Mailing a can of soda

AbsoluteZero

Is there any way I can send a full can of soda through USPS snail-mail? I've been poking around their website and also google but neither have been particularly helpful.

If anyone knows, please share your knowledge. Thanks!

LadyM

Put it in a box and mail it? Sending non-perishable food through the mail is legal as far as I know.

CooterTKE

i would just go to the post office and ask them. I believe you can just make sure you pack it well and put it in a plastic bag.

LadyM

They will ask you if your package contains anything liquid, perishable, or dangerous when you mail it, but I think they still allow you to send liquids if they're properly sealed and packed. A plastic bag is a good idea.

Improvolone

I hope this can isn't destined to be opened.
Or if it is, it might be a great prank.

Jasconius

Liquids are legal.

I would highly recommend though you seal it in a water tight container outside of the can because if it breaks in transit they will throw the whole thing away.

I cannot fathom any reason why would want to mail a soda can other than it is a collectible item.

Improvolone

In which case it should be emptied through a small hole in the bottom. I've had cans freeze on me in storage and make a mess...

SlickShughes

Improvolone wrote: »

In which case it should be emptied through a small hole in the bottom. I've had cans freeze on me in storage and make a mess...

Especially when you don't notice the leak for several months...

Regina Fong

non-toxic, non-flammable liquids are indeed legal. If it's packed in glass, or carbonated or otherwise likely to rupture and leak you should seal it in plastic and also label the box that it contains liquids. I cannot stress the last enough. If a box is leaky, powdery, smokey, ticking, oozing or otherwise weird it can become a bomb scare for the postal service employees. Simply labeling the damn thing "Hey this has a toy that might make noise or something" or "Jars of salsa inside beware leaking tomato juice" can save a lot of wasted man hours from people being evacuated from the building and standing around for hours waiting for the bomb squad to come take your package away so they can explode it. (yes, this happened to us twice when I worked in the USPS).

Slainbylich

You're not mailing backstock of surge are you? But I am curious, why a can of soda?

VisionOfClarity

Improvolone wrote: »

I hope this can isn't destined to be opened.
Or if it is, it might be a great prank.

I so know what's going in my bf's next care package now. Thank you.

AbsoluteZero

For whatever reason the new varieties of mountain dew aren't available where my gf lives so I'm going to send her a can or two. I'd rather send bottles but I can't find any.

So if I pack it good, seal it in plastic, and mark it "Contains Liquid" or some such I should be fine?

Bwah?

I would put it in a pringles can, and then in a Tupperware container surrounded by packing peanuts.

Or try to snag the pre-molded containers that soda companies ship their pops in.

Staxeon

When Sam Adams had their homebrew contest they were advising people to send in their beer entries in cardboard boxes lined in foam, then sealed in plastic, and label the whole thing "lab sample". I think that was more to get around the shipping controlled substances thing, but it must have worked.

Gdiguy

AbsoluteZero wrote: »

For whatever reason the new varieties of mountain dew aren't available where my gf lives so I'm going to send her a can or two. I'd rather send bottles but I can't find any.

So if I pack it good, seal it in plastic, and mark it "Contains Liquid" or some such I should be fine?

I've found at least one of them bottled in the local Safeway, so they're definitely out there... maybe like a 7-11 would have them? (I'm talking 20-oz bottles)

But yeah, I think my sister sent me a couple cans of simpsons movie-themed soda that went through alright

*edit

also, don't send her the red one (i think it's the one that's melon flavored?), it's horrible!

Regina Fong

AbsoluteZero wrote: »

For whatever reason the new varieties of mountain dew aren't available where my gf lives so I'm going to send her a can or two. I'd rather send bottles but I can't find any.

So if I pack it good, seal it in plastic, and mark it "Contains Liquid" or some such I should be fine?

Yes, you'll be fine.

AbsoluteZero

Sweet. Thanks guys!