Random Beer Thoughts

[dvelcich1]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...5GC4bpZrxS3l8xL/story.html?platform=hootsuite

While we are all discussing the merits of terrible unfiltered IPA's, let's not forget what basically drove Pretty Things out of business.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...5GC4bpZrxS3l8xL/story.html?platform=hootsuite

Would love to see this shiit enforced in Chicago.

I don't see that with craft beer at my place as much as I see the bigger distributors making deals with smaller craft breweries then not doing as much to promote their products.

 

[jeevo]

Anyone think this is weird? I did a trade with someone else, who combined, we have 75+ trades under our belt with no damaged package issues. Our boxes both got damaged at the same shipping facility in Orlando FL. His package went from West Palm Beach to Orlando, mine went from Pittsburgh all the way down to Orlando before it got "damaged". I'm pretty upset here, as I package incredibly well (double boxed and zip locked bagged) and I am now hoping that my account doesn't get flagged.

His package got damaged on Wednesday, and was to deliver back to him today. My package was set to deliver to him today. Could it be possible that the driver noticed his damaged package of alcohol, then saw that my package was going to the same address, got suspicious, and opened it up?

 

[trickytunadicky]

Anyone think this is weird? I did a trade with someone else, who combined, we have 75+ trades under our belt with no damaged package issues. Our boxes both got damaged at the same shipping facility in Orlando FL. His package went from West Palm Beach to Orlando, mine went from Pittsburgh all the way down to Orlando before it got "damaged". I'm pretty upset here, as I package incredibly well (double boxed and zip locked bagged) and I am now hoping that my account doesn't get flagged.

His package got damaged on Wednesday, and was to deliver back to him today. My package was set to deliver to him today. Could it be possible that the driver noticed his damaged package of alcohol, then saw that my package was going to the same address, got suspicious, and opened it up?

It's certainly possible. I also heard of a facility in Ypsilanti, MI (FedEx, I believe) that put in a centrifuge to spin boxes for liquid sounds, opened them and destroyed any alcohol. So it could be they got a new toy.

 

[jeevo]

It's certainly possible. I also heard of a facility in Ypsilanti, MI (FedEx, I believe) that put in a centrifuge to spin boxes for liquid sounds, opened them and destroyed any alcohol. So it could be they got a new toy.

I'm at work right now and my computer sucks, otherwise a gif of James Van der Beek crying would be here instead of text.

 

[stupac2]

It's certainly possible. I also heard of a facility in Ypsilanti, MI (FedEx, I believe) that put in a centrifuge to spin boxes for liquid sounds, opened them and destroyed any alcohol. So it could be they got a new toy.

That would be so stupid. First, applying a constant force to a liquid isn't going to make it slosh. Remember as a kid at the beach, putting water in a bucket and spinning it? The water doesn't go anywhere and it doesn't slosh (unless you apply something besides a constant centripetal force, which a centrifuge wouldn't). Second, I'm sure anyone who has packed a box has shaken it and listened, the noise is just not that loud. I packed one a few days ago and couldn't hear it over the sound of a box fan. Centrifuges are ******* loud, especially if they're spinning heavy-ass boxes. Hell, ANYTHING that's mechanically moving **** around like that is loud. You'd never be able to hear the sound of sloshing over any mechanical system. And why buy a fancy new system when you could just shake the box?

Also, why would Fedex care? They need to make a nominal effort so the feds can't charge them, but why go out of their way to reduce their business? I get it when there's some moron clerk at a Fedex store who has decided that it's their precious little fiefdom and checks every box themselves because it makes them feel important, but at a Fedex distribution center? Why would they do anything that slows down distribution and potentially loses them business? Nothing about that makes sense.

Anyone think this is weird? I did a trade with someone else, who combined, we have 75+ trades under our belt with no damaged package issues. Our boxes both got damaged at the same shipping facility in Orlando FL. His package went from West Palm Beach to Orlando, mine went from Pittsburgh all the way down to Orlando before it got "damaged". I'm pretty upset here, as I package incredibly well (double boxed and zip locked bagged) and I am now hoping that my account doesn't get flagged.

His package got damaged on Wednesday, and was to deliver back to him today. My package was set to deliver to him today. Could it be possible that the driver noticed his damaged package of alcohol, then saw that my package was going to the same address, got suspicious, and opened it up?

It's almost certainly a coincidence. Someone who works for a delivery service (AleWatcher? anyone else?) would know better, but I don't believe that the same trucks handle incoming and outgoing packages at the same time. That seems like a logistical mess. Possibly someone at the center is checking boxes more thoroughly, but, again, why? What's in it for them? It's more likely some **** drove a forklift through it.

Also, FWIW, a package coming to me went through Orlando successfully on Monday/Tuesday.

 

[jeevo]

That would be so stupid. First, applying a constant force to a liquid isn't going to make it slosh. Remember as a kid at the beach, putting water in a bucket and spinning it? The water doesn't go anywhere and it doesn't slosh (unless you apply something besides a constant centripetal force, which a centrifuge wouldn't). Second, I'm sure anyone who has packed a box has shaken it and listened, the noise is just not that loud. I packed one a few days ago and couldn't hear it over the sound of a box fan. Centrifuges are ******* loud, especially if they're spinning heavy-ass boxes. Hell, ANYTHING that's mechanically moving **** around like that is loud. You'd never be able to hear the sound of sloshing over any mechanical system. And why buy a fancy new system when you could just shake the box?

Also, why would Fedex care? They need to make a nominal effort so the feds can't charge them, but why go out of their way to reduce their business? I get it when there's some moron clerk at a Fedex store who has decided that it's their precious little fiefdom and checks every box themselves because it makes them feel important, but at a Fedex distribution center? Why would they do anything that slows down distribution and potentially loses them business? Nothing about that makes sense.

It's almost certainly a coincidence. Someone who works for a delivery service (AleWatcher? anyone else?) would know better, but I don't believe that the same trucks handle incoming and outgoing packages at the same time. That seems like a logistical mess. Possibly someone at the center is checking boxes more thoroughly, but, again, why? What's in it for them? It's more likely some **** drove a forklift through it.

Also, FWIW, a package coming to me went through Orlando successfully on Monday/Tuesday.

Yeah, it's pretty odd and I don't know what to make of it. I agree with the first part though in that we beer guys shake the boxes right next to our ears in absolute silence. I doubt that employees could hear sloshing sounds in loud warehouses / FedEx stores.

The package I sent says that the box was damaged, with no updates after that. Maybe they are repackaging it (I had a box within a box) and sending it to my guy?

 

[RedCoffee]

I bet they damaged all of the beer by converting it to pee.

Nomsayin?

 

[RyanG1]

Yeah, it's pretty odd and I don't know what to make of it. I agree with the first part though in that we beer guys shake the boxes right next to our ears in absolute silence. I doubt that employees could hear sloshing sounds in loud warehouses / FedEx stores.

The package I sent says that the box was damaged, with no updates after that. Maybe they are repackaging it (I had a box within a box) and sending it to my guy?

Best bet is to be proactive.

Call them and file a claim, have it sent back to you, or whatever works best.

 

[jeevo]

Best bet is to be proactive.

Call them and file a claim, have it sent back to you, or whatever works best.

Would that be the best action to take?

My trader's package looks like it was destroyed, while my package is still in limbo.

His package:
8:08 pm Shipment exception
Unable to deliver - Damaged package

6:09 am Returning package to shipper
Damaged in transit - Unable to deliver shipment - Returning to shipper

6:04 am Delivery exception
Damaged, handling per shipper instructions

5:20 am Departed FedEx location

3:13 am Arrived at FedEx location

_______________________________________________________

My package:
3/03/2016 - Thursday

10:18 am Delivery exception
Damaged, handling per shipper instructions

3:46 am Departed FedEx location

12:26 am Shipment exception
Barcode label unreadable and replaced

 

[abawol01]

That would be so stupid. First, applying a constant force to a liquid isn't going to make it slosh. Remember as a kid at the beach, putting water in a bucket and spinning it? The water doesn't go anywhere and it doesn't slosh (unless you apply something besides a constant centripetal force, which a centrifuge wouldn't). Second, I'm sure anyone who has packed a box has shaken it and listened, the noise is just not that loud. I packed one a few days ago and couldn't hear it over the sound of a box fan. Centrifuges are ******* loud, especially if they're spinning heavy-ass boxes. Hell, ANYTHING that's mechanically moving **** around like that is loud. You'd never be able to hear the sound of sloshing over any mechanical system. And why buy a fancy new system when you could just shake the box?

Also, why would Fedex care? They need to make a nominal effort so the feds can't charge them, but why go out of their way to reduce their business? I get it when there's some moron clerk at a Fedex store who has decided that it's their precious little fiefdom and checks every box themselves because it makes them feel important, but at a Fedex distribution center? Why would they do anything that slows down distribution and potentially loses them business? Nothing about that makes sense.

It's almost certainly a coincidence. Someone who works for a delivery service (AleWatcher? anyone else?) would know better, but I don't believe that the same trucks handle incoming and outgoing packages at the same time. That seems like a logistical mess. Possibly someone at the center is checking boxes more thoroughly, but, again, why? What's in it for them? It's more likely some **** drove a forklift through it.

Also, FWIW, a package coming to me went through Orlando successfully on Monday/Tuesday.

Pretty much this. I worked for UPS loading and unloading trucks and I can say not one person doing the "work" gives a **** what is in the boxes. Not the loaders. Not the drivers. Not the unloaders. The only people who care are the ones who never see the boxes.

what likely happened in this case(and likely every other broken box) is that it was handled really roughly and busted open. That was the only time I ever saw what was in a box. Even then, we would put the box aside and management would deal with it. Never once found beer.

Pro Tip - NEVER write fragile on a box. That word means throw this ****** as hard as you can in the docks.

 

[trickytunadicky]

That would be so stupid. First, applying a constant force to a liquid isn't going to make it slosh. Remember as a kid at the beach, putting water in a bucket and spinning it? The water doesn't go anywhere and it doesn't slosh (unless you apply something besides a constant centripetal force, which a centrifuge wouldn't). Second, I'm sure anyone who has packed a box has shaken it and listened, the noise is just not that loud. I packed one a few days ago and couldn't hear it over the sound of a box fan. Centrifuges are ******* loud, especially if they're spinning heavy-ass boxes. Hell, ANYTHING that's mechanically moving **** around like that is loud. You'd never be able to hear the sound of sloshing over any mechanical system. And why buy a fancy new system when you could just shake the box?

Also, why would Fedex care? They need to make a nominal effort so the feds can't charge them, but why go out of their way to reduce their business? I get it when there's some moron clerk at a Fedex store who has decided that it's their precious little fiefdom and checks every box themselves because it makes them feel important, but at a Fedex distribution center? Why would they do anything that slows down distribution and potentially loses them business? Nothing about that makes sense.

It's almost certainly a coincidence. Someone who works for a delivery service (AleWatcher? anyone else?) would know better, but I don't believe that the same trucks handle incoming and outgoing packages at the same time. That seems like a logistical mess. Possibly someone at the center is checking boxes more thoroughly, but, again, why? What's in it for them? It's more likely some **** drove a forklift through it.

Also, FWIW, a package coming to me went through Orlando successfully on Monday/Tuesday.

Spoken like someone who has never been to Ypsi. Something hinky was going on there. Maybe someone recognized all the recycled botte shippers and "confiscated" the goods then came up with an inside scoop. Several folks in the area (Jackson and A2 mostly) switched shippers to avoid losses.

 

[RyanG1]

Would that be the best action to take?

My guy is having his package sent back to him, while my package is still in limbo.

His package:
8:08 pm Shipment exception
Unable to deliver - Damaged package

6:09 am Returning package to shipper
Damaged in transit - Unable to deliver shipment - Returning to shipper

6:04 am Delivery exception
Damaged, handling per shipper instructions

5:20 am Departed FedEx location

3:13 am Arrived at FedEx location

_______________________________________________________

My package:
3/03/2016 - Thursday

10:18 am Delivery exception
Damaged, handling per shipper instructions

3:46 am Departed FedEx location

12:26 am Shipment exception
Barcode label unreadable and replaced

For me it has been.

In the few instances I have had something leak or break, I have asked that they send it back to me asap. Or they will rebox and send it to the delivery address. Haven't had any issues yet about them asking me if it was beer. Usually just say artisinal soda or olive oil made at home in recycled containers.

 

[GuzzleMcBrew]

I've had it go both ways - Fedex repackaged a big box (at least a case of bottles) I sent to a buddy after a 2L of Fuzzy Baby Ducks spilled all over it. It was a one night shipper to New York that I make once a week so I somehow thought my rules against shipping 2L didn't apply. Needless to say, getting the rest of the box containing lambic and whatnot back was really excellent. Another time, however, a box with some Tired Hands bottles and a really cool Paraguesia glass that was all allegedly packed in styrofoam didn't make it to me- got intercepted at the Fedex center a half hour from my house and they basically told my guy he was hit because it was alcohol. Very weird.

 

[stupac2]

Spoken like someone who has never been to Ypsi. Something hinky was going on there. Maybe someone recognized all the recycled botte shippers and "confiscated" the goods then came up with an inside scoop. Several folks in the area (Jackson and A2 mostly) switched shippers to avoid losses.

Well sure, something weird could be going on. But that thing is almost certainly not going to be a centrifuge or any other complicated piece of machinery.

 

[abawol01]

This is the life cycle of your box while in a shippers hands:

Step 1 - Box gets picked up and put in a shelf in the truck.

Step 2 - Box gets tossed from the truck onto a slider which leads to belts. those belts lead to more people tossing your box onto other belts until it reaches the the loaders at the semi trucks. This is where **** hits the fan.

Step 3 - Loaders will build a wall of boxes leaving a hole at the top of the semi trailer where they throw boxes over. It looks like a neat wall and stacking when a supervisor comes by but its just a **** pile of boxes behind it. Repeat this until trailer is full.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 each time your box is scanned until it arrives at the final hub. Obviously your box is tossed onto another belt each time it is unloaded.

Step 4 - Box is loaded onto delivery truck where the driver will drop it off.

Another Pro Tip - the heavier/larger your box is the more likely it is to be used to build the previously mentioned walls.

This is why boxes break open.

 

[stupac2]

For me it has been.

In the few instances I have had something leak or break, I have asked that they send it back to me asap. Or they will rebox and send it to the delivery address. Haven't had any issues yet about them asking me if it was beer. Usually just say artisinal soda or olive oil made at home in recycled containers.

Also, the only time I've ever had this happen (on the incoming side) it was a box from a BIF to my wife, and even knowing it had beer in it fedex was super helpful. So maybe use sexism to your advantage and have your wife talk to them (if she's willing to).

 

[RyanG1]

This is the life cycle of your box while in a shippers hands:

Step 1 - Box gets picked up and put in a shelf in the truck.

Step 2 - Box gets tossed from the truck onto a slider which leads to belts. those belts lead to more people tossing your box onto other belts until it reaches the the loaders at the semi trucks. This is where **** hits the fan.

Step 3 - Loaders will build a wall of boxes leaving a hole at the top of the semi trailer where they throw boxes over. It looks like a neat wall and stacking when a supervisor comes by but its just a **** pile of boxes behind it. Repeat this until trailer is full.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 each time your box is scanned until it arrives at the final hub. Obviously your box is tossed onto another belt each time it is unloaded.

Step 4 - Box is loaded onto delivery truck where the driver will drop it off.

Another Pro Tip - the heavier/larger your box is the more likely it is to be used to build the previously mentioned walls.

This is why boxes break open.

Good info!

 

[cultclassic89]

This is the life cycle of your box while in a shippers hands:

Step 1 - Box gets picked up and put in a shelf in the truck.

Step 2 - Box gets tossed from the truck onto a slider which leads to belts. those belts lead to more people tossing your box onto other belts until it reaches the the loaders at the semi trucks. This is where **** hits the fan.

Step 3 - Loaders will build a wall of boxes leaving a hole at the top of the semi trailer where they throw boxes over. It looks like a neat wall and stacking when a supervisor comes by but its just a **** pile of boxes behind it. Repeat this until trailer is full.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 each time your box is scanned until it arrives at the final hub. Obviously your box is tossed onto another belt each time it is unloaded.

Step 4 - Box is loaded onto delivery truck where the driver will drop it off.

Another Pro Tip - the heavier/larger your box is the more likely it is to be used to build the previously mentioned walls.

This is why boxes break open.

Even with styro shippers, I'm honestly impressed our boxes make it anywhere.

 

[jeevo]

For me it has been.

In the few instances I have had something leak or break, I have asked that they send it back to me asap. Or they will rebox and send it to the delivery address. Haven't had any issues yet about them asking me if it was beer. Usually just say artisinal soda or olive oil made at home in recycled containers.

I'm on the phone with them now. I'm on hold with the FedEx rep contacts the location station where the damaged package is being held. I like the bolded. I'm going to use that if they ask me this question.

 

[jeevo]

Bottles are broken. Told them to just discard the contents rather than have them ship it back to me. ****!

Love the woman I talked to on the phone. She was so apologetic, not once scolding me for sending booze, and told me to package it better the next time I send beer.

 

[boogercrack]

That would be so stupid. First, applying a constant force to a liquid isn't going to make it slosh. Remember as a kid at the beach, putting water in a bucket and spinning it? The water doesn't go anywhere and it doesn't slosh (unless you apply something besides a constant centripetal force, which a centrifuge wouldn't). Second, I'm sure anyone who has packed a box has shaken it and listened, the noise is just not that loud. I packed one a few days ago and couldn't hear it over the sound of a box fan. Centrifuges are ******* loud, especially if they're spinning heavy-ass boxes. Hell, ANYTHING that's mechanically moving **** around like that is loud. You'd never be able to hear the sound of sloshing over any mechanical system. And why buy a fancy new system when you could just shake the box?

Also, why would Fedex care? They need to make a nominal effort so the feds can't charge them, but why go out of their way to reduce their business? I get it when there's some moron clerk at a Fedex store who has decided that it's their precious little fiefdom and checks every box themselves because it makes them feel important, but at a Fedex distribution center? Why would they do anything that slows down distribution and potentially loses them business? Nothing about that makes sense.

It's almost certainly a coincidence. Someone who works for a delivery service (AleWatcher? anyone else?) would know better, but I don't believe that the same trucks handle incoming and outgoing packages at the same time. That seems like a logistical mess. Possibly someone at the center is checking boxes more thoroughly, but, again, why? What's in it for them? It's more likely some **** drove a forklift through it.

Also, FWIW, a package coming to me went through Orlando successfully on Monday/Tuesday.

 

[ggfunk]

 

[Juice1]

Even with styro shippers, I'm honestly impressed our boxes make it anywhere.

Lol one time i stuffed one of those flatrate USPS boxes with 7 countem 7 bombers wrapped in bubble wrap and it somehow made it from Chicago to SD without shattering or leaking. Having faith in an overworked and overburdened package jockey is 9/10 of trading beer.

 

[jedwards]

That would be so stupid. First, applying a constant force to a liquid isn't going to make it slosh. Remember as a kid at the beach, putting water in a bucket and spinning it? The water doesn't go anywhere and it doesn't slosh (unless you apply something besides a constant centripetal force, which a centrifuge wouldn't). Second, I'm sure anyone who has packed a box has shaken it and listened, the noise is just not that loud. I packed one a few days ago and couldn't hear it over the sound of a box fan. Centrifuges are ******* loud, especially if they're spinning heavy-ass boxes. Hell, ANYTHING that's mechanically moving **** around like that is loud. You'd never be able to hear the sound of sloshing over any mechanical system. And why buy a fancy new system when you could just shake the box?

My assumption would be that if a system like this existed, it wouldn't be a true centrifuge, but a rotating plate you set the package on with an abrupt stop or change in rotation that would detect subsequent slosh in the package by measuring transferred inertial force against the plate.

... but I agree that it makes no sense. When FedEx stopped bringing in beer packages to Rhode Island for a few months (this was several years back), the consensus was that most likely one or more employees had taken it upon themselves to recognize shippers and return them. I had a driver that did this for a little while as well. Why they cared I have no idea.

 

[SirDickButts]

Pretty much this. I worked for UPS loading and unloading trucks and I can say not one person doing the "work" gives a **** what is in the boxes. Not the loaders. Not the drivers. Not the unloaders. The only people who care are the ones who never see the boxes.

what likely happened in this case(and likely every other broken box) is that it was handled really roughly and busted open. That was the only time I ever saw what was in a box. Even then, we would put the box aside and management would deal with it. Never once found beer.

Pro Tip - NEVER write fragile on a box. That word means throw this ****** as hard as you can in the docks.

i used to unload and drive @ UPS. this is VERY accurate.

 

[holldy01]

Pretty much this. I worked for UPS loading and unloading trucks and I can say not one person doing the "work" gives a **** what is in the boxes. Not the loaders. Not the drivers. Not the unloaders. The only people who care are the ones who never see the boxes.

what likely happened in this case(and likely every other broken box) is that it was handled really roughly and busted open. That was the only time I ever saw what was in a box. Even then, we would put the box aside and management would deal with it. Never once found beer.

Pro Tip - NEVER write fragile on a box. That word means throw this ****** as hard as you can in the docks.

Worked at UPS as well doing the same thing. There was no time to even give a **** about each box. I was there to pick it up, throw it on the conveyor belt and move on to the next box. No clue what was in anything or the address of where stuff was going. And yes, the more you have on the box saying it is fragile, and especially if it says handle with care, that box is going to be thrown as hard as possible by most everyone who handles it in that facility. When working with a second unloader we would have unofficial contests seeing who could throw boxes harder and seeing how hard we could make the box walls fall down

When boxes were busted open they would all go to one guy whose job was to either repair the box or repack it. So it is possible if the guy is a stickler for the rules when he opened the boxes to repack what was inside he saw what was in it and decided it couldn't be delivered.

 

[RyanG1]

Worked at UPS as well doing the same thing. There was no time to even give a **** about each box. I was there to pick it up, throw it on the conveyor belt and move on to the next box. No clue what was in anything or the address of where stuff was going. And yes, the more you have on the box saying it is fragile, and especially if it says handle with care, that box is going to be thrown as hard as possible by most everyone who handles it in that facility. When working with a second unloader we would have unofficial contests seeing who could throw boxes harder and seeing how hard we could make the box walls fall down

When boxes were busted open they would all go to one guy whose job was to either repair the box or repack it. So it is possible if the guy is a stickler for the rules when he opened the boxes to repack what was inside he saw what was in it and decided it couldn't be delivered.

But if I draw arrows on the box indicating right side up. They make sure it is?

 

[FTowne1]

But if I draw arrows on the box indicating right side up. They make sure it is?

Ha!

 

[Juice1]

But if I draw arrows on the box indicating right side up. They make sure it is?

Day one lessons: The right side is literally any way besides the way the arrows are pointing.

 

[holldy01]

But if I draw arrows on the box indicating right side up. They make sure it is?

Putting the label on the top that you want up is your best bet for it to be right side up because that label gets scanned coming and going everywhere so it saves time from flipping it to the label side. But if it says right side up then **** you Im going to put it whatever way up I want.