Anyone have recommendations for shipping alcohol?

[forgop]

It seems that UPS/USPS have taken a recent position of prohibiting alcohol for shipment. Anyone have any tips/suggestions for pulling it off? I recall someone mentioning elsewhere that if they suspect you're shipping something containing liquids that may be alcohol, they'll open it.

I've got them packed and I'm almost thinking I need to pack them inside yet another box for additional insulation/cushion.

[Superbad]

Fed Ex? I am just not sure it is worth it.

[mosesbotbol]

You mean UPS says your shipment was damaged and releases it the next day with a missing a bottle? That UPS????

You should only ship fruit syrup, you know that...

Fed Ex? I am just not sure it is worth it.
FedEX ground is competitive with UPS.

All the wine collectors I know recycle wine shippers. Very high demand and useful item. I recently bought a padded cover with wheels for a 12 pack wine shipper so I can check it on flights!

[T.G]

Lots of bubble pack, double ziploc baggies or vacuum sealed bags, USPS priority and answer "no" when they ask you "anything liquid, perishable or fragile?"

Pack it tight, you just don't want it to move around in there.

[Salvelinus]

Lots of bubble pack, double ziploc baggies or vacuum sealed bags, USPS priority and answer "no" when they ask you "anything liquid, perishable or fragile?"

Pack it tight, you just don't want it to move around in there.

I've been successful with this method. The medium box is a perfect fit for a few 22oz beers.

[forgop]

I've been successful with this method. The medium box is a perfect fit for a few 22oz beers.

But this is for multiple liquor bottles, not a couple of beers. :)

[pnoon]

But this is for multiple liquor bottles, not a couple of beers. :)

The difference in size between the two is minimal.
A 750 ml liquor bottle is a fraction over 25 oz.

[GolfNut]

I have been successful with Fed Ex ground shipping booze. Best shipping advise I can give you however is to send it to an address in Lewiston, Idaho. Let me know if you need it. :lr

[Cigarcop]

Drink them first then transport!......all joking aside just pack them really good with lots of packing and send Priority Mail and don't tell them there's liquid inside.

[bobarian]

Both UPS and FedEx ship alcohol. You can get shipping boxes made specifically for wine bottles, check with a few local shipping supply stores. Shipping via USPS is not advised, you might get away with it but if they find liquids it will be destroyed. USPS does not allow shipping of any liquids.

[BeerAdvocate]

I strictly use UPS and have never had a problem.
I do several beer trades so I am always shipping beer a few times a month!

[MiamiE]

Duane you are too honest! ;)

[forgop]

Duane you are too honest! ;)

It's just the idea that I read that if they suspect it's alcohol, it'll be confiscated, which is what I'm worried about. I used to ship wine quite a bit, but over the last year or two, it seems that USPS has really vamped up what they won't allow for shipment.

[BC-Axeman]

I get wine shipped to me UPS regularly. I've never heard that they don't ship alcohol.

[bobarian]

It's just the idea that I read that if they suspect it's alcohol, it'll be confiscated, which is what I'm worried about. I used to ship wine quite a bit, but over the last year or two, it seems that USPS has really vamped up what they won't allow for shipment.

Its illegal to ship most liquids via USPS.

http://www.usps.com/aviationsecurity/

[forgop]

I get wine shipped to me UPS regularly. I've never heard that they don't ship alcohol.

Assuming you're getting it from a retailer in a "legal" state, there's nothing to worry about. The problem is the number of states that are illegal to ship to period (kinda screws that whole interstate commerce clause, doesn't it?) and from shipping from a private individual.

[The Poet]

Here at work, we ship wine all the time via FedEx Ground. But, as others have noted, there are potential problems. Not only do laws vary from state to state, with many prohibiting shipping into their state altogether, there are laws allowing wine but prohibiting beers or distilled liquors. We once had a state (I believe it was Delaware) return to us a case of brandy a customer had ordered because it was distilled. We argued with our FedEx rep that it was "fortified wine", and managed to get the shipment approved.


Bottom line, if you are not sure, you have two options. One, don't send it. Two, lie like hell.

[forgop]

I wonder what I shall declare the contents to be for it. It's not rocket science that anyone who pays the least bit of attention to the package would be able to notice that it's a liquid.

[Bill86]

Voss water :r

Lava lamps?

[hotreds]

I wonder what I shall declare the contents to be for it. It's not rocket science that anyone who pays the least bit of attention to the package would be able to notice that it's a liquid.

Then don't ship USPS! However, I'm sure that millions of bottles of perfume will be shipped by USPS this Christmas, technically also illegal.

[forgop]

Voss water :r

Lava lamps?

Lava lamps...good thinking. I wonder if there are any other good ones.

[forgop]

Then don't ship USPS! However, I'm sure that millions of bottles of perfume will be shipped by USPS this Christmas, technically also illegal.

Too big of a box to use USPS...I was gonna use Fed Ex ground. I do like the lava lamp suggestion. I don't think perfume is on their restricted list either, but this box is just much too big.

[hotreds]

Some examples of commonly-used items restricted or considered hazardous under USPS regulations include:

Perfumes
Nail polish
Flea collars or flea sprays
Aerosols
Bleach
Pool chemicals
Paints
Matches
Batteries
Fuels or gasoline
Airbags
Dry ice
Mercury thermometers
Cleaning supplies
Items previously containing fuel
Glues
Fireworks

Lotsa lawbreakers out there, methinks!

[Emjaysmash]

Is FedEx ground usually expensive, or does it change when I'm the one ordering from a e-tailer? Was going to buy some drinks and ship directly to my Secret Santa "kid", but then saw the cost to ship was $24.99...

I'm guessing if I pick it up locally and ship to him via FedEx ground it will be substantially cheaper?

[SNKBYT]

PM sent

[kaisersozei]

You can always declare the contents as "chocolates."



I've been shipping beer in medium flat rate boxes for a long time. My wife gets cases of wine by FedEx Ground, I just cut down the packing cardboard to fit in the USPS box. I then wrap the bottles individually in gallon-size ziploc bags--just in case they break there's a lesser chance of getting spillage everywhere--and pack it all in tightly with bubble wrap. Works great, and can usually get 2-3 22 oz bottles, or 5-6 12s in.

[mosesbotbol]

It's usually cheaper for me to have liquor shipped from NY/NJ to MA than it is paying sales tax in either state! Not many will ship here even if legal; too many are snakebit about shipping to MA.

[SNKBYT]

It's usually cheaper for me to have liquor shipped from NY/NJ to MA than it is paying sales tax in either state! Not many will ship here even if legal; too many are snakebit about shipping to MA.
BS I ship to MA :r

[mosesbotbol]

BS I ship to MA :r

Are you an alcohol retailer?

[forgop]

You can always declare the contents as "chocolates."



I've been shipping beer in medium flat rate boxes for a long time. My wife gets cases of wine by FedEx Ground, I just cut down the packing cardboard to fit in the USPS box. I then wrap the bottles individually in gallon-size ziploc bags--just in case they break there's a lesser chance of getting spillage everywhere--and pack it all in tightly with bubble wrap. Works great, and can usually get 2-3 22 oz bottles, or 5-6 12s in.

My issue so much isn't how to to package them as I'm confident I can pack the bottles well enough. My concern was more along the lines of how do you try to disguise something that would be easily detected as a liquid from the sound/feeling liquids make when a package is moved from the movement of liquid in a bottle. It would send up red flags if you don't allow virtually any liquid to be shipped. Therefore, my thinking is could I try to get a step ahead of the game and literally wrote FRAGILE: LAVA LAMPS on the outside for someone to not have any reason to suspect anything more and minimize my risk of it being opened.

[SNKBYT]

Are you an alcohol retailer?

nope just a BBQ sauce crack dealer ;)

[mosesbotbol]

nope just a BBQ sauce crack dealer ;)

It's the alcohol retailers who scared after UPS and FedEX seizures over the years.

[chippewastud79]

Lots of bubble wrap and ship it as a collectible. Actually had a person in front of me who said it was a bourbon bottle and they said they couldn't ship it, but then when they said it was a collectible Kentucky Derby bottle they allowed it. Obviously I wouldn't mention it, but it has happened before even when they knew the contents. I have personally shipped a dozen or so liquor bottles and a 12 pack of beer, well sealed and labeled as "Fragile" and "Heavy" with no problems. There is also some theory that says if things are wrapped in tin foil there isn't much they can tell, thats how I shipped the old Club Stogie matches with no problems. All with no mention of liquid or alcohol with no issues. :tu

[captain53]

I just got a case of scotch a few weeks ago UPS.