Bloggin' It:
This month's newsletter topic begged for action.  
How so, you ask?

Well, since the topic is "Buying Alcohol Online"
and is a relatively new phenomenon, the writer felt
compelled to at least give it a try to see how it
went. The premise is to find out if it is easier for
underage drinkers to purchase alcoholic products
online than going the usual routes. Those being-
finding an age appropriate person to do it for them
or just rummaging in cupboards at home to see
what is available.

So...I need to get started....
Thursday, June 16 -
Googled  "buy alcohol online". Several   
possibilities pop up. I take a look at a couple of
sites and decide on one. They stock a lot of
different wines and many other types of alcoholic   
beverages.

Okay. I dig through my purse and locate a credit   
card. Now I'm good to go.

I spend some time looking through the choices and  
decide on a nice white wine. I put it in the virtual  
shopping basket and look at the calculation for the
cost. Shipping is $14! For one bottle. More than the
cost of the wine. (Never said I wasn't cheap.) Well to
make it worthwhile, I'll find something else.

Ohhh...there's a sale section. Always up for a sale,
I find a couple of other things to buy and put them
in the shopping basket.

The final shipping cost is $15 for 3 items. Somehow  
that seems better.  The final cost is $44.25 with tax  
added.

On to ordering. Is the purchaser at least 21-
checked the box. Yup, I am.  I opt out of creating an
account and chose to do this anonymously. Better
to be that way. Click Submit.

My virus software detects a "certificate error" and
blocks me from inputting the credit card information
for the purchase. I try a couple more times to get
around the error with no luck.

No order was placed from that site. My patience
worn thin, I put the ordering off for another day.  
Maybe tomorrow.
Can Teens Buy Alcohol Online?
Wednesday June 22 -

Came home after work and no package was there.
The unable to deliver notice from UPS was laying in  
a puddle on the porch. It had been stormy all
afternoon so it didn't stay where the delivery man
put it. This time he came around 1:25 p.m. I was  
home for lunch and must have just missed him.

Delivery is rescheduled to tomorrow between 10
a.m. and 2 p.m. It will be tough to be home then.
Friday, June 17 -

Back to the task of ordering alcohol online. I feel   
lucky. Today will be the day. Maybe....

Again, I Google- "order alcohol online" and several
possibilities pop up. I see the site I tried yesterday
but know enough to stay away from that one.

Here's one that looks interesting. I click on the link
and am transported to another virtual liquor store.

The prices here aren't nearly as low as the previous
one but then maybe that means it will be a safe
choice.

I begin shopping. Still looking for a white wine. Still  
boggled by the information about ingredients and
processes. Oh well, I pick out one and put it in the  
virtual shopping cart. Shipping cost is $9.99 here.  
Not bad. I look for something else to buy; chose
another bottle and put it in the cart. Choices are
made so it's on to checking out.

Anonymity is still appealing so I do not set up an
account. I do have to create a password. Okay that's
done. Now I have to certify that I am the authorized
user of the credit card or PayPal account. Yes I am.
Verified that I am at least 21.  Processing the order
will take up to 4 days. Standard delivery conditions
exist and the order will be shipped via UPS, DHL or
FedEx.   I have to accept the terms and conditions,
which I do, or I will not be able to order. I did read
through them. Not a gripping read but necessary.

Okay, now to pay for this order. Credit card info
input with no problem. The site does not retain credit
card info. Good to know. My order is approved. I will
be sent an email confirming it and giving me
shipping details. This is so easy!  The final cost is
$40.25- includes the merchandise, shipping and tax.
One more piece of info- the order must be signed
for by someone at least 21 and with a valid ID. The
carrier will make 3 delivery attempts.

Now to sit back and wait for my "online" wine.
Saturday, June 18 -

I have an email from the web store where I made the   
purchase. My order has shipped. I should be getting   
a tracking number from the shipper. Okay, I'll be  
looking for it.
Sunday June 19 -

Email arrived from UPS with delivery information.
Should arrive Tuesday, June 21. Adult signature  
required. Wow! The package weighs 8 lbs.
Tuesday June 21 -

Today is the scheduled delivery day. Hopefully I will
not be home and then I'll find out if UPS will leave it  
without a signature.
Tuesday June 21- P.M. -

It was around 5:30 when the UPS tried to deliver the
package. I was home but unable to get to the door
so he did not leave it. A notice of unable to deliver
was left. Rescheduled to tomorrow, 6/22.

Later in the evening I received an email from UPS
stating that the delivery is rescheduled. Still needing   
an adult signature. Seems like they are following
procedures. Guess I better try to be around for the
delivery tomorrow or I will have to pay additional
charges for reshipping or restocking.
Thursday, June 23 -

Received an email via UPS stating that the package   
will sent back to the sender. Well, guess that's that.  
I won't request a return shipping. I will lose $$ but at
least I learned that the carrier will not leave the
package without an adult signature. That's what I
was looking for. I would call the "experiment" a
success.
Monday, June 27 -

Received another email from UPS stating that the  
package has been returned to the shipper. No fine   
bottle of wine chillin' in the fridge. Waiting to see
what the restocking fee is.
Friday, July 1 -

Follow up on ordering alcohol online. No word from    
the company where I ordered the wine regarding a  
refund and/or additional fees. Checked credit card
statement. There hasn't been any activity which
means no refund at this point. Hope that getting
one doesn't end up being a frustrating process.
Well, just waiting to see.  

I also noticed that among the bulleted facts in the  
newsletter under "Easy to receive", it says, 'Have
an adult sign or leave package', which was not my
experience. This statement came from the UNC at
Chapel Hill report on online purchases by teens.

Meanwhile I will upload my experience to our  
website today.

Remember. if you decide to drink,
please do it responsibly.
Counter
Wednesday, July 6 -

Received an email today from the online retailer
that they have indeed received the package. They
need to know what I want to do. Reship or restock
the merchandise. Either way there is a cost. I
expected that. I instructed that they restock the
merchandise. The total cost to me is a restocking
fee and 2- way shipping fee, which is more than half
of the original cost. Not a favorable transaction for
me, but I did find out what I wanted to know so in
that respect it's a win.

I included our website address and asked that they
take a look at it. They did and said, "We enjoyed
your blog post about the experience, and are glad
that you are satisfied with out services, even though
you didn't receive your wine!"

So on to the next topic. Wonder how I could blog
about it. Depends on the topic, right?