Was in the mist of finalizing a trade with an Alaska trader, then I went to estimate shipping and was astounded at the added cost. I expected to pay more, but not 4-5 times more than what I typically pay. Anyone know of any tricks/tips?
They're somewhere in-between and it depends on what direction you're sending things. A 12-bomber styro shipper from Anchorage to Chicago is ~$60-70 for 2-day shipping. The opposite direction is more like $85 using ground (5 days). Both are less than shipping to Europe. You can fit ~3-4 bottles in the $14.95 USPS boxes, which sort of equalizes the shipping for the person in the lower 48. But yeah, you're basically committed to a $5/bottle shipping charge unless you're shipping tons of 8oz nips or something.
Question/comment: Since Shipping to SOME parts of Alaska is a crime, what if the shipper does not know and the package is confiscated? Tell me that is not "on" the shipper to "make right" as the general etiquette seems to be for lost/stolen or damaged goods. Guess they could have more potential problems than that (felony) but all the same. "Over 75 Alaska communities have by local option banned the importation or possession of alcoholic beverages. It may be a felony crime to ship alcoholic beverages to those communities." http://www.dps.state.ak.us/abc/restrictions.aspx
I have a good trading budding in Hawai'i I met when I was there, generous enough to meet for an in person. I once sent a 30lb box out to the Islands for him. Lets just say the lady wasn't to happy about it. We did get some nice Cantillon in return. They have no idea what they are sitting on in terms of beer.
