Lost my first box this week - and it wasn't even a trade, it was stuff I shipped to myself from Portland (OR) to Portland (ME). I sent 4 boxes last week, all made it across to the Portland area and 3 were delivered. The 4th was "damaged - undeliverable", so I called and asked what happens next. They said it goes back to the shipper; I explained I'd shipped it to myself, so sending it far away wouldn't do any good. So they transferred me to the local facility, where they very helpfully searched for it, then politely explained that a bottle had broken so they had discovered it was an unauthorized shipment and could not be delivered, because it is "illegal" to ship beer. I was polite and didn't argue the difference between "illegal" and "against company policy", considering there was a box of legitimately shipped Cascade in the very same truckload, marked "alcohol - adult signature only". In the box: Logsdon Cerasus (two), 10 Barrel Hop Rye'it, Black Butte, Pliny, Fremont Old Bridge Rider, Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA, Bruery White Oak. Of the 4 boxes I shipped, probably the highest $$ value, mostly $15-$20+ bottles. It was well packed, double boxed, tons of bubble wrap, so I probably just got unlucky with a particularly hard fall, or perhaps a poorly-seated cap that popped off a little too easily. At least they didn't investigate the other 3 boxes, and I got my PnBs and all the rest intact.
That's a bummer. I always freezer bad each beer too. I realize the broken glass could cut it open but I think it would probably help with leakage in case of a break.
if u do a double box i like to put the inside box inside a trash bag and seal that and put it in the second box so if it breaks the liquid will be contained
Trash bags are good ideas, even if you lose a bottle no one will know, better than losing a whole box.
my thoughts exactly. Even with a 12 bottle shipper you can fit a trash bag over the sytrofoam and then slide the whole thing into the box. I figure the only way they hold the box from shipping is if they see the liquid leaking out. If it is contained in the trash bag they will be none the wiser and you only loose a bottle instead of the whole box potentially.
Indeed. Since I lost a Black Butte, I went and found an older Black Butte in the cellar and chilled it.
