Shipping directly to UPS
0Is there a thread on shipping directly to ups? Something that covers the ins and outs of shipping to a ups store vs an access point location vs a ups owned distribution center, etc. Which options have added costs (if any)? Can we just ship there “care of” or do we need to contact them and get an ok first? Do they all accept wine or is it case by case (no pun intended)? I realize these things can change over time and vary store to store, so a faq of some kind might help drive sales, especially for wineries with limited state licenses where shipping to a neighboring state might be the only option. @winedavid49 @wccwinegirl
- 6 comments, 9 replies
- Comment
I obviously can’t speak for all, and I understand many of the UPS stores are franchise and will have different policies.
I have three different addresses I use for UPS that are not to a residence or a business address. Most, but by all means not all, of my deliveries are to my work address.
The first is a local UPS franchise that does not charge me for accepting deliveries. Here I use my name c/o The UPS Store and their address. I began shipping there fairly soon after new owners took over the location and seemingly were just learning the ropes. They accept and notify me of a delivery, as not all shippers provide timely tracking numbers like does WCC. It is a small facility and would be a burden for them to hold multiple cases for any extended time. I generally pick up the same or next day. They are rewarded with bottles, especially when the offer is a case of the same, or value bottles like Ped for instance. A good trade-off, we chat and they seem happy to see me.
A second address is my local USPS post office where I have a box. I use my name (no c/o), their address, unit # (the box), city, state, zip and it gets put into a locker with a key in my box. The address looks rather like one might see for a condo complex or trailer park.
A third address I have used is a UPS facility for delivery to another 'mate when I did the purchase and he was out of town and it needed to be held a few days, it wasn’t the most convenient but it worked and it may have been a redirect while in transit; I don’t recall all the details. I don’t believe there was a charge. Klez, remember that one?
I once, long ago, tried to pick-up a delivery at a UPS distribution site that had to be re-routed. Total PITA.
Can’t speak to access points or other third party locations.
Here is a wine shipping link that may be a bit of assistance for hold-for-shipment and access point info.
@rjquillin Thanks for the info. It’s just unfortunate it has to be so difficult. I see that DeNegoce has an option to ship direct to a UPS or FedEx location. I wish Casemates had this option. I’m sure it’s cheaper not shipping to a residence, and makes the purchase effortless. I know I’d buy more if it was an option here.
@hscottk I agree with you, as I buy from both. But they are both great. I buy more from casemates because of the winery participation and the lab rat reports.
@danandlisa @hscottk With UPS, I pay the annual fee ($20) and usually redirect my shipments to a nearby UPS Customer Center (about 5 miles away) at no extra cost - the drawback is that its hours are a bit limited but I am retired so can go anytime! I tried redirecting to a local retailer but its inventory control (or lack of it) was a nightmare and local UPS stores want a fee per shipment. I did send a recent shipment to a UPS Customer Center in a neighboring state (as my state was not listed for that offer) - I used, name, followed UPS Customer Center and its address and it worked fine but involved a bit of a schlep (20+ miles each way). I was thinking of using that approach for the Gard Mystery Case but I may be travelling when it was scheduled to arrive.
My experience is that i have the UPS Customer Center address as my delivery address, with my phone number as the second line:
R. Radiolysis
HOLD - 321-321-3214
10101 County Road
Anytown, CA 91000
I’ve really been doing this for years any outside of the frustration at the SUPER reduced hours after COVID (10am-2pm is tough) it works well. I get a call when it shows up, and it sits with other cases of wine for pickup.
I always ship to home, but if I know I won’t (or might not) be home, then in the UPS app or website, I reroute it to a UPS Store. I do pay the $20/year for UPS MyChoice premium, and my local UPS Store does not charge me for accepting it (I pick up within one or two days).
Back when I used to travel a lot for work, I used to do like some others on this site and have the local UPS Store as a shipping address, with “ATTN Tim Wieman xxx-xxx-xxxx” (my phone) as part of the address. I would pick it up in 2-5 days, and they would charge me $5 back then, but that was also before I was paying for UPS MyChoice premium.
From my experience, it’s usually pretty straightforward, but it’s always good to double-check the specifics depending on where you’re sending your stuff. As for the different options like UPS stores, access points, or distribution centers, I’ve found that they all have their pros and cons. Some might have added costs or restrictions on certain items like wine, so it’s worth reaching out to them beforehand to make sure you’re good to go. And hey, speaking of shipping, when I was moving, I used A1AutoTransport, and they were a lifesaver. They helped me with shipping my car, no sweat. So, if you’re still figuring out logistics, they might be worth checking out.
@rjquillin
Seems like a bot has slipped through the cracks.
@kawichris650 @rjquillin Back to preach the gospel of transporting cars.
I bring this up just because it caught me by surprise – my two local UPS Customer Centers closed.
I’m now scratching my head on where to ship things, and i’ll probably just start with my house address for now. Perhaps chat with the local UPS Store folks and make sure they don’t have a receiving fee. It’s a bummer because i had a great relationship with the UPS-CC Warehouse Manager.
Since both of the UPS-CC nearby are closed (even though the webpage still says open) it might be a sign that UPS is shuttering those outlets. Anyone who has used that as a shipping location should probably reach out and make sure the same won’t happen to you.
@radiolysis
What exactly is a CC? A UPS owned facility that is not franchised?
Guess I’m lucky, that, without the, what is it, Choice account, a local franchise accepts without fee my deliveries.
I’ve found too I can ship to a USPS location using my box number and just calling it “Unit #000”
@rjquillin yeah, the Customer Center was the shipping counter attached to the UPS warehouses. Staffed by folks in UPS shirts that work for the company.
@radiolysis @rjquillin My local UPS Customer Center is now also closed - I had to redirect to a Michael’s store. Their inventory control process was not the best in the past but it worked OK this time (they moved the storage locker to the check out area which helped).
Shipping to a UPS store is annoying. For me, my local store charges $10 to pick up a package. I started just shipping it to my home and hoping I’ll be around when the delivery comes. If I’m not three times, it ends up at a “distribution center” 20 minutes away. A total pain, and definitely discourages me from ordering on Casemates. Some other wine merchants that use UPS (De Negoce, B-21…but not WTSO) have figured out how to incorporate “access points” into their shipping system so that pickups are free. And of course, FedEx users like Last Bottle and Wine.com have free FedEx pickups because FedEx has their shit together and doesn’t franchise their stores. The guy at my local UPS store told me when packages are shipped by the access point system, the local store gets compensation from UPS corporate, so everyone is happy. Would be awesome if Casemates can incorporate this!
POPSOCKETS! ROAD ROCKETS! SONNY CROCKETT! AWESOME!