Silencing a package

You don't. I'm just saying while its sitting on the counter at the drop off point the person working the counter is pretty unlikely to flip the package on its side and shake it. They will pick it up, put it wherever the driver gets it from and never think about it again.

 

Seems like the consensus is that once the package is accepted and on the road, noisemakers aren't necessary and/or are overkill.

The only "real" conversation to have is whether or not noisemakers will help you at the counter where if there were any suspicions the clerk could ask you to open your box. It is understood that once you drop off and walk away it would be a huge paperwork (work) hassle to open a customer's package. BUT if anything is suspect at drop off and they catch it, asking you to open so they can check circumvents that paperwork. Again, this is really the only instance where a noisemaker could be deemed valuable.

Raises other questions. Do you pay/print at home? If so, you are literally just dropping and walking. If not, then you are presumably having more face time—weighing, paying, potentially being questioned... It's easy to chalk this up to paranoia but it has happened to me (fortunately not with beermail) and I've seen it happen to others. Not sure what the purpose is, my only guess would be that if it needs more packing materials or needs a better box then they stand to make more $.