shipping beer

[botb78]

For those of you who swap beer, how do you ship it? I'm trying to send two bottles to the Ohio Brew Week competition. So far UPS has told me they can't ship alcohol, and it's my understanding that the USPS can't. It's not like i'm selling the beer.

[Ó Flannagáin]

It's against the law to ship with USPS
It's against UPS policy to ship with UPS

I ship with UPS all the time and put either "yeast samples" or "collectible glass" on the item description.

[Lerxst]

If you tell them you're shipping beer, they will generally refuse your package. My FEDEx does not inquire as to the contents. The local UPS stores always inquires (yeast samples, collectible glassware, collectible bottles, ect).

[Redweasel]

Box it up REALLY good and ship UPS. When they ask whats in the box just tell them collectible glass or liquid yeast samples. Don't ship USPS, it's illegal. If your box busts open for some reason UPS will just toss it out, the USPS might turn you in.

[botb78]

thanks, i'll try ups again, i don't know of a fedex close by.

[BrewMeister Jeff]

I use the Yeast Sample statement all the time :)

[Barley-Davidson]

UPS FTW

Just box it up yourself and print the shipping label at home, then all you have to do is drop it off at the UPS place. Nobody will ask you what's inside so you won't have to lie.

[Lerxst]

UPS FTW

Just box it up yourself and print the shipping label at home, then all you have to do is drop it off at the UPS place. Nobody will ask you what's inside so you won't have to lie.

If I go to the UPS distribution center, they don't ask....all of the UPS stores in my area will ask and they inspect the package pretty thoroughly.

My GF shipped something back home in an empty Sly Fox case and they gave her the riot act about shipping alcohol. When she explained it was just a box, they cut it open and inspected the package. It was pretty funny when they were all ready to go dirty harry on her and found car parts for her dad :)

[PseudoChef]

That's weird. UPS has never asked me what was in the box.

[botb78]

Thank you FedEx Kinko's. Not only did they ship my beer, it wound up being cheaper than what UPS would have been. The judging is on the 11th, so we'll see how it goes.

[Lerxst]

Yup fedex home has been a couple bucks cheaper than ups ground for my last several shippments too

[Ó Flannagáin]

That's weird. UPS has never asked me what was in the box.

Me neither, the slip I fill out does ask the contents and so I just write it on there. They never ask or look though

[DrunkenSatyr]

I get asked every time. Answer is always Collectible Bottles Under 100.00 in total value. Just pack all the beers up nice and tight and then put em all in a garbage bag.

[snails]

what does everyone use for packaging? is bubble wrap sufficient? other options?

[Ó Flannagáin]

Usually a mix of bubble wrap and newspaper

[botb78]

i just used a bunch of bubble wrap, seemed to work just fine.

[Redweasel]

I'm lazy and just use a shit ton of newspaper. I also toss the box around a bit to simulate the fuckers at UPS and to make sure I can't notice any movement in the box.