Shipping Tips (pass on the knowledge)

Doesn't look like this was mentioned so I'll give a heads up... DOUBLE BOX. Find a box that fits in another box with 1-2inches on all sides. Then fill in those sides with the filler of your choice (foam, newspaper, etc.). I've always leaned toward something that can absorb some liquid in case there is a breakage in the inner box. Then pack the inner box using all these other tips. Only thing is then you can pack to the wall of the inner box instead of leaving space.

Seriously this basically makes it indestructible. It isn't anymore expensive and gives great piece of mind. Also a great box to share back and forth with a regular partner.

 

noise makers, gots to have noise makers. Throw 3 pennies in a coke can, tape the top and put the sucker in the box.
growlers - I have shipped a ton, and have received quite a few. Dont be scared of growlers. Make sure the cap is as tight as possible (dont pull out pliers and twist, unless you like the first drink to have glass dust in it) and tape with plumbers tape. I like to use hardwood floor padding, fairly cheap and very abosbant. Cut about 3 feet too much and just wrap the snot out of it. Once you have the growler padded up, I like using the Fedex bubble bags, I use one on each end. Then put the whole ball of wax in a plastic bag. Try to pack in the middle of your box and have other stuff (dunnage, bubble wrap, other beers, etc) snug up against it. Throw your noise maker in and good to go.
Other noise makes that I have received are candy, pennies in a cd case, etc.

 

^ Yea growlers need alot of tlc. I always wrap them in a small plastic bag and then tape the hell out of that. In case the glass breaks the tape keeps it from cutting and leaking. Then I wrap that in a garbage bag, seal it and wrap it in bubble.
Growlers make some glug glug liquid noises so throw a distracting noise maker in there.
I have seen some of my boxes and packing materials come back to me from other traders that I hadnt traded with before. Thought that was amusing.

I havnt had any of my contents break out of all the trades I've done, so like others have said, pack well.
Also throw down extra tape on the bottom, top and sides of the box so it doesn't tear. Especially the bottom. I've received boxes that had one strip of tape on the bottom and had come open. Thankfully the shipping company still delivered the box.
Also get some black electric tape and wrap the caps around the top of the bottle and growlers so they dont come loose, leak beer and become discovered.

 

Yikes!

 

• Use painters tape (if any) to secure bottle caps, please no electrical or packing tape, it leaves residue.
• Pack some raw hard noodles (cheap) in a box, they'll make noise and mask the bubbling of liquid in your boxes to be less obvious to FedEx/UPS (or use other noisemaker)
• Tape any open edge on a box, some may see this as excessive taping, but it's necessary when dealing with 10+lbs. to make sure it doesn't open on shipping
• Use rubber bands to secure bubble wrap, painters tape only if needed. I also like the saran wrap idea.
• Always ship UPS Ground or FedEx Ground, never ship air as it's more likely to leak and/or be inspected. Alcohol is only against policy with those two, whereas with USPS it is illegal to ship any alcohol without license.
• When possible wrap all bottles in either ziploc bags individually or garbage bag collectively to prevent beer from soaking the box if any leaks.
• If you can afford it, double box or use bottle shippers. These two methods are expensive, but preferred. If you can't afford it just use a little extra padding with bubble wrap and/or newspaper. USPS/UPS/FedEx Padded Envelopes help and are free, but if you're not using their services may be unethical.

 

Newspaper is cheaper than bubble wrap. Keep it on hand to fill in some extra space. Admittedly, you need a lot of it so it's really not practical to use JUST newspaper to fill in space, but it's good to have a bunch on hand.

Also, tape your box like it's going out of style.

 

Go to a store such as Staples/Office Depot/FedEx or something of that nature. Buy a good amount of bubble wrap ($20 - 30 worth) with the smaller bubbles, a few boxes and a decent amount of tape. This will be about a $50 investment.

Going forward, you'll really only have to purchase tape. Reuse shipping materials as much as possible, boxes as well. If you work in a place where they have excess cardboard boxes as trash, take them home and use them.

Nothing is going to survive a nuclear bomb, but you should pack all boxes well enough to survive a 5ft drop if you don't use bottle shippers. Make sure you use enough tape as well. Tape down shipping labels when possible.

Each bottle doesn't need 6ft of bubble wrap. All you're doing at that point is including bubble wrap as an extra to the other guy. You may as well just include a $5 bill in the box.

Forms of paper (newspaper, magazine, packing paper, phone book pages, etc) are your friends. Much cheaper and generally create a safer barrier for your bottles than something like peanuts. Crumble some up and use it as stuffing.

 

Any small, light, not smelly thing can be used as packing material.

 

Not to be dick but painters tape doesn't do for me what electric does. Stuff bonds, keeps and holds. Might leave a residue on the cap/ neck, but does not effect the brews flavor, aroma or pour if opened right. Might sound cocky but not intended so.
I got the idea from a well packed box a few years ago and have used it since.

 

Painters tape on bubblewrap works nicely. It won't destroy the bubblewrap and therefore will avoid getting some BAs' panties in a bundle.

 

I will continue to packing tape the shit out of my bubble wrap and use electrical tape on the caps, and my partners will continue to receive unbroken, non leaking bottles after 2,000 miles of UPS Ground.

I have actually switched to stretch-and-seal on the caps/cages though.

 

One tip I have (but don't know if it is effective) is tape the shipping label so the bar code is over the seam of the box. Do not use a shipping label pouch but actually tape the label on. This way if an employee wants to open your box they will have to cut your label and reprint and attach a new one. Odds are they are a normal person and will say "eff that, too much work" and move on to the next box.

 

UPS specifically tells you not to tape the label over any seams of the box...

 

I do the exact same thing. I think you're dead-on! Good advice!

 

I misunderstood. I use the elec tape around the cap.

 

Rubber bands are the way to go IMO.

As far as the "squeaking" goes, I like the extra sound deadening the styro provides...

 

perhaps im naive, but im about to do my first trade and have a question.. why noise makers?

 

UPS and FedEx won't ship booze, by policy. If they hear liquid sloshing around they might open up the package.

With USPS shipping alcohol is a crime, BUT I just sent a package with them and it got through just fine

 

a year or two ago I did two trades from a beer trading thread on a comedy forum I use, I shipped 2 boxes through USPS and I've received probably 4-6. I wish I could do it more, as its much easier/cheaper/faster but its just too risky.

It works and happens a lot...now I use coffee beans in all my boxes and ship fedex though Im wondering if UPS is any better...they seem to take forever to get anywhere.