Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:25 pm
Place bottle label/entry form around bottle(s) and secure with rubber band. You can put them in a sandwich bag if you're worried about condensation making them illegible.
Wrap each bottle in bubble wrap but don't overdo the tape (makes it hard to unpack).
Place entries in a box lined with a trash bag.
An alternative, is either making or reusing a bottle mailer like those used in the beer of the month clubs.
Whatever you do, don't use packing peanuts. They do no good in safeguarding the bottles and are a PITA for the unpacking folks. They make me want to disqualify any entry that comes packed in them.
A good test is to take the packed box and drop it from a couple feet. If it doesn't make noise or break, you're good to go.
Don't use the USPS; it's illegal to ship alcohol with them. Use Fedex, UPS, or DHL just don't tell them it's beer. People sometimes butt heads with employees who don't understand their _real_ shipping policy. It's best to create the shipping label online and drop the package off at either a company store or authorized pickup location (or throw it on your company's outgoing pile).
Joe