Beware when choosing FedEx

[city.shoes]

I recently noticed while reviewing the shipping charges that FedEx has been excessively charging me 

The original cost of one package was $13.80.

Their final charges 34.55

The package is actually 5 pounds not 6 pounds like shown and the dimensions are 16X10X5

Now their final charges are itemized below

FedEx Shipping Label Fee
Bill Wt: 6.0 LB
Addn Hndlg Amt: $14.00
Freight Amt: $14.41
Fuel Amt: $2.85
Misc 1 Amt: $5.95
Perf Price Disc: $-5.92
Resi Amt: $3.26

[orangehound]

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@city.shoes wrote:

I recently noticed while reviewing the shipping charges that FedEx has been excessively charging me 

Addn Hndlg Amt: $14.00
Misc 1 Amt: $5.95

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Addn Hndlg Amt: $14.00

This charge is a packaging surcharge, because the container in which you shipped the item does not conform to FedEx standards.  Basically, the container should be a rectangular, plain cardboard box sealed with packing tape.

If the package is oddly-shaped, wrapped in mylar/plastic (or a large bubble bag bag), sealed with duct tape, etc., then it will be assessed this $14 handling charge ... because it cannot go through the automated sorting machines.

Misc 1 Amt: $5.95

This looks like extra services (though the amount looks odd to me).  Extra services are things like additional insurance, signature confirmation ... eBay doesn't show you the price of these items when you buy the label.

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@city.shoes wrote:

The package is actually 5 pounds not 6 pounds like shown and the dimensions are 16X10X5

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If only one of those dimensions is off, such as 16x11x5 or 16x10x6, then that's a 6 pound dimensional weight ... but there isn't much of a price difference between 5 pounds and 6 pounds (maybe 50-70 cents).

[orangehound]

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@city.shoes wrote:

I recently noticed while reviewing the shipping charges that FedEx has been excessively charging me 

The original cost of one package was $13.80.

Their final charges 34.55

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@city.shoes 

So, I guess this would be the summary ...

• 13.80 - Original quote
• 14.00 - Non-standard Packaging Surcharge, requiring special handling
•   5.95 - Additional services (e.g., insurance, signature confirmation, etc.)
•     .80 - Cost difference between 5 pound and 6 pound shipping weight

Total:  34.55

[city.shoes]

This Addn Hndlg is one of the problem because we do wrap the shoe boxes in plastic bags but also wrap them with tape. Well we will have to use other carriers. Never had a problem with other carriers. Also these packages when finish they look really straight so I wonder why they don't go through the sorting machines. Just another way for them to overcharge users. They leave me out of profits. I will never use them again

[orangehound · Accepted solution]

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@city.shoes wrote:

Just another way for them to overcharge users.   They leave me out of profits.

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FedEx is different from the USPS in their requirements ... much more picky and unforgiving of mistakes.  It takes only about 15 minutes to read through the rules on their service guide (around pages 100-114), and learn their expectations.   Then you can avoid this sort of stuff.

On heavy packages, or those over a cubic foot, the FedEx prices through eBay are really beneficial ... and help increase a business' profits.

[ramman95sp]

Wow, I didn't realize how wide spread this FedEx problem was. I've been selling on eBay for around 7 years or so and just experienced this for the first time. I sold a set of new floor mats that weighed less than 8 pounds, dimensions were 3X23X24 inches. Initial label amount was $10.83, I was billed  $32.53. I went back to purchase another label just to see if I entered the wrong info but that was not the case. As a matter of fact, the price stayed the the same ($10.83) all the way up to 15 pounds and up to 30 inches. I got no results speaking to CSR's from eBay or FedEx. 

FedEx Shipping Label Fee

Tracking No: 285856255711 Bill Wt: 11.0 LB Addn Hndlg Amt: $14.00 Freight Amt: $15.35 Fuel Amt: $2.76 Misc 1 Amt: $5.95 Perf Price Disc: $-5.53

Luckily I only got ripped off for less than $22. Searching this forum, there's sellers that have been overcharged several hundred dollars!  The item that I sold  was almost 100% profit and the buyer paid over $16 toward the shipping cost. While no big lose on my end, I will NEVER use FedEx again.  

[ajw2203]

i got hit with the $14 charge too and found this posting.  The box was ugly so I 'mummified' it in a giant plastic mailer.  Guess that's what did it. 

Bill Wt: 17.0 LB Addn Hndlg Amt: $14.00 Freight Amt: $15.39 Fuel Amt: $3.14 Misc 1 Amt: $5.95 Perf Price Disc: $-5.56 Resi Amt: $3.26

Quoted as $14.20 and charged $36.18 box was 32 x 8 x 8 and 16 pounds.  Fedex says 17 pounds (which it wasn't because I always round up)

[aaronsteins...attic]

Yes I have had the same problem since this Jan.2022 the price almost doubled .

I think the algorithm is incorrect and eBay just takes the money without asking and they think they are correct . 
I have contacted customer service 3 times asking for an audit and refund and have received neither.

very dissatisfied and upset.

if I paid for groceries via credit card and got receipt then got home and they asked for more money HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ???

[dryophelia]

@aaronsteins...attic 

It is common for carriers, even USPS now, to consider Dimensional Weight when the package goes above one cubic foot. 

Determining DIM weight. https://ir.ebaystatic.com/pictures/aw/shipping/DIM_Weight_client_R6.pdf

When using FedEx or UPS, avoid using eBay labels. Take the package to the retail counter and pay in person.

[ajw2203]

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@dryophelia wrote:

@aaronsteins...attic 

When using FedEx or UPS, avoid using eBay labels. Take the package to the retail counter and pay in person.

I thought about doing this a few times.  If you pay them at the counter they cannot hit you with mysterious fees after the fact since you paid up front and left the building, but you do not get the ebay discount at the counter or if you use your own online account .  So it is best to follow the online rules to a T and hope for the best.  Sometimes it ends up being less than the quote too.

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[bandman15]

How did you contact eBay customer service about this? I have same issue ($16 became $35). If we all pester eBay, maybe something will happen.

[orangehound]

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@bandman15 wrote:

How did you contact eBay customer service about this? I have same issue ($16 became $35). If we all pester eBay, maybe something will happen.

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@bandman15 

It's not (totally) eBay's fault.   Most every one of these "overcharge" issues is because the seller adds on additional services (such as insurance, or a high declared value) or violates FedEx packaging standards.

Now, that said, eBay could offer some training or some warnings that would help sellers understand that shipping with FedEx is different than shipping with USPS.  But, ultimately, it is a seller's responsibility to become knowledgeable about FedEx charges and shipping standards.

[city.shoes]

This comes from FedEx and eBay will do little about this. I stopped using FedEx since this incident. UPS and Post office is all we using now. Don't go with FedEx quotes they will surcharge you sooner or later

[bandman15]

Thanks for the reply!

The "add-ons" from FedEx more than doubled the cost. I added nothing (value, etc) and my original size was correct/accepted and I paid for 19 oz, but they say it was only 16 oz. Then they added Residential Surcharge, Fuel Surcharge, Delivery Area Surcharge, and Carrier Rate (what is that?) and the $16 label became $36. I see no logical reason the "estimate" did not accurately reflect the "actual."

Of course, eBay blithely pulls that amount from my bank - why should they care?  Feels too much like fraud to me. 

[bandman15]

Thanks for the reply. See my reply above for the painful details!