Help me understand the costs associated with trading beer...

I traded once, and that was enough once I realized the shipping cost of the deal. (I traded a 6-pack for a 6-pack.) I didn't feel that it was cost effective for the beers that I might covet for future trades. I think it all comes down to how much you really want the beers that you are getting vs. the cost of the shipping of the beers that you are sending. Certainly any trades that are 4 bottles in exchange for two bottles leaves you in a deficit position, but that may not always be the way it happens. It's a personal choice to be made.

 

$21 for 6.5 lbs. seems rather high. Also, once you start trading a bunch you end up accumulating packing materials (boxes, bubble wrap, etc.) so you never have to pay for it again.

 

THere are some states I know it costs a lot for me to ship too so I try to avoid them. Also it doesn't cost much more to ship 15 pounds as it does 7 so I always try to trade for enough beer to help offset the cost per bottle , also set up an account with fedex online and that will save some money as well

 

it also helps to register a profile with fedex and print your own labels. You save a certain percent off shipping, and it's easy. You weight it yourself and measure it and just drop it off.

 

Next time when shipping heady topper throw it into a medium box usps. You can fit 5 cans in there, it only takes 2 business days practically anywhere in the lower 48, and will cost you $12.50 Everytime anywhere in the country.

Your trading parter will be happier getting them 3-4 days eariler.

I usually line the inside of the box with double walled cardboard pieces in case of punctures, then I stack the cans in there and insert bubble wrap and packing peanuts where ever I can fit them. Then I tape it up really good and pay my 12.50 while supporting the government. Never had any issues with USPS. Also I have received glasswear in envelopes with only one layer of bubble wrap, intact through USPS.

When whipping cans you'll find USPS ground boxes to be quite convenient.

 

Lots of this is covered in the trading help forum, but here's my two main pieces of advice--get your own FedEx account, print labels from home, and leave at a drop-off location. It's cheaper, and no one (usually) asks what's in the box. Also, you're charged by "dimensional weight," meaning you should try to ship in as small a box as your trade will allow. Lots of people advise double boxing, tons of extra packing material, but it's really not necessary, and it adds to the cost quite a bit. In over 50+ trades, I've never had something I've sent break, and I've sent even largish trades in compact boxes.

Also, as @Roguer said, Priority Mail might be the right choice for the smallest of trades.

EDIT: Any way you slice it, this isn't an inexpensive hobby. You just have to decide whether it's worth the financial hit.

 

I shipped a 4 bottles and 4 cans in a 12.5lb box from Dallas to Boston for $19 via Fed Ex. It was double boxed and packed to the brim with bubble wrap and peanuts.

 

Surprised how many people still use USPS to ship their beer. If you think $15 is expensive just wait until your box is destroyed. You'll be out a lot more $ by having to replace the beer and resent to your trading partner. It's really not that much cheaper than ups or fedex. It's just not worth the risk.

As others have stated use fedex and make an online account.

 

Bottom line, it's not cheap hobby, and particularly when trading shelf (or shelf-ish) beers the cost of shipping will generally be more than the cost of the beer.

That said, I rarely buy any boxes or other shipping material any more. You do slowly accumulate it. (Also, if you're in wine clubs or order beer / wine / liquor from online retailers, you'll get styro/pulp/spirited shippers for "free".)

Register for a FedEx account. You'll get a discount, but you can also order the padded envelopes for free, which are convenient for wrapping up a bottle.

You can buy boxes much cheaper at Home Depot than at specialized shipping stores.

I am personally not a huge fan of the USPS flat-rate boxes in general. USPS seems to abuse packages much more than FedEx or UPS. (I think someone actually verified this by shipping accelerometers around via the different companies.) In addition, people seem to skimp on packing materials trying to squeeze into the smallest box they can. Not to say this can't happen with FedEx or UPS either, but in my experience it is less common, and the only bottles broken due to bad packing in any of the 50+ trades I've done were when someone shipped the bottles USPS.

Particularly if you start trading rarer and more expensive stuff, I would think long and hard about whether it's more important to save $5 on a shipment vs. what you might have to do to replace a bottle that breaks.

 

I thought it was against the law to ship beer via USPS? I am I off here? Is it just the same as shipping it UPS or FedEx? It's just a slap on the wrist or is it a truly punishable offense? Not thinking jail time but maybe fines??

 

I've shipped many packages usps and have never had one box destroyed, or even damaged.

I can fit two HF or Treehouse growlers and ship it ny to Cali or Oregon in two days. I want those growlers there ASAP, not in a week which is what it takes fed ex,or ups. Plus, it costs significantly less.

To each their own, but the risk of destruction is much higher with ups and fed ex than it is with usps.

Or was that a mailman that YouTube video is about throwing expensive shit all over customers property, lol

 

In deed I've had more issues with fed ex or ups than I've ever encountered at USPS. Broken bottles, "missing boxes" just do a quick search on it. Also I'm pretty sure usps is temperature controlled. I missed a box of loons in December last year. Had to go pick it up after waiting the weekend. Thought for sure they were frozen. Around the same time several people had been posting of loosing loons due to freezing and other such issues in Association with fed ex and ups specifically. But to my surprise my box of loons was fine, not even a leaky bottle.

 

Ca trades from the east coast is expensive, I rarely trade there. So $43 for two Plinys is really expensive , so expand the trade to softer that blow. I wouldn't do that deal without better volume, I like Pliny but it's nowhere near $21 a bottle good, which is why a good deal of HT stays local, it's hard to beat it,

 

1. As many said, create your own online FedEx account, shipping cost will be cheaper. Not sure what you used, but I just sent a 10lbs box from PA to CA and it was well under $20. A recent 40lbs box from Portland to me in Philly cost $47.

2. Expand your trade to a worthwhile volume so that you get the most out of your shipping cost. The difference between a 5lbs box and 20lbs box is actually not significant as you may think. I rarely every trade a few cans/bottles, unless it involves some select rarer beers.

3. Trade more often. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but things average out. You will have times when shipping cost is high, but there will be times when it will be low. You won't always be shipping to CA. The majority of your trades will be to the Midwest and East Coast.

4. Trade locally in person. Self-explanatory.

Another thing to consider is what if you found the beers online and want to buy them, how much would shipping be? Most of these beers you want can't be purchased online. If they could be, shipping cost would likely be similarly costly.

As for materials, you'll be surprised how resourceful you will eventually become. From using crumbled up newspapers instead of packing peanuts, to saving boxes and packing materials you received in the received trades, to finding random boxes at Sam's Club checkout line conveniently marked "fragile".

Trading is not a cheap hobby, but you will eventually find ways to keep it as low cost as reasonable.

 

IT AIN'T CHEAP!!!!!!!!

 

My approach is this. It's a fun but expensive hobby (as noted) so I try to keep my trades down. Just finished my first year of it and can probably count my trades in 2014 on one hand. They all went well, and I intend to keep it up at this pace. Preferably with more involvement from @creepinjeeper - if you get a chance to trade with that man, you take it!

 

post-script: The trades I can count on one hand aren't including one-off giftings. I have had - in just this one year - at least 2 or 3 people send or offer to send free beer just because. I will have a few thank-you boxes to send this winter, but just being a cool guy and sending someone some beer-love here and there builds beer karma, something @creepinjeeper knows all about, and if @PA-Michigander doesn't already have faith in the power of compounding beer-karma interest, he will soon(ish).

 

No need for a return box (said that all along!) as I was happy to send you some beers you didn't think you'd be able to try! I'll second @creepinjeeper's awesomeness as well.