I really like beer. No, I really like beer. That means I’m constantly on the hunt for beers I can’t get in my current hometown of San Francisco and broker deals with buddies to mail me goods from across the country in exchange for sending them a few bottles of local stuff from the west coast.
Over the course of the past decade, I’ve probably mailed 100 boxes of beer to myself (sometimes postage is cheaper than checking a bag or finding room in my suitcase on a trip) or to friends around the United States. Of all those shipments, I’ve only had one mishap: a crushed can that managed to slowly explode and soak a box. Luckily for me, and the recipient of the box that happened to be a friend of mine, the beer-soaked box was still delivered, although a few weeks later than planned (my guess being so it could dry and still, you know, be a box). In contrast, I’ve had a number of boxes sent to me with broken beer (the saddest thing in the world) inside.
Through all those packages I’ve come up with a few tips for success.
Line Your Box With a Garbage Bag
Accidents happen. What you don’t want to happen is for a small accident like a crushed can or broken bottle to soak your box, cause it to break, and result in a whole box of lost items. For that, I recommend lining your box first (just as if you were putting it in a garbage can) with a plastic garbage bag. Sure, it’s not unstoppable, but it gives you an extra line of defense in case the worst happens. Also, a plastic bag means that if the box does get soaked it will be harder for individual bottles to fall out.
Some beer trading message boards also recommend using a smaller box inside a box when you mail beer. I’ve never tried that personally (or had it done with beer sent to me), but if you happen to have two similarly-sized boxes available, it wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Line The Sides of Your Box With Bubble Wrap
Since I do this a lot, I have a TON of bubble wrap readily available in my house. If you don’t, then using crumpled up newspaper or packing peanuts can have the same effect. The goal is to have a line of defense around the sides and bottom and top of your box. This box is absolutely going to get tossed around. Don’t let your beer be…
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