USPS flat rate shipping. Thoughts please.

If you pack it well and nothing breaks, then you'll be fine. Even if something goes wrong, you probably won't have too much trouble. It's illegal to ship beer using USPS, but also illegal to ship beer across state lines using any service.

That said, you aren't gaining much over FedEx or UPS by using the flat rate boxes -- even the large ones. In fact, if you're sending more than one box (about 4-5 beers packed well), then you're losing out and spending more money than you need to.

I'd just use UPS or FedEx.

also... http://alewatcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-trader-tips.html#Abbreviations

 

I've used the flat rate items for certain things but not beer. Do they have any big flat rate boxes for beer?

 

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/shipping-via-usps-good-or-bad.111317/

Why are there 2 threads about this in a row?

 

Probably because OP is a USPS mailman

 

Raw dawging it, I see.

Ride dangerously braw. But ride it hard.

 

Lousy idea. Especially for a first time shipper.

 

Ahhh you must have read that very informative article about beer trading.
For what it's worth, disregard about 90% of that information and read alewatcher's blog about trading. That will get you headed in a much more solid path.

 

Absolutely use them to ship across county if it's a small amount of beer. I can fit 3 22oz beers in there packed well. Takes only 3 days to cross the country (5 for UPS or FedEx) and costs 16.85$ (or something close to that). I did get a little greedy with space in there and tried to add a snifter to the box once. It broke but the beers were intact and made it to their doorstep.

Have shipped ~10 boxes this way.

 

There's a lot of factors involved when choosing the best way to ship: the amount of bottles, the size of the bottles, the type of beer, etc. In my experience, it is usually cheaper and always faster to use USPS flat-rate boxes if what you're sending can fit in 1 box (either Medium or Large). If what you're sending requires multiple flat-rate boxes, the economics change and it probably won't be cheaper than FedEx Ground anymore (or it might be around the same price)..but it will still be faster. And in a situation where the price of the flat-rate box is comparable to the price of sending a similar sized box with the same contents via FedEx Ground...then why not opt for the 2-day shipping as opposed to waiting a week? The 2-day shipping comes especially in handy for perishable IPAs where time is of the essence. And anyone who is afraid of "getting in trouble w/ the feds" by sending USPS is just not aware of how the United States Postal Service actually operates...it's more or less risk-free - just don't pack your boxes AT the post office haha and if waiting in line and say "No" when the cashier/machine asks you if you're sending anything "liquid, hazardous or perishable"

 

All legalities aside, shipping USPS is just asking to have your box kicked around and smashed. Really bad idea.

I'd say one out of 100 Fedex/UPS boxes I see have been put through the ringer. With USPS, it's more like 1 out of 5 or 10. Those flat rate boxes are also not very strong at all, which is just going to exacerbate the problem. If you consistently use USPS, you're going to have breakage.

 

I've received probably 5 flat rate boxes from a friend who refuses to use fedex or ups. the first 4 came through with no issues. #5 had two completely obliterated bottles, but was still delivered.

 

Guy #1: Hey, we've got our apartment. We ripped up the floors, pipes, wiring, and having everything completely redone.
Guy #2: You're renting, right?
Guy #1: Yeah.

/Well, he's an ex free-base addict, and he's trying to turn around, and he needs a place to stay for a couple of months.

/I thought about it, and even though it's over, I'm going to tell my wife about the afffair.

/I don't know the guy, but I've got two kidneys and he needs one, so I figured..

/Normally I wear protection, but then I thought, "When am I gonna make it back to Haiti?"

//Bad Idea

 

Use the large boxes, stick one inside of the other, then put five double bubble wrapped bombers in and seal well, works everytime.

 

I've used USPS flat rate for numerous small trades with no problems. The bottles get there in 2-3 days so I am less worried about heat related damage. Make sure to wrap everything nicely.