Everybody loves the occasional drink. What most people don’t love is going to their local wine shops, liquor stores, or grocery shops to choose alcohol. With so many different types available today, it can be hard choosing the right one, especially when you consider that different events call for different types of alcohol.
A much easier way to get your hands on alcohol without going through the stress of standing around in front of a row of bottles you know nothing about is to buy your drinks online. This post will tell you what you need to know before you can safely do this.
Check Local Laws and Regulations
The first thing you need to do is check your state’s laws and regulations. Some prohibit the shipping of alcohol. For example, Alabama, Utah, and Oklahoma don’t allow the direct shipping of alcohol to customers. If you want to buy a selection of top-shelf spirits online, you first need to make sure you are legally allowed to. The last thing you want is to have your purchase declined because shipping is not allowed. Also take age restrictions into consideration if you are planning on buying alcohol from an international vendor and having it shipped to the United States.
Research and Find Reliable Vendors
If you want to buy alcohol online, find the most reliable vendors you can. Not only should you take time to make sure that sellers have the correct permits and licenses, but you also need to read their reviews. A vendor’s reviews will tell you a lot about them and help you to decide whether they are worth buying liquor from or not. You can read a vendor’s reviews on Google Review, Trustpilot, and their website. Bear in mind that reviews hosted on a seller’s website will usually be a lot more favourable than the ones posted elsewhere, because they can delete negative ones.
Have Somebody Home to Sign for Delivery
If you are going to order alcohol to your house, you need to make sure you have somebody at home to sign for the delivery. The worst thing you can do is have alcohol delivered and left outside your house, because there is a chance it could be stolen. Thefts of parcels from people’s doorsteps are becoming widespread across the United States. Having somebody sign and receive the delivery if you are not going to be in is the best way to secure your parcel and prevent it from being stolen. Make sure the person is over the drinking age, otherwise the courier won’t give them the parcel.
Look Into Shipping Costs and Fees
Shipping costs and fees are something else you need to take into consideration. If you do not shop around, you could end up buying products from a retailer who charges ridiculous shipping rates and import fees. Import fees are only paid if you order alcohol from another country, however. Bear in mind that some retailers allow you to get free shipping on your first order. If you are planning on buying alcohol from an online vendor for the first time, you should try and find one who does offer free shipping
Familiarize Yourself with the Return Policy
The next thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with your chosen vendor’s return policy. The last thing you want is to buy alcohol from a seller that doesn’t accept returns. A vendor that doesn’t accept returns will likely refuse to accept accountability if there are problems with the alcohol that they send you. You can find out what a seller’s return policy is by visiting their website. Try to pay using your credit card if you are buying alcohol from a retailer with a no returns policy, so you can file a chargeback in the event there is a problem with your alcohol.
Look for Ways to Save Money
Finally, if you are buying alcohol online, you need to make sure that you try and find vendors offering promotional discounts or coupon codes. This is so you can save money. High-quality alcohol can be very expensive, so shopping around and finding retailers who offer discounted rates on their products is the best way for you to avoid overpaying. There are coupon comparison sites you can use to find offers and discounts. Make sure you shop around and find the most reliable one you can, and always read the reviews of coupon sites.
If you are planning on buying alcoholic beverages online, take the various points made here into consideration. Factoring them into your purchases will help you to avoid buying the wrong products, from the wrong vendors. Always read a seller’s reviews before you do business with them, so you can be sure they are a good match for you.
