Ecommerce businesses are growing at a higher rate, and online beer sales steady growth is unlikely to slow down. For the past five years, eCommerce beer sales have increased by 12% each year. If you run your online beer sales through online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, shipping and handling the package is crucial. Beer trading and shipping are simple processes that may incur losses if not handled properly.
To ensure the beer package arrives safely at its destination, shipping and handling are essential considerations. Here is a compilation of how to ship beer to your customers, from a single bottle to six-packs. Before that, let’s look at some of the things to be aware of before shipping beer.
What you should know before shipping beer
Shipping beer without a license goes against shipping companies’ policies. This means any trade you do will be at your own risk. The most common shipping companies used are UPS and FedEx. First, you need to open a shipping account. You’ll then;
· Save time dropping off packages
· Create shipping labels and print them with ease
· Get discounts on shipping
· Automate your payments
Also, it would be best if you packaged your beer before taking it to the shipping place.
Shipping and packing material
Corrugated cardboard box– Your corrugated box should be sturdy enough with no holes or gaps.
Packing tape– You can use electrical tape and shipping tape. Wrapping electrical tapes around the bottle cap will prevent it from popping off, thus preventing leaks. You’ll eventually need more shipping during the process.
Bubble wrap is one of the best ways to cut down on shipping tape expenses for padding. If combined with rubber bands, be sure to re-use the bubble wrap.
Ziplock bags– You can use these gallon-size zip lock bags or a plastic garbage bag to protect the box from becoming wet in case of leakage. And yes, you’ll quickly get pulled by a shipping company if a box is leaking fluids.
Extra filler– This is an optional choice. You can use old newspapers if you do away with bubble wrap.
All these materials are accessible from a Walmart, your local staples, and office max. So, wrap the cans and bottles in bubble wrap, then tape the bubble wrap. Place the bubble-wrapped beer in a zip lock bag; once you are done packing, place the beer in a corrugated cardboard box. You can use some padding to avoid beer bottle movement and tape the box. Lastly, apply the shipping label and drop off your package at the local courier.
If you need to offer maximum protection, use bubble wrap in bunches. However, if you are shipping a lot of beer in the box, you may reduce bottle wrap use to save space. But, that will be risking bottles breaking during shipping. The best thing to do is to offer maximum protection to your bottles without investing in various packaging materials; there are other alternatives to use.
Crafty shipping – these inserts work best for home brewers shipping beer to their family or friends. Also, it’s a good alternative for sending a standard 12oz bottle size. You can purchase it from Amazon, eBay, or other popular marketplaces you use.
Beer shippers and Whale pod –These shippers are perfect for shipping 16 oz cans. You can access these alternatives through their websites: Beer shippers and whale pods. Also, your 12 oz bottles could work perfectly in this alternative. Most people have been using these alternatives, and they seem to work great.
Wine shippers- If you’re shipping 22oz and 750 ml bottles, then you can use wine shippers as they come in various sizes. Also, in case of extra padding, Bombers will work best in these packaging. These shippers are accessible on platforms like Uline though they sell 25 shippers at once. These can be very expensive as you also need to pay for shipping. Another alternative is to buy wine shippers from Amazon or a local packaging supply store.
How to ship beer legally
If you’re running a business centered on an alcoholic beverage, you must be aware of the legal limit on consumer products. Legal beer shipping is vital to protect you from unnecessary legal battles.
So, how do you ship beer legally?
Apply for an employer identification number (EIN) and eCommerce business license before making any sales activity. The government uses this information to keep track of income, sales, and employee payments.
Get a license for your business. Shipping companies carry packages from a trusted dealer, distributor, or manufacturer. The state laws need these businesses to be licensed as you’ll have to provide these details to shipping services.
Get a shipping license. With a shipping license, you get approval to ship across all state lines, and it is a major requirement for many states. In most cases, you’ll have to get a shipping license for every state you will be shipping to.
Follow all eCommerce shipping companies’ rules. Popular businesses like FedEx and UPS have their shipping regulations to ensure they don’t break any federal law. As long as you adhere to all rules, the shipping process won’t be challenging.
Now, with all the details above, let’s look at what will help you ship your beer. These three shipping companies are very reliable, trustworthy, and trusted by many sellers.
Shipping with UPS
If you’ve selected UPS as your eCommerce shipping company, it’s an excellent choice to make as you can ship beer with them. There are some shipment regulations that you should be aware of. First, your business must be licensed for you to ship beer with UPS. To ship with them, you’ve to;
Be an approved UPS beer shipper. You must sign up for a UPS agreement for approved spirits shippers. You’ll be asked to provide your business documentation, the nature of your business, and your shipping plan with them. After being approved, the package is automatically fed to the system then shipped out.
Review the beer packaging requirements. As aforementioned earlier, there are specific materials acceptable by UPS. UPS shipping company accepts expanded polystyrene foam, molded fiber tray inserts, and folded corrugated cardboard. . These materials are lightweight and proven to stabilize the temperature and protect the package contents.
Inform your clients of the adult signature requirement because without a recipient adult sign for your packages; you won’t ship the beer. The recipient listed on the box must be 21-years or older. That’s by the shipping date. Check the UPS page.
Shipping beer with USPS
You cannot ship beer with USPS. USPS prohibits the shipment of spirits, beer, and wine domestically and internationally. If a package has alcohol branding, the shipment will be rejected or not processed. However, some people hide shipping their beer through USPS because of low rates charges.
USPS can only find out you’re shipping beer if one of the bottles breaks and spills the fluid. Wet boxes get disposed of once inspected, so; it can be a risky way of shipping beer.
Shipping with FedEx
As long as you adhere to all FedEx requirements, shipping beer with FedEx isn’t a problem. To ship with them, follow the following steps.
Review FedEx shipment criteria. FedEx has restrictions for those sending beer and spirits. FedEx accepts a licensed dealer or manufacturer shipping to retailers and retailers shipping to other commercial entities.
Complete the approval procedure. As we said earlier, to ship with FedEx, you must be a licensed seller. FedEx will need your business license, dealer licensing, and shipping license. The verification process is designed to protect both your company and their company.
Review your packaging materials. The packaging material used should be solid and sturdy enough to prevent breakage. It should be strong, whether pre-molded polystyrene, insulated foam or molded fiber inserts.
Select a shipping service. In FedEx Company, your beer can ship through FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and FedEx home delivery. FedEx express service is essential for fast shipment delivery, while Ground service is for goods that are not very urgent. If you want goods delivered to a residential address, FedEx home delivery will be the best option.
Shipping beer on a plane
If you want to bring beer along on your flight, you should know it’s completely legal no matter the airline you are using. You’ll pack the beer into your checked bag. To ensure it’s appropriately packed, use a zip lock bag, then wrap them in clothing. Also, ensure the beer is in the middle of your luggage to avoid breakage.
How much does it cost to ship beer?
Ideally, the cost of shipping a 4 or 6 pack of beer is estimated to range between $15-$16. However, these charges vary depending on the shipping company used. The packaging shipping fee is calculated volumetrically, taking into account the weight and dimensional size of the package. It’s best to understand how shipping costs work if you are planning to ship beer.
Bottom Line
Shipping beer is simple as long as you have a strong shipping strategy. Though it takes time to do all the paperwork and some additional costs, it’s worth the struggle. Adhere to all the tips and processes involved on how to ship beer and enjoy more profits.
Click the links below to read on how to ship other items:
