I believe there is a recent (2017?) systemic error in the FedEx Ground/Home Delivery amounts calculated by the eBay shipping calculators.
It appears that the calculators are using the old incorrect 166 lb/cu-in dimensional weight divisor instead of the current 139 lb/cu-in divisor that FedEx switched to at the beginning of 2017.
The discrepency is only about 10% (at least for the one example I looked into as the result of the other thread on this board I posted in), but it appears to be an error nonetheless that will undercharge the buyer a few $ and possibly cost the seller/shipper those extra dollars - probably after the fact when FedEx reconciles the amount, and it turns into a "It's FedEx's fault. No it's eBay's fault" nightmare.
- 1. I have no idea how this impacts FedEx Express shipments, don't have time to look at it, but assume same issue since same divisor and method is used by FedEx.
- I have no idea how long this may have been happenning as I've had no FedEx Ground shipments that incurred dimensional surcharges in quite a while, but I ASSUME the beginning of 2017 when FedEx changed the divisor from 166 to 139 for shipments.
The other thread concerned a seller that shipped a 22# 24"x24"x18" package via UPS and apparently paid retail rates and was shocked, but I looked at it from the perspective of using FedEx to ship from coast to coast (worst case zone 8 shipment) and ran the numbers. Note that all the amounts here are based on my eBay FedEx discount, which is also linked to my FedEx account.
http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator
The simple eBay calculator produced reasonable numbers for the above package showing $51.65 as the total which includes the residential surcharge, fuel surcharge, and dimensional weight.
However, it looks like that calculator (and the actual eBay label flow calculator) are using the old dimensional weight divisor (166) which produces a slightly low quote.
In that other thread I ran the numbers through my FedEx account to verify and came up with $57.74 - about $6 higher than the eBay estimate, which I attributed to the discount variability between the two which I had seen in the past (but not to that degree)
Here is the FedEx example quote again:
Note the base rate of $62.57 which corresponds to a dimensional weight of 75# as found in the FedEx Service Guide. 75# is the correctly calculated dimensional weight using the correct 139lb/cu-in divisor. (L x W x H / 139 ----> 24 x 24 x 18 / 139 = 75#)
This afternoon I realized I could play with a recent eBay sold item and fake create another eBay shipping label for it to see the actual eBay label flow breakdown. Here is the result:
Note that the total is almost exactly the amount the simple calculator produced earlier (Discounts are dynamic?), but especially note the base rate: $59.72. That amount is for a 63# dimensional weight! (L X W X H / 166 ----> 24 x 24 x 18 / 166 = 62.46# = 63#)
I conclude that the eBay calculator is using the old, incorrect dimensional weight divisor.
Only a single sample, but I doubt it's a glitch - looks too much like a wrong parameter plugged in.
If anyone can verify this please do. If anyone concurs, and wants to take the time to bring it to eBay's attention, please do. Alternatively, If I did a "Doh!", let me know.
(The tennis courts are calling - I'll be off the air until tomorrow 🙂
@berserkerplanet wrote:
I believe there is a recent (2017?) systemic error in the FedEx Ground/Home Delivery amounts calculated by the eBay shipping calculators.
It appears that the calculators are using the old incorrect 166 lb/cu-in dimensional weight divisor instead of the current 139 lb/cu-in divisor that FedEx switched to at the beginning of 2017.
The discrepency is only about 10% (at least for the one example I looked into as the result of the other thread on this board I posted in), but it appears to be an error nonetheless that will undercharge the buyer a few $ and possibly cost the seller/shipper those extra dollars - probably after the fact when FedEx reconciles the amount, and it turns into a "It's FedEx's fault. No it's eBay's fault" nightmare.
- 1. I have no idea how this impacts FedEx Express shipments, don't have time to look at it, but assume same issue since same divisor and method is used by FedEx.
- I have no idea how long this may have been happenning as I've had no FedEx Ground shipments that incurred dimensional surcharges in quite a while, but I ASSUME the beginning of 2017 when FedEx changed the divisor from 166 to 139 for shipments.
The other thread concerned a seller that shipped a 22# 24"x24"x18" package via UPS and apparently paid retail rates and was shocked, but I looked at it from the perspective of using FedEx to ship from coast to coast (worst case zone 8 shipment) and ran the numbers. Note that all the amounts here are based on my eBay FedEx discount, which is also linked to my FedEx account.
http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator
The simple eBay calculator produced reasonable numbers for the above package showing $51.65 as the total which includes the residential surcharge, fuel surcharge, and dimensional weight.
However, it looks like that calculator (and the actual eBay label flow calculator) are using the old dimensional weight divisor (166) which produces a slightly low quote.
In that other thread I ran the numbers through my FedEx account to verify and came up with $57.74 - about $6 higher than the eBay estimate, which I attributed to the discount variability between the two which I had seen in the past (but not to that degree)
Here is the FedEx example quote again:
Note the base rate of $62.57 which corresponds to a dimensional weight of 75# as found in the FedEx Service Guide. 75# is the correctly calculated dimensional weight using the correct 139lb/cu-in divisor. (L x W x H / 139 ----> 24 x 24 x 18 / 139 = 75#)
This afternoon I realized I could play with a recent eBay sold item and fake create another eBay shipping label for it to see the actual eBay label flow breakdown. Here is the result:
Note that the total is almost exactly the amount the simple calculator produced earlier (Discounts are dynamic?), but especially note the base rate: $59.72. That amount is for a 63# dimensional weight! (L X W X H / 166 ----> 24 x 24 x 18 / 166 = 62.46# = 63#)
I conclude that the eBay calculator is using the old, incorrect dimensional weight divisor.
Only a single sample, but I doubt it's a glitch - looks too much like a wrong parameter plugged in.
If anyone can verify this please do. If anyone concurs, and wants to take the time to bring it to eBay's attention, please do. Alternatively, If I did a "Doh!", let me know.
(The tennis courts are calling - I'll be off the air until tomorrow 🙂
hey @berserkerplanet, I hope you had fun on the courts yesterday. While you were away, I heard back from our shipping team with more details on these rates. I wanted to share some more context with you here and will also update the other thread this was being discussed on.
So, in January of 2017 there was change for the domestic dimensional factor to 139 from 166, which represents approximately an 18% rate increase on dimensional weight packages (definitely significant.) What eBay was able to do for our sellers at this time, however, was negotiate with FedEx to retain the 166 dimensional factor for those using eBay labels. This reflects not only on eBay.com/labels but on our shipping calculator under the eBay rates option as well.
For calculated shipping and sellers who have set up preferences to share the eBay rates for FedEx with their buyers, the rate will calculate as the negotiated rate you would pay on eBay.com. This rate would only be applicable when you use eBay to print your labels. Sellers who elect to obtain FedEx labels somewhere other than eBay.com/labels would be subject to the rates that they have with FedEx directly. Below you will find an example outlined with screenshots that should help elaborate what we have discussed.
Example shipment:
From: 95815
To: 11946
Package: 22lbs, 24x24x18 – own packaging
Radio Button: In-Store Rates = Retail Rates below:
FedEx.com – Retail Rates – In-Store Rates below:
There is a slight difference in Express Rates due to 1 week lag on Fuel Surcharge updates to eBay Shipping Calculator. No difference in FedEx Ground/Home Delivery (retail rates for FedEx Ground/Home Delivery do NOT have fuel surcharge)
Same package, using eBay.com labels rate – which has a specially negotiated dimensional factor, will show $51.53 for FedEx Ground/HomeDelivery. As stated previously, a Seller NOT using eBay.com/labels for printing their FedEx labels are subject to the rates they have with FedEx directly.
On eBay.com/labels shipping screen, which shows a label cost for the same as nearly identical to eBay shipping calculator (again, difference here is very minor and from fuel surcharge with FedEx having a one week lag on shipping calculator only).
To compare, this is a personal account with FedEx – not linked to eBay rates nor the eBay negotiated Dimensional Factor, but linked to the rates one would have with FedEx directly. This provides a rate quote of 68.83 for the same package details above.
And for reference, the math behind it all:
|
L |
W |
H |
Volume |
Dim Factor |
Dimensional Weight |
System |
|
24 |
24 |
18 |
10368 |
166 |
63 |
eBay.com/labels |
|
24 |
24 |
18 |
10368 |
139 |
75 |
FedEx.com |
I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion. Definitely let us know if you have any other questions or concerns 🙂
