Trader Shipped through USPS

I shipped usps for about 100 trades without an issue. They don't care about the contents. Have had some poorly packaged stuff (bottles stuffed into a medium shipper laying against the outer side of the box with no peanuts) from other traders arrive unscathed with usps. After about 2 years of dealing with the same people at my local fedex. they recently opened one of my boxes, found some dark lord they had no idea what it was, and told me I couldn't ship with them anymore because it was alcohol. I guess they knew that much. wtf? now I have to go to a fedex office about 25 minutes out of my way in another city. I am nervous every time I have to ship something. seriously thinking about going back to usps but their lines suck.

 

Why not just UPS?

 

The very first trade I ever did, I walked into ups not knowing any better. The guy asked me what was in the box and I told him beer. Have had a mental block with ups ever since. I know damn well, the union fat ass chicks at the local usps don't care what is in the box as long as it is not hazardous. The damn thing could be sloshing all over the place with "glass" and "fragile" stickers all over the box and they still don't care.

 

They did a story a while back where they were openly discussing changing the rules to allow alcohol to attract shippers because they know trading is a big opportunity for them. forgot where I read that....let me translate. Usps came out and said they were thinking about allowing alcohol shipments to attract more business because they know there is a large volume being shipped and they are missing out.

 

I thought that was more aimed towards producers being able to ship directly to consumers, but I do remember seeing that article.

 

Oh, could've been, but even so, that would put a lot more people at ease who think they are going to get in trouble shipping with usps. still might be technically against the rules kind of how people view fedex and ups now.

 

Don't you have OfficeMax or other FedEx/UPS authorized shippers near you? I guess I take it for granted living in a big city, but they are everywhere here in Philly. You can print label at home and drop off, no questions ever asked. If FedEx doesn't work for you, UPS is a heck of a lot cheaper for larger boxes than USPS.

 

Yes, been shipping fedex for over 3 years. They started freaking out and opened my box because they heard sloshing. Now I can't use that one. Use one about 20 minutes away.

 

I have used USPS before for small boxes incoming and outgoing, depending on what kind of shipping or box you use, they cannot confiscate or open anything, it is illegal.
I had an incoming box with some broken bottles, that was sent soaking wet to my local post office. I needed to come get it and take it off of the property, they told me it was illegal for them to dump it themselves.
They were pissed, but I dont think they knew exactly what it was, as long as you ship it and tell them there are liquids, they will sort accordingly incase of a spill.
Good luck, Im sure it will show up.

 

Other than horrible tracking, USPS ships fine and I've dealt with traders who used them before and I've even used them before (though Fed Ex is usually who I go through). If the box is packed well, there shouldn't be an issue. In fact, there are traders in the group I'm in that swear by USPS and have horror stories about Fed Ex, and these guys have been doing this a LONG time. So to each their own, shipping USPS isn't some huge faux pas, IMO.

 

Ive had traders ship beer USPS with no problems at all, I'm assuming the extreme cold is probably delaying shipments.