Reading all these horror stories about FedEx and UPS shipping makes me wonder why no one has mentioned shipping through USPS. In my limited experience, their pricing is far cheaper and ships out faster than UPS. Are people turned off with USPS because of the possible punishment of getting caught?
Shipping alcohol USPS is technically illegal, but, trust me, they don't give a rats ass. i have done it dozens of times.
It's a matter of against policy (FedEx/UPS) versus illegal (USPS). That said, I don't know if I have ever heard of USPS taking legal action against anyone shipping beer through them. In fact, I believe USPS is tossing around the idea of allowing alcohol shipments (between parties with appropriate licenses) to increase revenue.
Fedex, I have heard stories of bottles breaking and being returned to sender or repacked and continued to the receiver. I have sent beer all UPS, FedEx and USPS. I prefer fedex because they are usually faster and I have less worry about beer being damaged. As long as you take time packaging and never say you are shipping beer, you should be fine.
USPS Priority is all I use, especially the flat rate boxes for smaller trades. Least expensive and gets anywhere in the country, from Alaska, in 3-4 days. I always use the self service kiosk, so I never have to deal with an employee face to face.
I've received USPS flat rate boxes with broken bottles, boxes that have been clearly soaked through, and then delivered. Without even a stern look from a postman. As someone who works for the federal government, and has tried to get the DOJ to take on a case that is clearly bigger than someone sending beer through the mail, I'll venture a guess that there's a very low percentage chance that anyone would ever face legal recourse for mailing beer.
My main problem is that the workers at the USPS branches closest to me are straight up slow moving bitches that give you attitude
