Homebrew Comp Shipping

[SnowGoon99]

So I'm 2 for 2 for bottles breaking in transit to Homebrew competitions. Only this time I forgot the trash bag and the beer is probably dripping from the box. On the UPS website the shipment has been put in "exception" status. So 3 things:

1.) Am I in any real trouble with the law here?

2.) If not, am I going to be flagged by UPS now anytime I want to enter a comp?

3.) Does anyone have a packing guide or advice for me?

[JohnF]

1. No
2. Probably not
3. Sure

Try to use a fairly ridged box. The goals are that the contents not move (packed tight) and there be no glass on glass contact. Don't get fancy. Here is what I do, several hundred bottles (I ship for my club), zero failures.

1. If I don't have a suitable box to reuse, I get the 12x12x12 or 12x12x18 boxes from an office store (any bigger than the latter it gets heavy).

If I have some large bubble bubble wrap or foam or something that I have saved I put it on the bottom. If I don't have any I don't worry. I line with a heavy duty garbage back that is oversized for the box.

Each bottle gets a single sheet of small bubble bubble wrap from a roll of perforated sheets. I attach this with a rubber band and arrange bottles in the box. If there is any vacant space I stuff it with paper or other suitable packing materials that I have saved. I then tie the top of the garbage bag in a double knot. Then I fill the top with paper or some other packing materials that I have saved. I tape it up thoroughly, weigh it, print out a shipping label and drop it off at Fedex (the printing the label at home is optional but nice. I have a postage scale but have beer trading friends that just use their bathroom scale. If it is off apparently Fedex just fixes it for you and adjusts your account accordingly). UPS probably allows you to make an online account like Fedex but I haven't tried.

This is all pretty simple and I can do it fast. I keep boxes in stock, buy huge rolls of bubble wrap and keep tape and paper in stock. I buy nothing else but try to reuse packing materials from stuff I have received.

For my own entries in the spring/summer I have been known to adapt the Gordon Strong method of building an insulated box with the foam board from the home improvement store. One inch of foam board in a 12" tall box leaves exactly enough room for a standard long neck bottle. For reference the 12" cube box insulated with 1" foam board will hold 9 bottles very snugly (bubble wrapped). If it's not obvious the way the insulated box works is that you pack it, leave it open in a fridge until it all gets cold, then seal and ship. Works pretty well.

[Bugeater]

There is no legal trouble like you would if you had shipped with the USPS. You are fortunate that you shipped with UPS and not FedEx. Like UPS, their official policy is to not allow the shipment of beer. However, FedEx also has a policy that if a package begins to leak and the liquid has not been declared at the time of shipment, they will assume that it is some type of hazardous chemical. They will then call in a hazmat team to clean it up and have the liquid analyzed to determine just what it was. This all, of course, is quite expensive. The bill for this is handed over to their legal staff who will then begin proceedings to collect it (and their legal fees) from the person who shipped the beer.

Wayne

[shunt]

any suggestions for international shipments? UPS?

[TastyMcD]

I would add to JohnF's post that a layer of packing should be placed in the bottom of the box. I use two sheets of bubble wrap for each bottle but that's the small bubbles. Also, keep in mind that you have to protect the ends of the bottles from an outside force. Most of the damaged shipments I've received have been broken ends.

AND Most Importantly: Always use a sealed trash bag around the whole thing (Yes, tie a knot, or two as JohnF says.) You're bottles will at least get there so they can tell what you need to resend. And, you won't be pushing UPS closer to banning beer. Then we've got a big problem.

And don't use any tape to secure the bubble wrap. A rubber band as JohnF suggest is perfect. It takes the poor volunteers a lot of razor knife work to get a bottle out of the bubble wrap when it's taped. And the bubble wrap isn't reusable after all that cutting.

Use a trash bag. Less than half the people do.

Tasty

[AaronWesternNY]

My neighbor works for UPS. She said what I should be sending are "Machine Parts." That account for the weight.

Also if her boss is within earshot when people are describing anything liquid they are asked to open it then and there.

[beltbuckle]

pack it like you could throw it across the room, drop kick it, and then smack it with a golf club. it's a rough world out there for packages. if you think it will survive a drop from your roof onto concrete at any angle you'll probably be alright. I've had some broken packages with UPS and USPS and have never gotten in any trouble.

[Stinkfist]

I pack each bottle in a one gallon ziplock freezer bag...then roll it up in the bag,then seal and then proceed with the normal packing material and bubble wrap...haven't had one break yet..knock on wood