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Topic: Goofy ?? for the experts :-)

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ladycari avatar
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Subject: Goofy ?? for the experts :-)
Date Posted: 8/31/2007 10:41 AM ET
Member Since: 11/27/2006
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Thanks to PBS and the CMT forum I find myself attempting to mail a 12-pack of Mello Yello to a fellow PBS'er. She lives in an area that no longer sells Mello Yello *GASP*

I thought it would be as simple as wrapping in brown paper and slapping some postage on the fridge pack, but it would appear that things might not be so straight forward.

Any special requirements I need to meet in order to mail carbonated liquid? I assume it will have to go ground? A 12 pack weighs about 10 pounds. Not sure I want to spend a fortune to mail a $4.00 case of soda, but am willing to do what I can.

I checked UPS shipping and can overnight this for $131 or $15 ground. Still a little pricy considering the contents.

Suggestions?

 

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 8/31/2007 10:44 AM ET
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hmmm a flat rate box might hold 6 but I dont think it would hold 12...its 8.95 priority

ladycari avatar
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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 10:47 AM ET
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But wouldn't that get put on a plane?

I'm thinking carbonated soda in an unpressurized cargo hold might not be a good idea...but I hate to fly so I could just be making that up....

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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 11:51 AM ET
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They always ask me if there is anything liquid, perishable or fragile in my package, and I think Mello Yellow woudl count as liquid.  But I have never said "yes" so I don't know what will happen if you do. 

FWIW, when I was in Iraq, a buddy of mine loved Diet Mountain Dew, which of course we couldn't get over there.  Sometimes people sent him some in care packages from back home.  I don't think there were ever any problems, even with the very long trip involving military aircraft.  But they never just sent him a fridge pack; it was always just loose pastic bottles or cans, wrapped in grovery bags and then placed inside a larger box. 

 

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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 1:32 PM ET
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I found this on USPS website but I'm not sure if it's helpful or more confusing........

Liquids

Mailers must mark the outer container of a mailpiece containing liquid to indicate the nature of the contents. Mailers must package and mail liquids under the following conditions:

a. Use screw-on caps, soldering, clips, or similar means to close mailpieces containing liquids. Do not use only friction-top closures (push-down types).

b. Liquids in steel pails and drums with positive closures, such as locking rings or recessed spouts under screw-cap closures, may be mailed without additional packaging.

c. Package glass and other breakable containers of liquid with a capacity of more than 4 fluid ounces according to the following requirements:

1. Cushion the primary container with material sufficient to absorb all leakage in case of breakage.

2. Place the primary container inside another sealed, leakproof container (secondary container), such as a can or plastic bag.

3. Use an outer mailing container that is strong enough to protect the contents.

d. As an alternative to 2.3c above, mailers may use containers certified by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) that passed ISTA's Test Procedure 3A. Mailers must provide their ISTA 3A Package-Product Certification Notice at the time of mailing as verification that the mailpieces they are submitting passed the required performance test.

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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 3:43 PM ET
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How very sweet of you.

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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 6:06 PM ET
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You're going to have to encase the soda in a larger box for sure!  You need to completely wrap the case in plastic so if it does leak, it's not going to leak all over someone else's mail too.  You'll need to find a sturdy box bigger than the soda case so you can get a good 2" of padding on all sides of it.

Have you ever dropped a can of unopened soda?  They can and do explode just from that.  You can't just wrap the case in brown paper and send it.  I'd definitely send it via ground too because I'd be afraid of the soda freezing in an unpressurized cargo hold.

ladycari avatar
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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 7:00 PM ET
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Thanks all for the info. Looks like I am going to have to go to the PO to figure this one out. I certainly don't want any exploding sodas soaking the mail...after all, there may be books travelling near my package!! :-)

Kristen, I read that yesterday...I found it to be more confusing than helpful myself. :-)

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Date Posted: 8/31/2007 10:07 PM ET
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I've sent soda (Mello Yello in fact, LOL) to Iraq several times.  I vacuumed sealed each can and used some bubble wrap in between the layers of cans in the box.   Each can made the trip safely.  Mello Yello fans must be hardcore!  :)

Other people have put the cans in zip lock bags, added some bubble wrap, placed it all in a garbage bag and then placed the garbage bag in a box. Just make sure that they're packed in such a way that there's no 'slippage'... that the cans aren't rattling around in the box, but are as stationary as possible.

 

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Date Posted: 9/1/2007 4:29 AM ET
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Mello Yello fans are hardcore :) Thats the only soda I drink. I make sure to bring enough with me to last a trip when I go to Chicago because I can never find it there.

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Date Posted: 9/1/2007 8:30 AM ET
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Yes, we Mello Yello fans are hardcore! lol

Like you, Chris, I took my personal stash with me when we went on vacation to Florida. I was unable to find any at the many gas stations we visited along the way (Ky to FL), but was happy to see the grocery stores in FL were fully stocked!

 

 

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Date Posted: 9/1/2007 9:11 AM ET
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I don't think it's sold in Nebraska, so I don't think I've ever had any.  What does it taste like??  I'm sure I'll get some testimonials from the "hardcore."

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Date Posted: 9/1/2007 2:21 PM ET
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Winston,

I know the fans will smack me for this; but the closest comparison is it's kinda like Mountain Dew. Much better, IMO. I have never been a hardcore Mello Yello fan but I am a hardcore Vault fan (which is also sort of like Mtn Dew but so not!). And not in cans, just in bottles - it tastes different, I swear!

ETA the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mello_Yello to the Wikipedia entry on Mello Yello



Last Edited on: 9/1/07 2:23 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 9/1/2007 7:28 PM ET
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Sounds like it might be cheaper and easier to have it shipped directly from Iraq to her!  LOL

Patouie avatar
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Date Posted: 9/3/2007 11:54 AM ET
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If you type in "mello yello shipping" in google, some folks sell it on E-Bay. You could have someone else ship it for you!