Shipping beer

It's been covered many times... but Styrofoam and bubble wrap are your friend

and line the box with a strong garbage bag just in case

 

You can just send them to me and I'll make sure they are safe and sound :-)

In all seriousness though, you should definitely be able to find plenty of resources on BA to help you on your venture. Make sure you have plenty of padding in your box. Creating a FedEx account and printing your own labels helps save $. Can't have enough bubble wrap. Can't use enough tape. You dont necessarily need bottle shippers. Just wrap the bottles individually, pack 'em in a bag or two in case of breakage and then make sure everything is super tightly packed in so there is no wiggle room. Tape. Bubble wrap. Newspaper or packing peanuts.

Good luck!

 

There are a lot of videos out there on Utube which can show you how it is done and you can even buy boxes made for this. I would however recommend the following

• Solid box with enough space for packaging
• Lots of bubble wrap and tape the ends shut
• Place each bottle in a sealed zip lock bag before bubble wrapping
• Place each bubble wrapped sealed bottle in another zip lock bag
• Lots of padding and filler to keep the contents solid
• Use FedEx
• Reinforce the box with tape
• Make sure your KARMA is in good shape and relax!

 

UPS says packages should be able to survive a drop from waist level. So pretend you are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and pack accordingly. I use insane amounts of bubble wrap (the large bubbles work best) and I like the idea of lining the box with a garbage bag. They will (sometimes) keep your beer if they discover it broken /leaking.

 

Out of curiousity, why is FedEx preferred?

 

Not sure of a good answer but in the beer shipping/trading world they are all people use. They don't ask too many questions about contents and they don't break too much beer. Pack it correctly, print your label at home, drop it off and put some fragile content stickers on the box and all should work out good for you.

 

Also, print your own label, save 15% on shipping. It adds up quickly...

Not sure if UPS has the same discount feature. FedEx also makes it super easy to drop off and leave. Really quick. Plenty of drop off locations.

 

My understanding of this is that it is less expensive than UPS or USPS, and actually illegal to use USPS, whereas only against policy of UPS and Fedex.

 

In my experience, FedEx is faster than UPS by a day or two usually. Avoid USPS for possible legal reason, I've heard. I tape a layer or two of bubble wrap to all sides of the box before I start. The main thing to avoid is glass on glass/cap on cap/cap on glass contact. I individually wrap the bottles so there are at least two layers of bubbles over the whole bottle. Repeat for each bottle and pack snuggly and tightly filling any gaps with wadded up bubble wrap, peanuts, or paper to avoid shifting. I read somewhere that your box should be able to withstand a drop from 12 feet. Oh, and double layer cardboard boxes are the best and most rigid.

 

I just use whatever I have on hand to pack the bottles. Bubble wrap, packing paper, foam of all sorts, cardboard, etc. I tend the use all sort of stuff. The key is to overpack. Better to be safe than sorry. I buy a crap load of stuff via Amazon so I just save packing materials. Still don't trust those airbags they sometimes use for shipping though.

I usually use UPS just out of convenience. There is a store 2 minutes away from my house. Fed Ex would be fine as well.

 

Not doubting the legality of using USPS but I have used the "self service" kiosk at USPS a couple of times to ship boxes of beer. I have read the disclaimers/rules/regs/etc on the screens and have yet to see anything that says you can't send alcohol. I know it's not "legal" but it's just werid it does not mention alcohol. So, if you're a gambling man or women, just sayin....

 

lol interesting. I have shipped only once and did use USPS. It was a convenience thing as well and there were no problems other than the cost. Still probably pretty expensive with fedex. I think you've got to want a beer pretty bad to eat the shipping expense inherent in the trade process.

 

I've been shipping with FedEx exclusively until last week. Now I'm paying some extra $ to ship UPS. Here's why:

I had a package that was apparently scanned, opened from the bottom, ripped through 2 layers of protective bags in case of leaks, and returned to me. Everything was completely intact and no sloshing whatsoever.

A few thread down, someone just had their damaged packaged transferred to "government warehouse". FedEx used to return damaged packages to senders and UPS discards them, making FedEx a much better option. I'm wondering if this is something new, which to me seems to be confiscation and possible repercussion.

Just heard a BA mention how his local FedEx office heard sloshing, opened his package, and refused to ship it. He went to a different drop off location and they also asked what he was shipping (even though they have never asked before). He's been shipping for a couple of years with FedEx without running into any questions or problems.

Something is going on at FedEx. Maybe I'm just a bit paranoid, but if paying 15% more means my package will get there with UPS, even if a day or 2 later, right now is my choice.

 

FedEx and UPS both have their "horror" stories, let's just get that straight. Nosey or "hero" employees work for both companies. That said, I exclusively use FedEx and haven't had a single issue with them so far (knock on wood).

Don't put FRAGILE stickers on your box. You're just calling attention to yourself. Also, you may want to look up the video that demonstrates how FRAGILE stickers actually take more abuse going through the shipping channels.

 

So many great tips here! I don't want to sound repetitious , but here's how I wrap:
- Music of choice to listen to while packing (for karma)
- Tape all seams and corners of inner box. Line inner box with contractors grade garbage bag. Place sheet
of bubble wrap in box to pad.
- Electrical tape around the bottle cap
- Roll each bottle (or can) in a sheet of newspaper. Secure with rubber bands.
- Place in a ziplock bag.
- Roll that in a 12" x 3' sheet of bubble wrap. Secure with rubber bands.
- I lay my bottles down with ends alternating. Sheet of bubble wrap. I also wad up newspaper to place at both ends of bottle. You want to make sure the bottles can't move. I also think I've lucked into a way to help kill the sloshing sound.
- Another sheet of bubble wrap and repeat until filled. Twist tie contractor bag. Seal box.
- Take slightly larger box, making sure all seams and corners are taped. Use packing peanuts to surround inner box. This will pad inner box from the treachery of package handlers and unforeseen accidents. I think it also helps to kill that sloshing sound. Seal box. Celebrate a job well done with beverage of choice!

At first, I thought people were kidding about checking your pack job by droping your box from over your head. My curiosity got the best of me. I won't say which boxes were dropped, but I know no one can tell. I even sent one down a flight of stairs. I never write "Fragile" or "This Way Up" on my box or place a noisemaker in the box to cover the sloshing. (I don't want to attract unnecessary attention to my box.)
I also plan, after reading the recent thread on Fed Ex seemingly cracking down on scanning boxes, to alternate between them and UPS. One can never be too careful. (Thanks @mythaeus !!!)
I hope this doesn't come off like I am trying to be know it all. A lot of how I pack has been tips that came from other great BA's (@cavedave , @skinsfan and other too numerous to mention!) in the forums. I also practiced on a couple of family members before I started trading. (That's just the worrier in me!) I just want to pass on what has worked for me so far. We all want to be successful and make our trade partners scream with joy! (And they will!) Cheers and have fun!

 

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE with this. I feel like it's putting a bulls-eye on your box. I, also, have shipped exclusively with Fed Ex with no problems. Once I resume trading after the holidays, I might mix it up depending on how many trades I have going. I still think the key is to deaden the sloshing sound as much as possible, not to cover it up with more noise. Shake your box before you send and I mean REALLY shake it. If you can hear the contents, so can Mr. FedUPS. Better to be safer than sorry later on.

 

This will shock and horrify all of you. I have traded ONCE. I used USPS. I used ONLY BUBBLEWRAP and placed into a SINGLE CARDBOARD BOX. Taped just a LITTLE more than normal and only because the box was in POOR condition.

BEER WAS RECEIVED. WORLD DID NOT END.

That being said, I plan to be more careful and follow more of these tips in the future.

 

Remind me to never trade with you....because it will take 2 hours to unpack the box you sent. Hahahaha...

GREAT advice! I don't go as far, but at least 1 Ziploc for each bottle, bubble wrap, line the box with trash bag, sometimes 2, and the usual packing peanuts, newspaper, etc. I'm utterly paranoid about leaks from breakages. I don't mind replacing bottles, but to lose the entire shipment really hurts...I found that out on my VERY first trade.

 

OUCH. Amazing you rebounded and gave it another shot!