Anybody ever ship beer?

I mean...root beer...yeah, that's the ticket! I'm assuming I should line the box w/a trash bag in case something breaks, wrap the bottles individually with a bunch of bubble wrap, then fill the box w/additional bubble wrap, etc., to give them some room to move around without banging into each other(???) Any other words of wisdom?

Don't tell the shipper it's beer. Say it's glass bottles.

Yes, collectible glass bottles. Just like souvenir cigar bands from Cuba.

I don't tell my shipping guys E36 M3. They never ask.

I sent a "thank you" box out to California after some sailing. I sent them stuff they could not get there. Place each bottle in a ziplock baggie then standard wrap and foam peanuts. With the ziplock, the box will then not leak if the worst happens and thereby weaken the box much further.
All arrived well.

I've only ever shipped a couple bottles at a time, so I wrapped each one in bubble wrap, and then put them in one or two ziplock bags, in case they break. And don't offer what it is unless they ask. Especially the USPS, because it's still illegal to ship beer via USPS. Or you could just say it's "yeast samples."

I've done it several times, and had it shipped to me more. Best way is to use a box one size bigger than you think you'll need, wrap each bottle tightly in bubble wrap (tape it on), then absolutely stuff that box full of styrofoam peanuts, leaving some space between each bottle. It should be hard to close the lid of the box, because you don't want the contents to settle any more than you can. And don't say what it is, if they ask, they are vintage Coke bottles or something.

In all the stuff I've shipped or had shipped to me, I've only had one breakage, and I think it was because it was below zero and the stuff froze.

Tom_Spangler wrote: I've done it several times, and had it shipped to me more. Best way is to use a box one size bigger than you think you'll need, wrap each bottle tightly in bubble wrap (tape it on), then absolutely stuff that box full of styrofoam peanuts, leaving some space between each bottle. It should be hard to close the lid of the box, because you don't want the contents to settle any more than you can. And don't say what it is, if they ask, they are vintage Coke bottles or something. In all the stuff I've shipped or had shipped to me, I've only had one breakage, and I think it was because it was below zero and the stuff froze.

Just what I was looking for. Thanks!!!

Tell them they're urine samples, that will keep them from looking.

These guys have done it..

You guys are crazy shipping illegal substances without telling them.

We ship liquids every day, including LOTS of alcohol products. The FAA and the DOT frown GREATLY on accidents with improper shipping documents.

We closed down an international airport once because of a wet box in a FedEx terminal. Got banged with a $20K fine too (talked down for a first offense from $150K).

Falsifying shipping documents can easily lead to jail time.

Ain't worth it, IMHO.

Tell them it's beer, and pay the proper shipping. Don't be a cheapa$$.

I shipped beer. In my belly. I drank a lot that day.

SVreX wrote: You guys are crazy shipping illegal substances without telling them. We ship liquids every day, including LOTS of alcohol products. The FAA and the DOT frown GREATLY on accidents with improper shipping documents. We closed down an international airport once because of a wet box in a FedEx terminal. Got banged with a $20K fine too (talked down for a first offense from $150K). Falsifying shipping documents can easily lead to jail time. Ain't worth it, IMHO. Tell them it's beer, and pay the proper shipping. Don't be a cheapa$$.

Dude. Calm down. I am not shipping LOTS of anything. If Uncle Pooklo wants to send my ass to jail for sending a four-pack to a friend, I hope you'd protest on the courthouse steps for my sorry ass. Besides, don't you build houses and stuff? Why are you shipping alcohol?

My son gets me a beer-of-the-month gift every Christmas. (I'm the guy that has everything)

12 pack at a time, three beers of four flavors. Comes in a cardboard box, 12 holes in styrofoam at the bottom, similar holes in a removable lid on top.

Never a problem.

Not too many houses being built around here these days. My day job is Site Engineer at a chemical plant- building is only a side job right now.

Some of our products are alcohol based.

The $20K fine we got was for an 8 ounce bottle improperly packaged- first offense.

It doesn't really bother me at all, in fact I wish it were not so. The powers that be over shipping regulations have WAAY too much power and control. I'm just trying to let you know that they are serious azzhats when it comes to improper labeling.

I'd protest on the courthouse steps for your sorry ass for a lot of things. Not sure on this one- I have learned how little wiggle room there is and how little protesting does.

BTW- I see no reason why it should be hard to label it properly. People ship alcohol every day.

As far as I know you can ship alcohol to any state in the country from any state in the country as a gift and not violate any law. As you long as you don't use USPS.

So why take the risk on mis-labeling it?

The only thing I'd add regarding the packaging is that peanuts aren't so good. It would be better to pack it in an absorbent.

SVreX wrote: BTW- I see no reason why it should be hard to label it properly. People ship alcohol every day.

Mine comes in a plain brown box. The first few shipments had to be signed for by someone 21 or older, no longer. I can see where dropping a well labeled 12 pack of beer on somone's porch and leaving it there until they get home could invite some liability.

Dan

NOTE- it may be perfectly legal in your state.

But, SVreX- it isn't for some states, as well. Michigan has some dumb shipping laws for wine and beer. Dumb, in that it also restricts someone to send wine out of the state... but it's being challegened and re-written. Anyway, call a local wine/beer maker (not distributor) and ask- they will know.

We've sent wine home (from states that it's allowed- again odd)- a good sturdy box, and the best have a great styrafoam holder for all of the bottles. Having sent other glass things via shipping with bubble wrap, that work perfectly fine, as well.

Anyway, check the local laws. It may be totally legal.

SVreX wrote: BTW- I see no reason why it should be hard to label it properly. People ship alcohol every day. As far as I know you can ship alcohol to any state in the country from any state in the country as a gift and not violate any law. As you long as you don't use USPS. So why take the risk on mis-labeling it?

Well, I've never labeled it at all, and I've never been asked. It's just a box, as far as the shipper knows. If they ask if anything breakable is in there, I say yes, but I don't volunteer that it's alcohol. Quite honestly, I didn't know that there were such severe penalties for this, I've always done it this way to avoid hassle.

Background on this is that I participate in a fantasy football league on another message board, and our prize for the winner has been that everyone else in the league sends him a 6-pack of a local microbrew. I've managed to win the league a few times, so I've had more sent to me than I've sent out, so I've seen all manner of packaging methods. As I said, only one ever had a problem, and I think it was the cold. The UPS guy dropped it off when I was home, and the box was clearly soaked through with beer, you could smell it. He didn't say a word about it.

You can also use expanding foam in a trash bag Requires great care, but I have gotten a few shipments done that way. Nothing will wiggle around in that stuff, just make sure the foam stays inside the bag.

Call UPS. They should know how to do it.

I once hauled a 53 foot trailer of beer in the winter with a propane heater that I was supposed to keep an eye on. But I didn't bother, and when I opened the doors at the destination warehouse, it had run out of propane at some point and I had a 53 foot trailer of exploded cans. Almost every single one of them. Wasn't a really good day. I guess what I'm saying is ship it in warm weather. Thats all I've got.

<- Insert Smokey and the Bandit "Snowman" joke here.

I've mailed beer, but only one bottle at a time in an envelope, just to see if it could be done.

But, seriously, if you're standing by the mailbox waiting for beer to arrive, isn't that kind of a cry for help?

Bubble wrap and Zip-Lock Gallon size freezer bags. Peanuts to fill in the gaps. Your box will be thrown at some point of its journey, possibly multiple times. Pack it with that in mind.