on all the issues I've been seeing with missing and broken bottles by FedEx specifically, some delivery driver just yanked them and was able to get away under the guise of FedEx not allowing alcohol shipments from non-licensed companies and entities. I think I've read a dozen instances like yours with FedEx lately.

    I've made maybe 80 shipments (almost entirely with UPS) over last couple of years and Ive had 2 packages with a broken bottle in each, both with UPS. In both instances, they removed the broken bottle (not a high value one), repackaged the whole box, sent the rest back to me AND refunded me for the shipping fees. The two times I ever shipped with FedEx, they added extra charges claiming my weight wasnt correct (which was total bullshit). I will NEVER ship with FedEx and I recommend you strongly consider who you ship with going forward.

    Just my opinion and thought.
     
    #6 eppie82, Jul 12, 2017
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  7. jhavs

    jhavs Grand Pooh-Bah (3,587) Apr 16, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know that you pack stuff bomb proof, so I doubt packing was the issue. I've never shipped in heat that high, but about 2 weeks ago I had a few cans in my trunk while driving around Maine (didn't fit in the coolers), nothing I was too worried about. The temperature probably got pretty hot in the trunk and the cans leaked about 1/3'd of the contents. The can lid didn't pop off, the liquid soaked through the seal between the two parts of the can. I could see similar happening with the sour bottles you shipped, but actually breaking (bursting glass) I don't know, especially all of them.

    Also, I switched to FedEx from UPS about 1 year ago due to problems with UPS breaking bottles. Have sent well over 100 through FedEx or USPS with no issues, had 2 bottles break with UPS prior (60-80 total shipments). UPS did send the remainder back and refunded my shipping.
     
    #7 jhavs, Jul 12, 2017
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  8. warrendietrich2001

    warrendietrich2001 Pooh-Bah (1,692) Feb 13, 2013 Nevada
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The FedEx update via letter. There is no proof that FedEx mishandled your box and thus your request for refunded shipping has been denied. Note that no picture of damaged box and my trade partner went to fedex to see the box and was told it was destroyed (this was same day the notification went up and at that just a few hours after the update). Also FedEx does not give a phone # or email address to discuss and if you call customer service they can not assist with claims only tracking. I realize this has nothing to do with original post just an update will never know if the bottles leaked causing the boxes to destroy or one bottle broke and FedEx used as an excuse to destroy.
     
    #8 warrendietrich2001, Jul 14, 2017
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  9. jrnyc

    jrnyc Grand Pooh-Bah (3,012) Mar 21, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Seems highly unlikely every bottle broke on its own. Either 1 or two broke and they just said all, or they did something catastrophic to the box.
     
    #9 jrnyc, Jul 18, 2017
  10. putonyourwalkingshoes

    putonyourwalkingshoes Pooh-Bah (1,574) Jul 31, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had a cantillion 375 ml classic gueze with the cork wet with bubbles and moisture pushing throw the cork. It was a 2016 and needless to say it was ruined. I don't know if summer had anything to do with it but if you can wait a couple months your beer will be worth more and your overall trading experience will be better.
     
    #10 putonyourwalkingshoes, Aug 16, 2017
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  11. Slack

    Slack Pooh-Bah (2,018) Feb 14, 2012 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes. In the summer heat, I've received both leaking bottles and cans that have blown apart. My only guess is the agitation mixed with heat and secondary fermentation made them time bombs.

    Safety tip though, if your bottle has leaked and still has the cap or cork in place, be extremely careful in opening the bottle as it is under enormous pressure. Two things I have done are either cool the bottle down and then open or open the bottle outside with safety glasses / gloves.
     
    #11 Slack, Aug 21, 2017
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