Shipping bourbon...UPS or FedEx?

[RyanL]

I recently moved across the country and left most of my bunker at my mom's house. I was going to have her send me some and have never mailed any before as I had no need. I was wondering which company was better in terms of not hassling her about what is in it? If she tells them there isn't alcohol in it can they open it anyway? What should she say is in there as it will be obvious it is liquid of some sort in roughly wine sized bottles?

[smokinjoe]

Hey Ryan. I've had great success with The UPS Store. The owner there has never said a word on anything, nor asked any type of question. But, I think it may just be a "depends on the store" type of thing. Though, I've sent bottles from out of town UPS Stores to me here in ATL without incident, too.

Maybe, have her send you some other things from the store, in order to build up a "relationship". Then, when she starts runnin' your whiskey out, they won't think twice.

One other thing, it's bad form to have your Mom lie in order for you to get your booze.

[Brisko]

What should she say is in there as it will be obvious it is liquid of some sort in roughly wine sized bottles?

• Artisan olive oil
  
• Vintage lava lamps
  
• Artisan vinegar
  
• Hand pressed apple cider

If you put the words "artisan" or "vintage" in there, it helps justify a higher insured value, too.

/the first two suggestions aren't original with me, they came from another member here.

[B1bomber]

My local UPS store has boxes specifically designed for items the exact size and shape of a wine bottle, which often also means liquor bottle. A tall box with styrofoam liner neatly cut to a bottle's shape. They sell them for single bottles and also 3 bottle sets. Curious, perhaps, in that it's not legal to ship such contents. But as my local UPS guy told me with a wink, "we don't look inside and check the contents."

[dridge11]

Create the label online, drop at Staples and tell them it's already labelled and you're just dropping it off. They will usually just say "great, just set it on the counter over there".

......I heard

[Tico]

Create the label online, drop at Staples and tell them it's already labelled and you're just dropping it off. They will usually just say "great, just set it on the counter over there".

......I heard

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

Fed Ex is the way to go. I still don't know what is illegal about mailing booze -- places like Party Source ship via FedEx, and my most recent shipment actually had a big yellow sticker boldly proclaiming "CONTAINS ALCOHOL" to anyone who can read -- but both on the shipping and receiving end, I have had nothing but good experience shipping by Fed Ex. And surprisingly, ground shipping for short distances is often faster than their more expensive options and they've been happy to tell me so.

[luther.r]

From my experience working at a mail order company for 13 years, UPS is far more abusive to their boxes. So if it's something fragile I always use FedEx.

[dridge11]

From my experience working at a mail order company for 13 years, UPS is far more abusive to their boxes. So if it's something fragile I always use FedEx.

[fishnbowljoe]

Just remember, shipping spirits/alcohol without a licenses is illegal. That being said, (:grin: ) if it was up to me, I'd use UPS from a place I know wouldn't ask any questions. Put labels on boxes designating something other than spirits/alcohol. I'd also use labels designating "Fragile Glass", and labels with arrows designating "This Side Up." I just happened to find a site you can print those very labels from. http://www.samplewords.com/ Might have to search a bit.

FWIW, I work for a company where I'm sometimes required to ship packages out. I'm not bragging, (really I am) but I know how to pack things in order to minimize damage. I'd use extra cardboard or double wall boxes, cardboard separators, styrofoam, styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, foam pieces/foam wrap, etc... what ever you have, and what ever you think it takes. I's better to be safe than sorry. Also, U-Haul has styrofoam wine bottle shipping containers that might be of use to you. Like Brisko said, some of these ideas are from other sources.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Ejmharris]

Fed Ex is the way to go. I still don't know what is illegal about mailing booze -- places like Party Source ship via FedEx, and my most recent shipment actually had a big yellow sticker boldly proclaiming "CONTAINS ALCOHOL" to anyone who can read -- but both on the shipping and receiving end, I have had nothing but good experience shipping by Fed Ex. And surprisingly, ground shipping for short distances is often faster than their more expensive options and they've been happy to tell me so.

[StraightBoston]

I've heard that a few dry beans in the box mask the "glug" and could be credibly explained as pieces of a puzzle for a child of the recipient...

[Young Blacksmith]

Bagging the contents also help deter leakage. My business regularly uses heavy bags and vermiculite to absorb any spilled liquids. I don't go so far for personal shipments, such as collectable cologne bottles, but I do bag all items in at least trash bags.

Alcohol is a flammable liquid, which could get you in trouble with hazardous shipments not being declared as such.

[tommyj1986]

I recently looked up hazmat rules for fedex, and what I gathered was for American DOT hazmat is that as long an alcohol is below 150 proof and in smaller than 5 liter container no speciality hazmat had to be declared.

As far as why it is illegal for personal people to ship is because of licensing and taxes, if I buy whiskey in my state that isn't registered for sale in another state, that state isn't receiving it's licensing fee or excise tax from the sale. Each state has different laws regulating whether or not certain types of businesses can ship into the state, some of these laws are setup to protect the local producers, but more often the laws are setup to protect the distributors. Distributors are the ones with all the lobbying power.

[trumpstylz]

I've shipped with both carriers, and it really just varies location to location.

One difference I have noticed- some UPS stores ask me what I am shipping. Fedex has not done this.

However, It really depends what service you are using. UPS has built themselves up on their ground shipping and fedex their air service (next day and 2 day). It honestly doesn't make much difference.

[p_elliott]

• Artisan olive oil
  
• Vintage lava lamps
  
• Artisan vinegar
  
• Hand pressed apple cider

If you put the words "artisan" or "vintage" in there, it helps justify a higher insured value, too.

/the first two suggestions aren't original with me, they came from another member here.

Insurance is no good if it breaks they will know it's bourbon and they ain't going to pay nothing.

[p_elliott]

Just remember, shipping spirits/alcohol without a licenses is illegal. That being said, (:grin: ) if it was up to me, I'd use UPS from a place I know wouldn't ask any questions. Put labels on boxes designating something other than spirits/alcohol. I'd also use labels designating "Fragile Glass", and labels with arrows designating "This Side Up." I just happened to find a site you can print those very labels from. http://www.samplewords.com/ Might have to search a bit.

FWIW, I work for a company where I'm sometimes required to ship packages out. I'm not bragging, (really I am) but I know how to pack things in order to minimize damage. I'd use extra cardboard or double wall boxes, cardboard separators, styrofoam, styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, foam pieces/foam wrap, etc... what ever you have, and what ever you think it takes. I's better to be safe than sorry. Also, U-Haul has styrofoam wine bottle shipping containers that might be of use to you. Like Brisko said, some of these ideas are from other sources.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Trust me short of them running it over with a forklift something packed by Joe is not going to break.

[T Comp]

Hey I'll deliver to Bardstown Kentucky twice a year... even free of charge in spite of the $4 plus a gallon gas and exorbitant Illinois tolls :grin: .

[smokinjoe]

Hey I'll deliver to Bardstown Kentucky twice a year... even free of charge in spite of the $4 plus a gallon gas and exorbitant Illinois tolls :grin: .

Yep, we're all part of a network of mules.

[Shuboy]

Ralfy mentioned in his miniatures video about labeling your minis as printer ink (though I've never seen people sell printer ink in mini glass bottles before). Considering Master of Malt has been offering a lot of their whiskies in sample bottles, asking them to label your package as printer ink might be helpful in getting through customs.

[TomH]

Only had one experience with Master of Malt, but their package made it thru customs just fine.

Ralfy mentioned in his miniatures video about labeling your minis as printer ink (though I've never seen people sell printer ink in mini glass bottles before). Considering Master of Malt has been offering a lot of their whiskies in sample bottles, asking them to label your package as printer ink might be helpful in getting through customs.

[unclebunk]

What do you guys think of this sort of packaging? It's a styrofoam bottle holder and outer cardboard box for about $7 each.

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-5809/Wine-Shippers/Wine-Bottle-Shippers-1-Bottle-Pack

[TomH]

My concern with that packaging is that it looks like its made for a standard 750ML wine bottle. Whiskey bottles are anything but standard shape and many would not fix in the styro insert.

[unclebunk]

My concern with that packaging is that it looks like its made for a standard 750ML wine bottle. Whiskey bottles are anything but standard shape and many would not fix in the styro insert.

[ILLfarmboy]

Just remember, shipping spirits/alcohol without a licenses is illegal.

Yes, and I think its kind of funny not one of the "hall monitors" has condemned it.

Anyhow, I've used both FedEx and UPS and I know one of our "hall monitors" here has used USPS priority mail. I know, 'cause I was the recipient.

Anyhow, I just bubble-wrap the the dickens out of anything I ship and have had no problems with either UPS of FedEx. No one has ever asked me what I was shipping.