Be Aware of Cost Adjustments on Labels
If you are using eBay shipping labels for UPS or FedEx, keep in mind you are using eBay's account number with each carrier. We only do UPS, so I'll base this information on that. Now that eBay is setup like the river on UPS adjustments, what you're going to see, even if you enter correct dimensions and weight, is false cost adjustments. After years of getting cost adjustments on the river and the river and UPS denying any responsibility, you're in for some headaches here as well if eBay does the same. Don't call UPS, because they will refuse to help you saying it's eBay's problem. Now hopefully eBay is unlike the river, in that they will actually take you seriously and file an appeal to the charges. Often times it's just not worth your time and I think UPS knows this and is hiding behind the marketplace.
Some things to keep in mind. If your package is 10x10x4 on the box, those are inner dimensions. Your box is 11x11x5 outer dimensions. If the weight is 1lb 2oz or 1lb 15oz, the weight is 2lbs. Always round up, never down. Because this benefits the carrier, so be a good shipper and fall in line!
Where is the issue? Here is the issue that happens. The cost adjustment matches the entered information.
For example we enter 12x12x6 box at 4lbs. The cost adjustment will say 12x12x6 at 64oz. 64oz = 4lbs. The weight is exactly the same. They also round ounces in adjustments to nearest lb if you were wondering. 1lb will say 16oz, 2lb 32oz and so forth. For some reason this error is exactly the same as on the river, here on eBay. Just had two come in like this totalling over $5. Not much right? Well, over on the river for 2023 these added up to $834 in extra fees. These are products I've shipped dozens of. The box and weight are always the same. Yes, I excluded actually errors we made which were a few, but very rare. Usually when switching a product to a new box, forgot to change it internally.
UPS is known for extra charges. Anyone who has a UPS account knows this. They will tact on all kinds of charges to invoices you always have to fight.
For example, we would do a UPS pickup request as guest on UPS's website. The fee charge to card was always the same rate. I changed over to UPS pickups with our UPS acct # and the initial fee shown was the same, but without fail, the invoices would have miscellaneous fees added on for the pickup. No explanation next to fee either.
pcobra93
·2 years agoEbay cannot tell you "what" the adjustment is for.....and there is the legal problem for them. Legally, they have to explain the costs in order to collect....in all 50 (or 57) states.
flexmotoring
OP2 years agoHere's an example. Screenshot of email notice and logged in view. $1.29 isn't worth the time to contest this. Domestic shipment to a business. Paid $7.84, adjustment $1.29 = $9.13.
flexmotoring
OP2 years agoAnother one with adjustment.
Keep in mind the API should automatically show dimensional weight label cost
Entered dimensions were 17x17x9 a 6lbs.
The label output should be for 17x17x9 at 16lbs.
17x17x9 = 2601 / 166 = 15.67 = 16lbs rounded
Label cost $15.61
Adjustment added $4.14
The question is, why not show correct dimensional weight label for $19.75? instead of surprise charges. That’s how it is suppose to work so you can compare labels costs between carriers.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoClick on the big view adjustment button @flexmotoring and on the next screen, look off to the right and expand the section that shows adjustment breakdown. Post a screenshot of that. Size/weight is probably not the issue.
eBay's shipping calculator does factor in dimensional weight upfront. But there are things it should, but does not account for, such as irregular packages (tubes, etc).
UPS is notorious for slapping on cost adjustments and you're correct, they bank on "not worth the time to appeal".
To answer something from your first post: eBay CS will submit an appeal with UPS on your behalf, unlike Amazon that shut sellers down in that area. But before you contact CS to appeal, make sure you know what the cost adjustment is for.
When your weight/dim matches the UPS quoted wt/dim (lbs vs oz does not make a difference), then size and weight are generally not the reasons for the cost adjustments.
I've seen a bunch of sellers get hit with cost adjustments recently for too much tape. FedEx loves using that one.
flexmotoring
OP2 years agoThere's no FedEx close by here and they just toss boxes in middle of the driveway for personal deliveries that get soaked in rain, so I would avoid FedEx puts a bad taste in my mouth. So, it makes sense they would charge a fee for too much tape lol.
I would have posted screenshot of the rest before, but there's nothing there to add any information. see below screenshots. Left in the dark for what the charges are really for since the weight and dimensions were all entered correctly. Boxes are fine, tape is standard, everything entered was correct on both these examples that just came in. The dimensional one seems like just an API wrong rate issue. $19.75 would be the next amount up to next zone out. The ship from address and delivery address were correct so I'm not sure what the issue was. Tracking didn't indicate any issues. I'm just glad there's no $11.75 additional fee on top of the adjustment that we see get tacked on the river when they do a cost adjustment. You'll get like a $3.53 adjustment and $11.75 charge on top of that. Some products, that would make us lose money on that sale. Our profit would be around $12 and now we're at a loss. And most of the time it's the same weight and same dimensions entered as on the audited weight and dimensions with no other description of the additional charges. Part of me feels like it has something to do with the oz vs lbs thing. Although the oz is the same as entered lbs, it somehow alerts a false cost adjustment. All I know is over the last 6 years I've paid attention; UPS has taken several thousand from us on these on the river. If you assume it happens to a good portion of shippers, this will stack into a big figure. A figure that maybe should be investigated by a higher power, but again, most companies just chalk it up to doing business with UPS/FedEx and move on. Because if you spend an hour on something to "maybe" get back a few dollars, you've lost no matter what. I spent way too many hours going back and forth between UPS and the river on it in 2022 and got zero results. I saved all the information and gave it to the state attorney general's office where I basically stopped and moved forward.
clubg63
·2 years agoI've had several similar cost adjustments with FedEx. Annoyed and frustrated with the both FedEx and Ebay. Havent had this happen yet with UPS.
I've moved most of my shipments to US Postal Ground Advantage. They now insure up to $100 like priority mail and is usually a lot less than Priority expecially when going long distance. Takes a little longer and US Postal has their own issues. But I'm annoyed getting these cost adjustment emails and having to fight with ebay in regard. Im avoiding FedEx and UPS whenever I can. Even if USP Ground Advantage is a little bit more.