As other members responding have already replied, dimensional/weight calculation is not new to calculation of charges and is also used by UPS and USPS, and probably by other carriers. In correction of what one replying incorrectly claimed, FedEx, UPS, and ebay ARE now charging seller account upon purchase of ebay Labels purchased, calculating from dimensions and weight seller enters. The information about this was prominently visible in an ebay notification message for several days a few weeks ago. And, as ebay has reminded sellers a few weeks ago, FedEx and UPS can and will charge or refund to ebay if a package measures different in dimension or weight than recorded for label purchase, such adjustment to be passed along to seller account. I've never observed USPS to automatically provide any refund for overpayment based on shipper-entered dimension or weight, but I'd be happy to learn if I'm wrong about them.
In my listings, most of which are set for buyer-paid Calculated shipping cost, I enter estimations of dimensions and weight, most of the time erring on the high side. As I purchase the shipping label after item is packaged, entering actual dimensions and weight, I often click to see the calculated cost with entry of every one of the four numbers for the three dimensions plus weight. The dimensional factor usually shows same rate for a RANGE of dimensions, while weight more often (not always) affects cost with each weight unit change. This has led me to very occasionally enter a shorter dimension or a 1 lb lighter weight to see the possible effect on cost, especially when cost exceeded what I had expected or received. In a very few instances, a dramatic decrease in my shipping cost achieved with a small adjustment in dimension or weight has led me to repackage an item. The most dramatic example of this is the difference in cost I saw between shipping via FedEx ground service a 51 lb item vs a 50 lb item. UPS and FedEx apply what I call a penalty charge for exceeding weights that they want their drivers handling, the limits also varying for commercial or residential delivery addresses. Depending on destination, a 50 lb 2 oz item, which would be charged as 51 lb, could cost $65, vs $30 for 50 lb 0 oz. If your weighing scale were off by even 1%, you could occasionally be seeing added charges, which will probably annoy you more than refunds for when you over-estimated and over-paid. 🙂 One other thiing to consider is that you cannot use the dimensions as your boxes were marketed or even as printed on the boxes. I have batch of boxes sold and marked as 20 x 16 x 6 that actually measure a half-inch larger in every dimension, so I have to enter them as 21 x 17 x 7. By same reasoning, if your box bulges a bit, you need to enter and pay for what the laser measurement on the conveyor will record.
Both your measurements and your ebay charges warrant close scrutiny.
penguins_dont_fly is a Volunteer Community Mentor
