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figured I would post this out of frustration, to see if anyone else has similar stories and to hopefully help others avoid this potential situation. This post is long and as you read through it you may jump to conclusions before the end. But hang in there...the end sure isn’t what I was expecting!
So I set up a trade through Rate Beer with a fellow rater out in CA. A nicely packaged box of some retired Heavyweight and Stoudts beers as well as some other locals from Troegs, Weyerbacher and Dogfish Head. I wrapped each bottle individually with tons of bubble wrap and packaging tape. Also stuffed the box full with newspaper and made sure there was no bottle on bottle contact, everything was tight etc. I head over to my local UPS Store, fill out the paperwork and the package is on it’s way to CA.
So I’m watching the UPS tracking and everything is going fine. The package makes it to CA and it appears as though while the package is out for local delivery it gets damaged. I thought that was a little odd based on how I packaged it but knowing how some of the Heavyweight beers are with carbonation, etc. I was thinking well maybe one of them sprung a leak. I see online that UPS will be shipping the package back and I wait a week for it to arrive back at my local UPS Store.
I head over to the store and pick up the package, it had obviously been re-packaged and the label on the box has both my name and the name of the individual that was to receive the package. So I get it home, being to open it up, see another box inside the box UPS used to repackage that does not look like the box I sent out. But I figure that they must have repackaged the whole thing. As I’m pulling the inner box out I notice that the damage appears to be a dark fluid that has leaked out. Must have been the Weyerbacher Heresy. As I begin to open the inner box I start to notice that the items inside that box do not appear to be the beer bottles I had shipped out. Instead what I see inside is a case of Run-Rite DOT 4 Brake Fluid Super Heavy Duty Hi-Performance Brake Fluid. Of which one is upside down in the box, leaking out all over the place.
So...what happened to the box of beers I had shipped West? I called over to the UPS Store and of course the kids working there couldn’t help me out. The "manager" that handles claims is out until Monday and will call me when he returns. I really can’t figure out how this would have gotten mixed up. When I shipped out the package I saw the person working the UPS Store put the label on the box. So I’m not sure how they would have mixed up the package there.
I guess there is someone out there who was expecting a box of brake fluid and got a big box of great beer. I doubt the person who was shipping the oil is going to speak up since it is illegial to ship flammable liquids like that via UPS. The person who got the beer instead of the oild probably isn’t going to complain either. I can’t even really go into too many details with UPS as to what was in my boxes. I claimed it as "speciality sauces and marinades" valued at $100.
Andy we’ll work this out. I sent you a Beer Mail so just let me know how you want to handle.
Well time to get back to my 2005 Old Guardian..help me to forget about UPS for a little while.
Tom
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my guess is likely that both boxes had damaged contents, and that when they were being re-boxed they mixed the labels up...
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I have been using DHL Lately and I am happy with them so far. The last 10 boxes I’ve shipped out have all been under $ 12.00, and most have been below $ 8.00. Plus, they let you ship with alcohol boxes.
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If thats the case it looks like a bunch of Canadians at a brake fluid company (Googled the product) are going to be enjoying a bunch of nice beers. I’m stuck with $120 worth of truck brake fluid.
Tom
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I’m going to look into DHL. UPS Store charged me over $30 for this 32 lb. box.
Tom
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That sucks Tom. I’ve opened up a Fedex account recently and the prices have been cheap. The last box I shipped out only cost me $7. Also I don’t have to fill out a form which is nice.
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Definately don’t ship with the UPS Store. They go through another tier and really rip you off. If there is a Office Max in your area, they should ship DHL.
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I had a long drawn out thing with dhlesq--they lost it--traced it for 7-10 days, then proceeded to tell me that it was a lost cause. I think it was around $70 of beer. Of course, to get recompensated, I needed receipts. I didn’t have the receipts for the beer, and I don’t have the receipts for anything to equal and weigh that much for a shipped package. Luckily, I shipped through John’s Grocery, and they made up UPC #’s and made sure I got my store credit--same as money for me since I spend so much there anyways, and (since I keep a log of what I send) dhlesq got all the same beers and bonuses (plus a couple) by the end of the two month ordeal.
Sorry your story doesn’t have such a happy ending.
Joey
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I found a DHL location near my work. So I’ll give them a try. Just opened up an account with them.
Tom
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Dump it into some Speedway bottles and post it for sale on Ebay as the ultra rare collectible Alesmith BA Speedway Motor Break Fluid Drum Aged Beer.
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I’ve had 2 out of my last 4 boxes being sent to me from DHL screwed up. They lost a box between Allentown & Lansdale (40min apart) and another one looked like they ran over it.
So, it really doesn’t matter who you use, its the luck of the draw sometimes.
Definitely get an on-line account and print up your labels yourself...
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