https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htmhtm I use the post office because it's cheaper but have been told it's illegal. Maybe times have changed? The way I read this is it's only illegal for international shipping.
That looks promising at first, but I did a little more searching and apparently they just forgot to put it on there: http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c4_006.htm "Intoxicating liquors having 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content are nonmailable."
I don't think it is legal in any format; unless you are a registered business allowed to ship. That being said; I have shipped all three (fedex, UPS, USPS). From what I gather from my local UPS store manager; it appears more tolerable to ship wine to friends than beer. I wish this stigma would go away
I didn't realize that it was illegal when I shipped my first trades. I just thought it was frowned upon like with UPS and FedEx. I never had any issues because I labeled it with my fake hot sauce company so the ladies didn't say anything at the post office. From now on though I'm going to use FedEx since it isn't illegal, it's just against their company policy. Remember that although the USPS may seem like a corporation due to the fact that they advertise (one of the reasons UPS sued the Federal government) they are not. Will the federal government come after you for shipping a box of beer to a friend, probably not. But at the same time it doesn't really seem worth the potential headache
Out of hundreds of outgoing boxes, I've only shipped USPS a few times and all were to Alaska. It was going to be $150ish to ship to Alaska via FedEx and it there was no guarantee on how long it would take via FedEx. The boxes I shipped via USPS arrived in ~4x days and only cost about $40ish. And the hundreds of incoming boxes I've received, fewer than 20 have been USPS... All have made it, though one arrived with one bottle completely shattered with all the other bottles covered with sticky shards of glass. The bottle had to have broken almost immediately upon being dropped off because all the bottles were dry and it only took 2x days to get across the country from Massachusetts to Boise. A 750 completely shattered, all of the liquid must have immediately poured out of a seam in the box. That said, I will not ship USPS in the lower 48 ... Though I might if it is going to Alaska again. I generally don't mind if my trading partners ship to me via USPS, but they need to be ready to remedy the situation if the bottles get broken or go missing.
For small trades I ship Priority Mail Flat Rate. It is just easier, faster, and cheaper. If it won't fit into the large flat rate box I send FedEx.
This topic has really been beaten to death in many, many previous threads... FWIW, and IANAL, but I don't think it's really any less illegal to ship alcohol without proper licensing just because you're using UPS or FedEx. And I've also never heard of USPS (or UPS or FedEx) turning anyone over to law enforcement for an improper alcohol shipment.
I don't get those that are anti-USPS. Have read several of these threads where people say bottles have broken and the package has still been delivered. Have yet to read one where it was confiscated or otherwise held, while I have read of several instances of both through UPS and FedEx. I guess it may have happened but not in the threads that I have seen. For myself, a couple of my worst packed boxes have come USPS and the beer made it through just fine. Have sent and received many well packed boxes through them without issue. For what it's worth, my shipping place offers UPS, FedEx and USPS and the guy that runs it (who knows I ship beer) says that in his experience USPS is at least as careful with their boxes, if not more so, than the others. Bottom line is pack it right and there is no reason not to ship USPS when the price is right.
If you know what region you are shipping to you can request the regional flat rate boxes from the website. I shipped out using the large flat rate boxes and it was 7 dollars more than the large regional flat rate box. The only thing you lose on is the convenience of just using the normal flat rate boxes because you have to order them.
I remember the USPS entertaining the idea to allow beer/wine shipments with a signature and up charge. It was one of the budget items they were investigating. But that was 1.5 years ago at this point and I haven't heard anything.
I have been shipping smaller and Alaska trades via Usps Priority lately. Only one issue thus far. Not reported to ATF. It's still cheaper, faster and less invasive than Ups. Just pack well. Ps. This is always a valid thread. ..
From western PA I use USPS for more regional trades and have never had an issue. Packing well is always the key to everything. As long as you're staying local, they tend to be cheaper and much less hassle than UPS or FedEx. When it's going any significant distance or the value is large though, I go with FedEx. I've had less than desirable experiences with UPS.
