Not sure if this is the right location for this post, but I need to rant. I’m entering my first beer competition (Upcup at Upland Brewery) and was led to believe UPS and FEDEX will ship your beer. WRONG!
Both UPS and FEDEX require a written agreement policy for you to ship with them, BUT, you have to be licenses to to do so??? I don’t understand since the beer is going to a brewery which we all know makes beer and everyone is 21 and up. So frustrating. I can lie, which I did, to be able to ship my beer. Anything to reduce there deny ability and reliability.
From now on I will be shipping olive oil, yeast product, or snow globes.
I shipped “wood working crafts” last week. Don’t say it’s a yeast product.
Just shipped ’ sports souvenirs’ recently myself. I wouldn’t use yeast in the description either. It’s just part of the dance you have to do. You can set up an online account where you can print your shipping labels and just drop off the package @ a UPS store with no questions.
Yeast product worked fine. Figured I would just do USPS if I have to lie from now on.
Books and glasses for me. That way I have accounted for the “weight” as well as the potentially “fragile” issue. My local UPS doesn’t even ask me anymore as to what I am shipping out.
Print your label online. Drop package off at your nearest FedEx pickup location (not an actual Fedex shipping center), like an office supply store.
I used to send beer USPS because it was cheaper and very reliable, but I felt bad because of the lying. Knowing that no harm is done shipping homebrew through the mail doesn’t make it legal, so I now fill out a UPS form on-line and drop off the package at one of their sites. That way I don’t have to lie. When you register a package on line they do not ask what is in the box.
I have never been asked what is in the box. I print a shipping label online and pack everything at home. I weigh the box and measure the dimensions at home so there is no chance the package will need extra attention.
At the store, I hand the labeled and sealed box to the clerk. The clerk weighs it (added bonus: free test of my scale’s accuracy), puts the package in the out box, and offers me a receipt to show I dropped it off.
I always leave out any reference to “beer” in the address.
For example, Craft Beer Cellars becomes Craft Cellars, New England Regional Homebrew Competition becomes NERHBC, etc.
The folks at the local UPS drop-off location don’t ask, I don’t tell.
Yes, that is a very smart way of going about it too.
The difference being that while having to lie doesn’t feel great, shipping alcohol via USPS is actually a crime.
No one from either UPS or FedEx has ever asked me what was inside, they just basically let me drop off the package and move on. The answer I always have prepared just in case is “food samples for analysis”, but on second thought that’s probably still a little suspicious. How about “non-perishable food in glass containers”. Now that’s being honest without being suspicious!
Great points – I began doing this as well in recent history.
I use “competition supplies”
As many of you know, UPS recently lost my Spring Swap package to Joe Sr. It was not insured. They investigated, admitted they lost it, then asked me for a statement of what was in it and a value. This is what I sent them in an email.
“Dear Patty The contents of the packaged shipped via UPS Tracking # 1Z8990780351404636 were (8) 22 oz glass bottles containing repitchable brewing yeast suspended in liquid form. They are not for sale, but an exchange between hobbyists. Similar products available commercially sell for about $14 each. Total loss is $112 plus the cost of shipping $28.90 = $140.90”
They paid me $109.00. No idea where they came up with that figure, but it was better than nothing.
I don’t even say that I have glass containers. That raises more suspicion. I think that we all pack our boxes well enough that they can be dropped off the Empire State Builiding. I think I just shipped 7 bottles in a box that was 24"x16"x10 (round about). It was loaded with bubble wrap and paper packing. Yeah, I even though it was a bit crazy over kill. Yeah, the one I got in the mail in return, was just about the same size. I don’t even say the package is fragile. I really don’t think it makes a difference.
I have shipped plenty of “books”, “food items”, “crafts”, “glassware”. Be careful mentioning glassware…I had an instance once where they had to repackage my box inside another bigger box with more packaging to guarantee it’s delivery unless they opened up the package and inspected the packaging themselves. I think it was just bullshit to get me to pay for more packaging…well, it cost me a little more but saved me the hassle and embarrassment of them inspecting the package to find beer.
I don’t ship much so I don’t care to open an account or anything. But just about every time I have shipped FedEx, they ask the contents. I stick to books that I sold on Ebay. And whatever you do, make sure the wife knows not to mention beer when asked the contents…yeah, that happened once. You think she would know better being the wife of a home brewer…jeez. Man was she pissed at me. I was only sorry she got embarrassed, but she she said never again.
Cutting and saving for later use. Thanks Jim!
If you do not feel comfortable dropping the box from 6’ onto concrete you have not packaged it good enough to survive the FedEx/UPS treatment.
The best thing was already mentioned, just print the label online and dropoff at a pickup point. No questions asked. If you packed well enough, they won’t even hear any sloshing and no questions will be asked. When a bottle breaks is when they start to investigate and the box generally hits the trash. I individually zip lock each bottle and then wrap in bubble wrap. To my knowledge I have never had a breakage.
I think I pack well but I can’t get it so no sloshing can be heard. How do you do that?
They apparently gave you a $10 per bottle value plus the $29 shipping.