Yours is an odd duck. Haven't seen a non-box one like this before, but really doesn't matter.
Need to see what exactly your eBay invoice showed for this if you can (either a screenshot of those lines or just the info copied here (Bill Weight, service, any dimensions, any other charges/surcharges, billed amount, fuel amount, etc)
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For your stated dimensions and 3lb weight, Smartpost base rate to zone 7 should have been $10.87 Add 57¢ for the 5.25% Fuel Surcharge and it comes to $11.44. That is the undiscounted estimate (and it's impossible to know what the eBay discount was from where I'm sitting).
You say it should have cost $9.61 (I assume that's what the eBay label cost was), so that would mean eBay gave you a 16% discount on that shipment (a very realistic discount amount in 2017)
In any case, that just shows that the $9.61 sounds about right and is what it should have cost*
*about the only other thing that could add would be if the destination zip was rural and incurred a $1.20 or $170 Delivery Area Surcharge (but the eBay label calculator catches that and it would have been in the original estimate - not added later by FedEx)
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FedEx Smartpost did not involve dimensional weight in any way prior to 1/22/18, so your shipment does not involve it either. The only places where dimensions come into play pre 1/22/18 is the non-machinable surcharge (which was $2.75 per package) and Balloon and Oversize considerations (if L+G > 84" uses 20lb balloon weight, if L+G>108" but less than 130" uses oversize rates)
IF your package was the size they claimed it would only be subject to an additional $2.75 non-machinable surcharge due to 1) 38" claimed length greater than 34" and 2) Claimed length and 25" claimed width greater than 17"
From the tracking they claim 38x25x13: L+G = 38+(25+25+13+13) = 114" which pushes it into oversize realm. (when oversize, non-machinable surcharge is waived - they only penalize you once)
Oversize base rate for zone 7 is $80.98 with Fuel Surcharge of $4.25 it comes to $85.23
If FedEx is being sneaky, and using rates in place at time of delivery, then they used the 2018 rate table where Oversize to zone 7 is $84.34 and 5.25% Fuel Surcharge on that would be $4.43 for a total of $88.77 which is exactly what you say they charged.
So they inflated the package size (conveniently) to push is just over the oversize threshold, used the Jan 1, 2018 rate tables (instead of the 2017 rates tables when it was shipped), but used the pre Jan 7 lower 5.25% Fuel Surcharge on the inflated charge (how considerate).
You can see the math works out and demonstrates what they did. If it was the size you say, the cost should be $9.61. If the size FedEx says, the $88.77 charge is correct (except for the dodgy use of 2018 rates)
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Let's look at a 38x25x13 package. If a box made out of cheesy 32ect corrugated, then:
Box that size is about 4525 in² = 31.43 ft² 1.66oz/ft² x 31.43 ft² = 52.17 oz = 3.26lb
An empty box the size they claim constructed of the cheesiest corrugated would be 3.26 lb which is 2/3 pound heavier than the FedEx weighed weight.
If it were a polybag, a bag that size would be approx 8oz. Could have 2lb of contents and weigh in at 2.6 lb as claimed.
I can't see a jacket A) being that big and B) if it were that big weighing only 2 pounds
(I can't think of too many things that size other than air paks weighing in under 2 pounds)
You were overcharged. FedEx put their thumb on the measuring tape and doubled your package dimensions to push it into Oversize rate realm.
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@Anonymous @dcintennessee @dtexley3
This makes two so far in this one thread where the charges are obviously spurious, and not just taking their word for it either - it would be nearly impossible for either of those shipments to have been the dimensions FedEx claims and the weight FedEx claims unless they shipped empty gigantic boxes - so it isn't even he said/she said.
OP @hideawayaqua was denied by FedEx, and it looks like @droppoint10 here is being ignored by eBay CS.
If this is how it's going to be (ship something and FedEx just decides to quadruple the charge with no recourse when it is obviously an error) then sellers aren't going to be able to use FedEx any longer. It seems to be getting worse, and there needs to be a protocol in place.
