FedEx now doing random back charging and not even showing why
eBay continues to allow FedEx to back charge after the fact. Now they don't even have the balls to show why. I use the eBay shipping calculator and I go over the actual dimensions, next I keep adding to the weight until the cost go up to allow for the dimensional adjustment and FedEX still back charges. Sometimes they add as many as three inches to the dimensions I measure with a tailors tape. This is theft and it's not like fedEx has not been sued before for this. eBay allowed them to take money out of our accounts no questions ask is a true breach of trust.
57 comments
tools*
·8 months agoWell, they have to make money one way or another. If they can't do it honestly, they'll do it this way.
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoVery true.
vtgbeersigns
·8 months agoI've had major problems with ups and eBay labels , absolutely zero support from either side. FedEx has been somewhat fair but a few charges were excessive but I can eat $20, not $700 like UPS and eBay overcharging and changing my dimensions. Pirate ship has had 0 charges on my labels. eBay was charging every single label
robbie31415
·8 months agoI've had issues with overcharged on pirate ship.
Good news with them is I have 100% win rate in reversals.
Problem with eBay is the horrible experience at fighting them.
This is why I don't buy any of my labels on eBay.
vtgbeersigns
·8 months agoI'm sure I'll get some issues on pirate ship at some point , but they always do an actual appeal. Ive taken photos of all measurements/boxes for years and started taking photos and videos on all boxes and measurements December 17. eBay didn't even appeal my labels , charged me $650 total to ship 2 boxes 80 miles from me. I'm not giving up until I get my money back, right now I'm waiting on a written response from ups and will escalate it from there if no resolution. I'm out $701 on 4 boxes , and I could probably add up all the small bogus charges for another $300 in november and december. Ive wasted 10 plus hours on the phone and filling out paperwork only to get nothing but generic response from eBay. UPS actually conceded on phone for an appeal but refused to do so without eBays consent , of course eBay refused. The carriers and eBay get an average of 50%+ of all average sales as most items are large and expensive to ship. They make a ton of money off me. All these bogus charges I'm disputing I sold the exact same items 3 times this year and twice last year without an issue. "UPS" added 1-3" per side on box " audit" just enough to charge an extra $168-195 per box.
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoI thought about going to the Surface Transportation Board with this ongoing problem that is NOT disclosed before they get their money.
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoMe as well and they still deny they are overcharging,.
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoEbay was great years ago and their CS staff was superb. Now, if you can understand them after waiting 55 minutes on hold and then getting cut off, your frustration makes the cheaper rates not worth it.
robbie31415
·8 months agoI've never had that experience when it comes specifically to eBay labels.
Ebay has never really devoted quality support in regards to adjustments based on my experience.
Shipping adjustments are such a tiny thing part of the entire eBay that I doubt they ever will.
This is why I use Pirateship. They don't have fedex, but I'm fine with that.
All pirateship does is shipping labels so their staff are very well versed in handling basically all issues.
I did a short migration to Veeqo, but they suffer from the lousy customer service. (Amazon company and it shows).
Pirateship adjustments process to dispute literally takes a few seconds. Don't need to contact anyone directly its right there on the label screen. Write 1 short paragraph with specifics and in a few days I always get refunded for the adjustment.
The real issue on eBay is the dispute process.
There will always be adjustments, and errors. Its a byproduct of automation. Packages will get ran through stuck together, or other issues.
Many adjustments are right, some are not which is why the carriers have dispute process.
Ebay needs to look at pirateship in how they handle the dispute process and implement such.
If eBay implemented such changes I might actually use eBay labels again.
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoYes they were/are.
wastingtime101
·8 months agoThere is some good and a lot of bad info in the replies here. Let's start with your first question @axesboldaslovejimidavis which is how to see the reason for the adjustment.
Info is limited, but some details are typically provided. Go to Seller Hub > Orders > Shipping Labels (or click the view adjustment details link in your email).
In the label details / initial cost column, click on the link for that transaction. On the pop up, expand the section on the bottom right that says see cost breakdown (highlighted below in green). Black out order #, tracking #, and buyer ID and post a screenshot.
Please also provide a physical description of the package (box, bag, tube, box with handle, etc).
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoNot that helpful. The breakdown did not show up until the day after. Then they charged me for an address correction a buyer managed to make that I did not authorize. To their credit eBay did contact me and are going to reimburse me for that . As far as the other back charge FedEx basically lied about the dimensions adding 2-3 inches to every measurement. I ship about 300 electric guitars a year and I'm quite familiar with how the whole eBay shipping system works.
wastingtime101
·8 months agoThis is a posting ID; I don't use my selling IDs here. You'll be hard pressed to find someone that knows more about eBay shipping than me.
Buyer did not make an address correction; UPS and FedEx do that automatically and they charge for it. eBay will generally refund that if you contact them (probably because eBay knows their address verification at checkout is total crap).
Not sure why you're saying the info I provided is not helpful since you said the cost adjustment details were there and you can see FedEx claimed the dimensions were off. The process is to contact eBay CS because only they can dispute a cost adjustment with UPS/FedEx when the label was purchased with eBay's account, and they will only dispute if the adjustment amount exceeds $10.
I'm moving on to sellers that want help, but I do wish you the best working out your FedEx issues.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoActually I never ask for your help. I did my post to see if others had gone through similar problems. Thanks anyway, wasting time
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoUPS is doing that but they are getting caught. I took photos of the dimensions and the factory labeled carton.
vtgbeersigns
·8 months agoMe too, and eBay nor ups has offered any kind of refund. I was told to do an FTC complaint once the BBB complaint fails , still waiting on ups written response. Next I have to waste time and money on small claims. It's like I'm dealing with a buyer trying to scam me but it's two corporations worth 300 billion dollars trying to steal $701 and likely and $300ish once I add up all the other fraudulent charges
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoWow, you have zero feedback and no items for sale
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoUPS as well and no breakdown.
kibble-net
·8 months agoPro tip - quit blaming ebay and fedex and start taking some responsibility.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoWhy don't you just stick to selling your yard sale items
rckr43
·8 months agoI've had issues with FedEx, but that was due to mishandling packages (even when they have fragile stickers) and missed scheduled pickups. That and if you call to speak with a real person - it's like pulling teeth - not a pleasant experience with the hassle just getting connected to a real person.
As for charges - I've actually received refunds thru eBay. I tend to error on the side of caution for weight and size.
tools*
·8 months agoFragile stickers are worth about as much as a Trump IOU.
ryry-jj
·8 months agoWhat was the size of the guitar box, and shipping from where to where? A lot of the charges are dimensional weight adjustments as well as a "correction" charge
kibble-net
·8 months agoThis is most of the correct answer. Dimensional weight exists.
The other part is that Fedex how requires that you ROUND UP all fractions of inches. A lot of sellers missed the memo about this.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoI add to the weight on the shipping calculator until the cost actually go up to make sure I'm above the dimensional weight, and I always enter over the actual measurements
whirlwindwholesale
·8 months agoThey got me too. The dimensions stayed the same but I sent a 1.8lb. package, they said it weighed 3.4lbs and then charged me for 4lbs! I know for fact that it did not weigh 3.4lbs. I have sent the same item to another buyer thru USPS at the same weight and they didnt up charge me. FEDEX only charged me $1.38 up charge luckily but its the point that I know its bull puckey to begin with.
ryry-jj
·8 months agoThis has been going on for a while. We would need to see your entered data on the listing and how it was entered on the get label screen to know your situation. Plus would need to see how your packed. Other than that, no idea why some people get hit with these and others do not. Unfortunately, eBay only says UPS & FedEx are just estimates and they aren't investigating anything, either & the appeal can send you in circles
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoThanks. They used to show why they would back charge but sometimes that was off. Now they do not even show a breakdown or reason. Don't say different measurements, don't say different weight, they just charge more, like sometimes even double what it cost using eBays calculator after I added to the true dimensions
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoFedEx tracking number 395892134930. On this one FedEx said my box was much larger than it actually was. They charged me about $90. to ship the guitar when the original label was only $40. They said my box was bigger than you can even normally ship. I measure with a tailors tape and always go up on the measurements. Their measurements are false. I called eBay customer support to dispute the charge. They spent a few minutes with me and said they would take care of it. Nothing ever happened and I received no notice. I always get my shipping labels through eBay shipping but may have to go to a third party so that I'm able to dispute these false charges. I kind of doubt I'll hear anything back on this either.
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months agoYou won't. The 3rd Party out of the US reps you spoke to only tell you what you want to hear to get you off the phone. They have NO power to do anything, especially with another party (Fedex/UPS).
participatrophy
·8 months agoWhy on earth are you measuring with a tailors tape? If your parcels involve a need to measure curved planes, you're getting hit with irregular package surcharges. If you're shipping in standard cartons, a tailors tape offers you no advantage whatsoever but gives plenty of opportunity to introduce error. Use a retractable steel tape. Or a yardstick. Even an old school wooden foldable rule would be better. Measure the span, not the plane.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoMost of the time I use brand new boxes from Uline that have the measurements printed right on the box and I enter over the actual measurements. When I do use a tailors tape I grasp it at one end pull tight to the other, no curves period, just rectangles.
participatrophy
·8 months agoThose measurements they print on the boxes like that refer to the interior dimensions, so you'll know whether your stuff will fit inside it or not. Tailors tape is mighty handy in a great many situations, don't get me wrong - this just ain't one of em.
Look at how you use it:
That says it all. Your instinct is to mimic the functionality of a rigid tape rule. Trust your instincts. Give your hands the tool they already want to be using.
And unless every one of those six rectangles are dead flat, measurements taken edge to edge will come up short on a box that big. Gotta account for the extra width anytime the sides bulge out.
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoI measure my boxes on the outside and the still charge me extra. Weights as well, Not explaned before you buy their labels until they get their money.
ryry-jj
·8 months agoThat printed size on the bottom is the ID, not the OD. If you use the ID, you will always be understating your dimensions and facing surcharges. Usually that OD is about 1" all around. So yes, you have to correct that for a proper label
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoStill does not explain them adding 3 inches to the size
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoThat's nice to know. Wonder why the ebay computer cannot do that?
j-1610-2day
·8 months agoI physically measure and weigh my shipments.
babyers88
·8 months agoextra shipping charges by mistake on the carriers part are rare, if the amount charged is more than $20 difference from what you paid, then ebay can dispute it, you likely will not receive any notification of the dispute outcome and any "eventual" credit would be buried in your payments, which you would have to look for which is not hard to do. that type of credit could take up to 90 days to show up.
If it is less than $20 you basically have to eat it, part of doing business and of course is tax deductible.
not a reason you jump ship, generally the ebay labels discount is pretty good. you more than make up for it in the long run versus increased cost by other means.
neither are any fun to deal with but it happens.
Also you mention guitar, if it was shipped in a guitar "case" that would be the reason for the extra charges, anything with a handle, wheels, round, tubular, wrapped in plastic wrap, zip ties, or anything other than a cardboard box can or will incur extra handling charges. Otherwise the dimensions should have been squared up with the widest, thickest and longest parts being the total overall size.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoI use brand new guitar boxes from Uline with the measurements printed right on the boxes.
robbie31415
·8 months agoUline dimension are not for shipping.
The carriers don't care what the inside dimension are.
https://img.uline.com/is/content/uline/BoxGuide_ENUS_pdf#:~:text=1.,is%20+/%2D%201/8%22.
Reading all the posts you really seem to think you know more than you actually do.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoI never ask anyone here for solutions or advice. I've only posted on the community a couple times then I always remember it is just another form of social media filled with people who have nothing better to do. I only did this post to see if others were having the same experience. I think you know way less than you think you do
christworks
·8 months agoI do not know why people have such issues with FedEx. I use them for certain things and the only time I was ever overcharged was when I messed up.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoYou have not sold thousands of items either
lakefor94
·8 months ago@axesboldaslovejimidavis
FWIW, I ship a lot of sizable items like 2U fiber patch panels as an example.
I use UPS thru PirateShip. Shipping 15 to 20 UPS per week between eBay and AMZ, every week.
I only get a chump change adjustment now and then from UPS. Usually an inch increase in the package dimensions.
I don't even bother to dispute it but it is easy to dispute thru PirateShip.
Pricing for UPS shipping is better than ebay.
They don't even offer FedEx. That speaks volumes.
axesboldaslovejimidavis
OP8 months agoI may have to switch to Pirate Ship because eBay and FedEx could care less