FEDEX SHIPPING ADJUSTMENTS=OVERCHARGES

[ramcharger_21]

We have over $1k cost adjustments for FedEx. I took the time to make a spreadsheet with detailed information which I included a screenshot of each cost adjustment. I emailed customer service and attached the pdf file. I received a msg from ebay customer service rep saying that we need to double check the weight and dimemssions of each package which you can clearly see that there was no difference in weight and if there are any it shows that fedex reported a smaller package which I should be receiving a refund. It's upsetting and frustrating that ebay was able to get that additional charge from us and is not able to help us get our money back. 

[gator08041971]

@ramcharger_21 

Couple things I will point out as a suggestion:

Always list your dimensions with the largest dimension first, then the next and then the last would be the smallest dimension.

FedEx does a couple things which is why I don't use them:

They calculate by volume more often than weight.  A larger box is a larger box and costs more, whether its 5lbs or 50lbs. 

They also will surcharge for deliveries to certain destinations, after the fact.  Fuel rate increase, rural areas, etc., and you won't know what you will get hit with till after its delivered, which is kind of a crock.

UPS isn't much better, but I have had pretty good results.  I just annoyingly go over my package info multiple times to be sure. I have been surcharged from UPS once or twice, but they were small amounts.   And only once from USPS, and that was because I made a mistake.

[ramcharger_21]

Thank you for your suggestion, but as you can see the weight were the same and fedex reported a smaller package than us. 

[jg.mason]

Why would you continue to ship with FedEx ? After the first couple adjustments I'd be looking for another shipper. In my area they have the worst delivery drivers of anybody they throw the packages on the porch or just set them on the edge of the porch where they get rained on.

[gator08041971]

@ramcharger_21 

the weight were the same and fedex reported a smaller package than us. 

---

Yep.

I saw.  I have seen this happen time and again with them.  There are probably hundreds of threads on here about how FedEx surcharges and it never seems to make sense.

But the weight doesn't matter.  Its size does.  The only reason I mentioned dimensions being always listed as biggest to smallest, is because sometimes the calculator can't do math with it properly when you put the biggest number in the middle, even though the box orientation would place it there.

So that probably messed with their adjuster (which is probably automated) and despite it trying to change the size it still got it upcharged.

I would research into better options, if you can.   You can also ship outside of eBay, using a website like Pirateship.  I use them occasionally, sometimes for custom shipments, or doing return labels, even for eBay. Just make sure you update the tracking number on eBay if you use them for the label.

[robbie31415]

What type of packaging do you use ?

[ryry-jj]

I had a few issues as well with FedEx/eBay rates, nothing on the scale you have, however.   I just stopped using FedEx as an option, and will stay away until I am confident they clean it up.  As of now, still staying away from Fedex

[ramcharger_21]

We secure the corners and have custom made boxes 

[pjcdn2005]

I believe that the ebay calculator does take into account the dimensional weight but it does not take into

account other charges that they add on. I'm not well versed on it but I've read that they charge extra for odd shaped packages as well as poly bags. @wastingtime101 might have a better idea of what your extra charge were for.

[robbie31415]

Ebay does not account for irregular packaging.

You know I noticed what trips up a lot of people is using their same poly bag methods they use for USPS with UPS and Fedex and that isn't going to fly.

Both of them require very regular brown box packaging.

Fedex is probably the stricter of the group, they nitpick everything even down to how much tape you use.

I would not use eBay for UPS/FedEx for larger or irregular packages. Only standard small brown boxes.

Larger ones or irregular I'd probably go with PirateShip with UPS. They account for a lot more than eBay does to avoid surprises. Also when adjustment issues do happen pirateship is also much easier to deal with in fighting them. Their support staff are actually trained in shipping.

[wastingtime101]

---

@ramcharger_21 wrote:

We secure the corners and have custom made boxes 

---

Define "secure the corners."

I looked at your screenshots and the cost adjustments are not for weight or dimensions. They are for "additional handling" which points to something about your physical packaging being non-standard.

Describe in detail your packaging and we can probably point to the problem.

You said boxes. Are they: perfect rectangles or oddly-shaped? use "too much tape" - one of FedEx's favorite? Rounded in any way? Does "secured corners" mean you add pieces to the outside corners of the box?

There's something about your packaging that's triggering the additional handling surcharge. @ramcharger_21 

[wastingtime101]

I'll add as a point of reference a link to the FedEx Guide. Start at page 126 to see what qualifies for "additional handling" surcharges:

https://www.fedex.com/content/dam/fedex/us-united-states/services/Service_Guide_2024.pdf

A surcharge applies to any package that:

(Dimension)  

1) measures greater than 48 inches along its longest side;  

2) measures greater than 30 inches along its second-longest side;

3) measures greater than 105 inches in length and girth — the length and girth is length plus (two times the height) plus (two times the width);

(Weight)  

4) • has an actual weight greater than 50 lbs. (U.S. Package Services);

• has an actual weight greater than 70 lbs. (International Package Services);

(Packaging)

Is in non-standard packaging, including any package that: 

5) is not fully encased in an outer shipping container;  

6) is encased in an outer shipping container not made of corrugated fiberboard (cardboard) materials, including but not limited to metal, wood, canvas, leather, hard plastic, soft plastic (e.g., plastic bags), or expanded polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam);  

7) is encased in an outer shipping container covered in shrink wrap or stretch wrap;  

8 ) is encased in a soft-sided pack (e.g., courier packs, poly bags, and bubble mailers) that exceeds 18 inches along its longest side or 13 inches along its second-longest side or 5 inches in height;4  

9) is round or cylindrical, including (without limitation) mailing tubes, cans, buckets, barrels, tires, drums, or pails;

10) is bound with metal, plastic, or cloth banding, or has wheels, casters, handles, or straps (e.g., a bicycle) (including packages where the outer surface area is loosely wrapped, or where the contents protrude outside the surface area); or

11) could become entangled in or cause damage to other packages or the FedEx sortation system.

[robbie31415]

I do think 'Additional Handling' is too vague.

It should include the specific issues that they are billing you IMO.