Fellowship of the Drink V: The Fellowship Drinks Bock

[ThirstyPawsHB]

Seems the top 3 concerns are
1) Randomization Verification (and when ppl want the randomization to take place)
2) Offer Limits
3) Pick times (and intervals between picks)

My suggestions..
1) I did like knowing ahead of time my place. If we do it right before, the last few may be waiting a long time before the ability to submit.
2) I like the 80oz max limit offering.
3) +1 for designated pick times so no one gets left behind. If we do the randomize the day before, I can message everyone a reminder on drawing day.
4) Agree with imasickboy about feedback. It's important we give it to each other for any future endeavors. I don't think we should be excluded, how about a gentle flogging?

 

[jerbrew]

Just Another thought about beer limits. My offer had 14 beers although only 6 different brews. I was picked 8th. Just goes to show you the number doesn't really matter. Next time I won't post doubles just thought it would be nice to know I was sending a couple of each.

I'm good with 5 minutes. I mean we have several days to send a pick list. I also like that @imasickboy used the lists to pick quickly for those not around to keep it going quickly.

As for 30 people, I think that's getting crazier than the beer offers. If you can handle it do it but I agree with whoever was saying that offers will start overlapping which may or may not be a good thing.

Last thing, anything I said about froggyfrog it imasickboy about pick order was said in jest and I apologize if anyone took that as legit criticism. I thought that's what the bananas were for.

 

[Thorrak]

My suggestions for future rounds echo other's.
1. Draft order is scheduled in stone. Randomizer list posted with time stamp would be nice.
2. Offer limits are actual limits. Extras are extras. I'm just as guilty as anyone, but the last few rounds have kind of felt like an arms race, and it's really all in fun, but are we all going to be offering multiple cases of beer by round 10? I'd even just propose a 6 bottle limit (convenient, for my offer, right? [emoji6] )
3. 5 minute pick times are perfect, but we should make it a full 5 minutes, no matter what. I got skipped on a round because I thought I'd have time to log on a little later, but there were quick picks and list picks that moved my pick up way fast. Maybe we schedule pick times? I.e. #1 @ 12:00, #2 @ 12:05, #3 @ 12:10, etc, etc, as naseum.

But that's just me, a lowly participant [emoji16]

I completely agree on the arms race comment. While I like sticking random extras in the box, continued escalation of offers runs the risk of making FotD inaccessible to a number of people - either due to beer cost, shipping cost, or lack of available, local-ish beer.

I actually was a fan of the early draft order this round, as it made coming up with a pick list a bit easier (and let me schedule plans for lunch on Saturday
- even if that backfired a bit).

If there is any concern about the draft order randomization, I may be able to offer one additional potential solution. For the past few rounds the FotD organizers have had access to a tool I put together to help manage round 2. Basically, the tool helps manage the list of participants, what they're offering, what order they pick in, and who picked whom. When I put it together I specifically designed it to take a random.org "picklist" as an input to help reinforce the impartiality of the list when randomizing for a round I'm running.

To the extent that future organizers want to use the FotD tool, people want some kind of verifiability that the list was in fact randomized, and they don't mind me being the one to provide that verifiability what I could do is add the ability for the tool to generate the random list itself - and then lock that list for the round. Is it a perfect solution? No, but it's easy for the organizers - and easy to verify as well.

 

[Brizzo]

funny, brizzo was the bottom of my list. maybe because i've been to treehouse a number of times, and the thrill of an hour long wait for 8 cans is dropping off fast. Those guys need to open their new place and get to a point where I know I can show up at any point during their posted hours and get beer before I go back.

/rant.

too much grumbling in here tonight. everybody get a beer.

Lol agreed! Treehouse is good but there are other better options that are more readily available. But it's a cool beer to try. It's all about trying some new stuff.

Looking forward to the next round! And at the end of the day I thought this ran smoothly and was a lot of fun

 

[cegan09]

Thorrak, I have to say your tool made running round 3 a breeze. Adding in the randomizer would only make it better.

 

[GaBrewZoo]

Thorrak, I have to say your tool made running round 3 a breeze. Adding in the randomizer would only make it better.

Agree totally.

 

[cegan09]

As far as the itrader stuff, i'll admit I've never used it before. Every forum has their own features and I never saw that one explained. I will go back and fill it out for the last couple rounds.

 

[mattv21]

Personally, I don't feel like the draft order was falsified at all, but I totally get how the particular coincidental situation we had this round could appear that way. So another possible solution to the Draftgate issue; have a member that isn't in the current FOTD run a randomizer to get the draft order. There's no concern of the order being toyed with when the party running it has no dog in the race. If the group prefers that method, see if we can convince an admin to run the randomizer. Or tag me in and I can run it if you want (I'm planning on skipping the next one or two; need to take a short trade break). I'm fully unbiased; I hate every one of you equally. (dancing banana rule in full effect)

 

[PaulR]

I just want to say that I think that imasickboy did a great job running the round. I don't think that anyone seriously thought there was anything underhanded going on the with draft order. Quite a few people chimed in and told him to go ahead and do it early. I mean, everyone got beer and as we can all see, pretty much everyone has different tastes in what beer they prefer. Whatever changes you guys feel you need to keep everything fair and equal is fine by me. Like I said, as long as I end up with beer in the end, I'm happy. As a matter of fact, I think I have just as much fun getting my box ready to send out and picking extras as I do receiving my pick. I think that this trade is a lot of fun and I enjoy B$ing back and forth with everyone.

 

[RevKev]

Indeed if I didn't already I wanna say thanks to imasickboy for a very nice round

 

[Scturo]

Yeah, great job @imasickboy!

 

[ThirstyPawsHB]

FOUR MORE ROUNDS!! FOUR MORE ROUNDS!!

@imasickboyX4

 

[UglySister]

I've been to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Everyone is refusing to ship it for me. How are you guys shipping?

 

[cegan09]

I've been to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Everyone is refusing to ship it for me. How are you guys shipping?

Are you telling them what it is? Avoid USPS, use one of the other two. Do not say it's beer.

 

[orionol73]

I've been to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Everyone is refusing to ship it for me. How are you guys shipping?

Use FedEx or UPS, it is illegal to ship through the mail. You also cannot tell them what you are shipping. You need to show up packed and ready to go so you can just slap a label on it. If you are questioned about the contents of the box just say it is any non-alcoholic food product.

 

[PaulR]

Lol, I know my FedEx driver pretty well. I told him my last shipment was beer and he just laughed and said I'd better hope he doesn't get thirsty on his route. Try setting up an online account and scheduling a pickup. They will come get it from you and you don't have to tell them anything.

 

[Redtab78]

I mark my boxes as fragile, and claim it as glassware. when asked the question about any hazardous stuff, I just say no.

 

[afro_lou]

Yeah, don't tell them what you're shipping. I opened a FedEx account, so I just print out my labels at home, box them up, and drop them off. No questions asked! Also, follow this to the T:
http://thebeerexchange.io/how-to-package-and-ship-beer.html

 

[ThirstyPawsHB]

I've been to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Everyone is refusing to ship it for me. How are you guys shipping?

Tell them It's yeast samples. Or do what I did, get to know your local Postal Annex dude and supply him with good beer.

 

[coyote68]

shipped.

 

[imasickboy]

I shipped to jerbrew today, and a side trade I had with afro_lou also shipped today.

And my FotD VI offer has been submitted.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

I've been to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Everyone is refusing to ship it for me. How are you guys shipping?

I use FEDEX. If anyone asks, I tell them it's homemade "craft" soy sauce. When they ask about that, I say "I don't know. It's my wife's hobby." Vacuum sealed. Bubble wrapped. Never another question. Lol!


Honestly, it works every time

 

[PatrickGoss]

I just print the labels at home and drop them off. Zero conversation beyond "have a nice day"

 

[Thorrak]

I just print the labels at home and drop them off. Zero conversation beyond "have a nice day"

Oof. My FedEx Office refuses to accept packages until they have a conversation with you about how they really should be the ones packing it, and how they won't accept it unless them open it and inspect everything.

Then again, this is the same FedEx Office that refused to package my Zymatic because there were only women on shift that night, and "we make the men do all the packing because otherwise we could get hurt". Not kidding - direct quote.

 

[afro_lou]

Ouch. That's super lame! My drop off location always try to upsell the packing service, I just tell them that I've got tons of packing material at home already. No real questions beyond that. I'd be very wary if they ask you to open an already packed and sealed box... pretty sure that's against, at the very least, company policy...
Still, doesn't help much when you're standing at the counter!

 

[gromitdj]

I've been to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. Everyone is refusing to ship it for me. How are you guys shipping?

I just print the labels at home and drop them off. Zero conversation beyond "have a nice day"

This is exactly how I do it. I even turn down the receipt. Never a problem. But I always drop off at an actual FedEx location and not a third party mailbox location.

I'd be willing to bet its usually the shipping center type of locations that insist on packaging it themselves, since the materials is where the bulk of profit is for them.

 

[tlucarelli]

This is exactly how I do it. I even turn down the receipt. Never a problem. But I always drop off at an actual FedEx location and not a third party mailbox location.

I'd be willing to bet its usually the shipping center type of locations that insist on packaging it themselves, since the materials is where the bulk of profit is for them.

See I have a third party shipping company right up the street and I always go there with a well packed box already sealed. They've asked me before and I tell him directly - I'm shipping beer. First few times he basically said huh that's cool. Did you pack it well? You know if I don't mark it signature required you could risk losing it? Ok cool.

Next visit, after label is printed - oh you're shipping beer? You're supposed to tell me that. I know you're in here all the time shipping beer anyway and I should have known anyway. Oh well. You usually pack it well.

Now I'll walk in and be greeted with - shipping more beer? Where to this time?

I overpay on shipping honestly but he's a good guy and I like supporting local businesses.

 

[Redtab78]

Mine shipped out today too, no questions at all....of course I printed out "fragile, contains glass" labels and taped them all over it.

 

[afro_lou]

It's probably just paranoia, but I never put any markings on the box that might single it out. Whenever I've shipped in a box with fragile stickers on it they always ask me what's in it. I just pack the hell out of it and send it on it's way.

 

[orionol73]

It's probably just paranoia, but I never put any markings on the box that might single it out. Whenever I've shipped in a box with fragile stickers on it they always ask me what's in it. I just pack the hell out of it and send it on it's way.

Our UPS driver at work advises us never to use fragile labels because it is an invitation for an employee having a bad day to be a prick
He also swears at us if we leave too much for his afternoon pickup