FedEx opened package!

[sfgoat]

Since when does Fedex demand to open and search packages? I went today to try and ship a brew to a competition and they insisted that they open the package and check the contents and when they learned I was shipping homebrew they of course refused.

Did I just get unlucky today or is this a new policy of theirs?

 

[Beer-lord]

Wow, I never heard of that. I guess the label gave it away?????
I thought you could legally ship small amounts of beer via FedEx and UPS.

 

[NuttyProf21]

Shipping beer is kind of a sticky wicket. Some states allow it in and out of the state. Some states only allow you to ship it into the state. And some only allow you to ship it out of the sate. Lastly some don't allow you to ship it into or out of the state. Now this only applies to private people sending beer. So FEDEX, UPS, and USPS have taken the stance that no shipping of beer is allowed.

They do have the right to know what you are shipping and I am sure that in the huge document that is their end user agreement that it has a line or two stating that they can ask you to open a suspect package.

 

[sfgoat]

Shipping beer is kind of a sticky wicket. Some states allow it in and out of the state. Some states only allow you to ship it into the state. And some only allow you to ship it out of the sate. Lastly some don't allow you to ship it into or out of the state. Now this only applies to private people sending beer. So FEDEX, UPS, and USPS have taken the stance that no shipping of beer is allowed.

They do have the right to know what you are shipping and I am sure that in the huge document that is their end user agreement that it has a line or two stating that they can ask you to open a suspect package.

I can get that but from the shipping label it looked like I was just sending a package to some guys house. Usually here in Nebraska there is no issue of shipping in and out of state. Usually they don't even ask. I just went down the road and shipped from the UPS store no problem.

Was just kind of taken back the way they did it. Lady just said she had to inspect my items and went at it with a knife. She could have just asked and I would have been honest but she just dove right in.

 

[craigkelker]

If they ask about the contents, describe it as a yeast sample. This isn't a joke.

 

[HonestAbe]

If they ask about the contents, describe it as a yeast sample. This isn't a joke.

I heard of people calling them zymological samples Haven't tried that yet. My box electric motor part labels on it so I said it was a commutator lol

 

[IslandLizard]

[...] Lady just said she had to inspect my items and went at it with a knife. She could have just asked and I would have been honest but she just dove right in.

Cutting your package open sounds blatantly wrong, definitely without your consent. Had you handed it to them already and paid for it? If not, it wasn't theirs to open, and even then it's debatable whether they can, IMO.

The "yeast sample" is the way to get around a lot of red tape apparently. Yeast needs to be suspended in a watery solution, so it comes with it. Sugar water that is.

 

[bob1852]

Cutting your package open sounds blatantly wrong, definitely without your consent.

There's usually some sort of paperwork that you don't actually read that gives consent...

 

[TallDan]

Did you print a label from home and put it on the package yourself? Every time I've printed the label myself the only question has been if I want a receipt of package acceptance. When I've shipped things without a pre-printed label, they always ask what's in it so they can fill out their form ensuring it doesn't need any special handling.

 

[IslandLizard]

I heard of people calling them zymological samples Haven't tried that yet. My box electric motor part labels on it so I said it was a commutator lol

Yeah, that's a great idea, misleading content labels.

How about "photosensitive materials" - Do Not Open!
[hmm, what does photosensitive mean? Let's take a peek...]

 

[PRE66_6TART]

I just say it's food. Technically beer is food, right?

 

[Jeepinctbrewer]

I am trying to figure out how to get my beer to a aha comp right now. I thought fedex would be ok


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[brew_ny]

I just say it's food. Technically beer is food, right?

liquid bread

 

[poptarts]

I use UPS since fed ex can suck it, and if they ask i just say beer yeast, cause that is in there. Never had any issues.

 

[sfgoat]

I did not print my own label. I had just handed it to her to weight for postage cost and she just dug in. So now I know to print it out at home.

 

[Hello]

I always print at home. The less time I have to stand face to face with the guys there the better. Not because they're not nice, but because I am a terrible liar and I would prefer to not have to explain myself. I shipped 2 of the 5 boxes I need to send today. Came in, dumped them on the counter, thanked them very much and walked out.

I feel bad for you that she did that. I feel like it was wrong.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Did you walk in there wearing a homebrew t-shirt?

 

[jjw5015]

I took a package to USPS today. Printed at home, handed it to them, walked out. Have a nice day...no questions asked.

 

[sweetcell]

OP: is there another fedex location in your area? last year i was refused at a location because i made the mistake of telling them it was beer. i then drove a few minutes to the next location, kept my mouth shut, and off it went. not sure if this is an option for you.

 

[bob1852]

NHC entries are often shipped to breweries or homebrew stores. They asked me if I was shipping alcohol, and I responded: "Why would I send booze to a brewery?"

 

[electrolight]

USPS ftw. I tell them I'm just shipping some "non-perishable snacks". When they shake it they hear the newspaper crunching under the weight instead of liquid... EzPz.

 

[sfgoat]

Did you walk in there wearing a homebrew t-shirt?

Haha no but that would have explained it.

 

[sfgoat]

OP: is there another fedex location in your area? last year i was refused at a location because i made the mistake of telling them it was beer. i then drove a few minutes to the next location, kept my mouth shut, and off it went. not sure if this is an option for you.

I just went to the UPS store right down the road from them. I have to drive out of my town to get to any of these carriers so there is not much option.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

9. Right to inspect. FedEx may inspect the shipment at any time and may permit government authorities to carry out such inspections as they may consider appropriate. FedEx, in addition, may reject or suspend the carriage of any prohibited items or one that contains materials that damage or may damage other shipments or that may constitute a risk to FedEx equipment or employees or to those of its service providers.

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Right of Inspection</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>UPS reserves the right to open and inspect any package tendered to it for transportation.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[sfgoat]

9. Right to inspect. FedEx may inspect the shipment at any time and may permit government authorities to carry out such inspections as they may consider appropriate. FedEx, in addition, may reject or suspend the carriage of any prohibited items or one that contains materials that damage or may damage other shipments or that may constitute a risk to FedEx equipment or employees or to those of its service providers.

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Right of Inspection</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>UPS reserves the right to open and inspect any package tendered to it for transportation.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I knew they had the right to inspect. Just never had them dig into it like that. Could of just asked and I would have been honest and accepted their refusal. This lady just started slicing things open without any questions asked or anything being said. Just put me off.

 

[PseudoChef]

USPS ftw. I tell them I'm just shipping some "non-perishable snacks". When they shake it they hear the newspaper crunching under the weight instead of liquid... EzPz.

Except that shipping via USPS is illegal.

 

[Qhrumphf]

USPS ftw. I tell them I'm just shipping some "non-perishable snacks". When they shake it they hear the newspaper crunching under the weight instead of liquid... EzPz.

UPS finds out you're shipping alcohol, your package is refused, and you may or may not be refunded the shipping cost. And that's the end of it.

FedEx, see above.

USPS finds out you're shipping alcohol, I believe it's up to a year in prison.

Yeah, don't use USPS, period.

 

[Qhrumphf]

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1716

(f) All spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxicating liquors of any kind are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried through the mails.

(1) Whoever knowingly deposits for mailing or delivery, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail, according to the direction thereon, or at any place at which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, anything declared nonmailable by this section, unless in accordance with the rules and regulations authorized to be prescribed by the Postal Service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Pretty plain text. Up to a year in prison and/or fines if you're caught shipping alcohol via USPS. And if a bottles happens to break and injure a postal worker (or anything similar) it goes up to 20 years in prison. And if that injury kills said postal worker (as unlikely as that may be), you're eligible for the death penalty.

So again, don't send beer through USPS.

 

[duboman]

UPS finds out you're shipping alcohol, your package is refused, and you may or may not be refunded the shipping cost. And that's the end of it.

FedEx, see above.

USPS finds out you're shipping alcohol, I believe it's up to a year in prison.

Yeah, don't use USPS, period.

+1

USPS for shipping booze is a federal crime and all disclaimers on competition rules spell this out clearly!

I use Fed Ex all the time, print labels from my own account, package, and drop off to ship, in fact just sent out a package to the KCBM a few weeks ago and another today for the Drunk Monk, no issues with either one.

UPS I try and do the same but they always ask me questions when I drop off since the boxes are labeled fragile this end up. They always tell me since it's fragile they have to inspect my packing so I don't use them anymore, Fed Ex never asks.

For contents I always list as art or glassware. But in short, yes they can all ask and inspect if they want to, it's their right to do so, so beware.

 

[ten80]

You also risk extra scrutiny if you declare a large value for FedEx or USPS packages. Stick with $20-$50 to reduce risk.