Fedex Overcharging & Adding Weight to Package

[bhk_recycling]

Hello All,

I have sold a particular item many times, so the weight and dimensions are well known by me.  I usually ship UPS ground, but sent a recent one through Fedex (all using eBay shipping label feature).

Purchased a Fedex label that was 17 lbs @ 36" x 12" x 12" for $40.  After the item got delivered, I noticed in my transaction history that I was charged $70, instead of the expected $40.  I opened up a case with a eBay rep, who stated that Fedex said the package was 40 lbs.

I can guarantee that it was 17 lbs, even have a picture of it on the scale, as I usually take a picture of the open box on the scale for most of my orders.

For now, I am going to avoid sending anything through Fedex, and use UPS instead.  Does anyone know what is going on here, and why is Fedex adding bogus weights?

Thanks,

[wastingtime101]

Dimensional weight is a factor here (link).

36 x 12 x 12 / 166 = 32 lb dimensional weight which is greater than 17 so the actual weight of 17 lbs becomes irrelevant.

Your package should have been billed at the 32 lb dm wt rate after shipping.

The question is why were you billed at 40 lb instead of 32 lb? If your dimensions listed above are accurate and there were no other surcharges then this could be FedEx error.

[bhk_recycling]

In the link you attached it states:

"eBay’s Shipping Calculator tool will determine billable shipping
costs and factor in DIM weight if it applies to your package.
Simply round up your package weight and dimensions to the
nearest whole number and enter the results in the required fields."

eBay's shipping calculator output that it would cost $40 for the label at the time of label generation.   Why did I end up getting billed $70 then after said package was delivered?   Based on the above statement eBays calculator should factor in any additional costs due to dimensional weight at label generation.

[wastingtime101]

I don't use eBay's FedEx or UPS account (I purchase those labels elsewhere), but it's my understanding from consistent reports on this forum that FedEx dim wt is not factored in to the eBay calculator.

eBay places a warning on the label page before you purchase postage that UPS and FedEx rates are just estimates and they fall back on that when sellers complain about shipping surcharges from these companies.

You can contact CS and ask them to appeal the charge based on 40 lb charge vs 36 lb dim wt, but don't count on resolution. These appeals are usually denied by FedEx. You won't be able to deal with FedEx directly since the label was purchased with eBay's account.

The situation sucks - wish there was more I could do to help other than explain why it happened so you can avoid this in the future.

[pcobra93 · Accepted solution]

This has been an issue for YEARS....always fight it with Ebay.  Demand proof that the package weighed that much or you want a refund. Ebay will give you a "courtesy" refund if you pester them as they cannot provide proof. What happens a lot is that two packages get on the scale at the distribution center at once and you get changed for a higher weight. This happens mostly with long packages as yours was.  And...really wish people would STOP saying it is "dimensional weight"....that is ridiculous and we put in the dimensions and weight. If their program cannot figure the correct shipping cost based on that then it is on them....

[wastingtime101]

OK, so I did some checking on this. The eBay calculator does appear to be factoring in dimensional weight because when I entered:

36x12x12 package

with 17 lb weight

Shipping to NY, Chicago and LA was the same rate as entering

36x12x12 package

with 32 lb weight

When I changed the weight to 40 lb (the rate OP was charged for), costs jumped by approx $20-$27

OP was charged approx $30 more so there may have been other surcharges in there, or OP may have been rounding their numbers.

Either way, I'll echo what I said above to contact CS and ask them to file an appeal with FedEx.

And thanks for your post pcobra as it got me to do the work and check the numbers on eBay's shipping calculator to confirm dm wt is already being factored in.

[shipscript]

Dimensional weight calculator indicates 38 pounds:

https://page.message.fedex.com/weight_calculator

https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/rate-changes/additional-shipping-fees.html

Effective Jan. 30, 2023

A Delivery Area Surcharge of $13.25 per package will be applied to domestic package shipments destined to select ZIP codes within the contiguous U.S. that are designated as Remote. 

The "Remote" list (below)  contains 3830 remote zips in the lower 48 (and I am on this list just outside of Silicon Valley, which is simply "rural" and not seriously remote):

https://www.fedex.com/content/dam/fedex/us-united-states/services/DAS_Contiguous_US_Remote_2023.xlsx

I didn't check for "Residential delivery" as eBay has, in the past, negotiated that away. Perhaps it's back.

In wondering about the late application of excess shipping, FedEx does not bill until delivered, so it is very possible the rate changed at time of delivery. But I don't understand why eBay would not have shown the billable weight during label printing.

As mentioned by @pcobra93 , FedEx billing has been an issue for years. In this case, we can see billable weight as the most significant problem, but there have also been data entry errors when auditing packages in transit.

[wastingtime101]

@shipscript - that dm wt of 38 pounds using the linked calculator is based on the retail divisor of 139. eBay uses a divisor of 166 so the billable wt for a label purchased through eBay is 32 lb.

If the OP is seeing a breakdown of fees that their package was billed at a 40 lb rate then (assuming OP's box dimensions are accurate) that's a FedEx error.

If they don't see a breakdown of fees then the $30 diff could be any number of surcharges, but since OP was specific about being billed at a 40 lb rate, that approx $30 diff can be confirmed by using eBay's shipping calculator.

$30 is a few bucks off from what the calculator shows, but that could just be OP rounding numbers or a fuel surcharge, residential delivery surcharge, etc.

[bhk_recycling]

Thank you for replying pcobra93, this answers also makes the most sense to me.   

Also you are the only person to respond that actually sells something eBay, all other posts are by people with zero feedback, or buyers.

I have shipped this exact same size package multiple times, and have never been hit with the additional charges or weight, so the assumption that another package was on the scale with it at the Fedex facility is certainty possible.  

I called eBay a few times on this topic, and they did agree that there was an issue, and I was overcharged. They said they would refund me the difference.  They said the refund would come within 5 business days.  I called a few times, but the refund has yet to come.

[pcobra93]

A lot of posters on here have "posting" ID's. they have other "selling" ID's, just FYI. I just don't mind posting with a selling ID myself but others do. You really have to stay on them for the refund. I usually keep them on the phone until they just issue it to me right there....that is if you get a US based rep that actually works for Ebay and has the authority to do so. Knock on wood but I have not had one very far off for a while now.

[5440nicholas]

I just noticed this too and im wondering how long this has been going on. Im guessing I can go back and find hundreds of dollars added up where they did this this year alone.  I found one as well where the dimension was ridiculously inflated and added a huge charge. Fedex is making millions off this without a doubt.  I can see being off by an inch or a pound but 25 lbs? No way. Someone talked about 2 packages on the scale in their system im assuming thats probably the issue but doubt they will fix it. UPS in the future for me.

[gaming-canada]

Exact same thing happened to me, weighted 1700grams and FedEx changed it to 6530 grams. Charged me $200 extra. I’m just dealing with eBay CS let’s see what’s gonna happen.  I definitely won’t ever ship again with FedEx 

[nw_motocycle]

This has become an issue for us since September of this year and I have called each time.  You are only allowed ONE "courtesy" refund.  It's a joke really, FedEx and UPS screw up on their side and we just have to pay for it?  Ebay won't do anything about it, I've called numerous times to find out why we were charged an additional $32 for the same items being shipped out when the weight was the same along with the dimensions.  They (FedEx) input the same numbers as we had (weight and dimensions) and yet were were being charged $32 on top of the $35 we already paid..  I had to call the local FedEx hub who told me to call the main FedEx number.  All they said was that it was a handling charge and they couldn't tell me what for when all the information was the same.  FedEx and UPS, specifically FedEx, are stealing money and they know they can get away with it.  Ebay, they seem to not care to try to resolve this issue for their sellers, the very people that make them money.  Good luck!

[con-sign-ment-store-dot-com]

Yes. 

Happened Twice in the past (approx 7-8 months)

Been at this 20+ years on eBay. My Scales are accurate. 

The First time it happened I contacted the end Customer (Buyer) and She re-weighed the Item received and even with a healthy 5 lb allowance for the package, we were still 2 lbs less than my original paid for weight. YET Fedex claimed that I was 12 lbs off and all but doubled my cost. 

When I brought this to eBays' attention, They said that "it was a Fedex thing" and a paragraph was added to my Postage printing page telling me to make sure and round up and measure my packages correctly or there may be extra charges.. Makes me wonder what Bureaucrat wanna be came up with that solution.

BTW: My second experience was them claiming that my weigh was off by OVER 20 LBS. 

I do know the difference between lifting a 25 lb box and a 47lb box. And like I said MY SCALES ARE ACCURATE. I have reached out to the Buyer again, but have had no response.

And yes, this time they Took (without ANY arbitration) around $35 more directly out of my account. 

We have decided to simply NOT SELL LARGE THINGS ON EBAY ANYMORE. 

We simply don't find it financially safe to deal with them anymore. 

Good Luck to all of Us

Sincerely, 

mgc

[mizrauctions]

This has happened to me many times until I finally caught them. There is no way to get your money back. I stopped using FedEx for this reason but beware because UPS did it to me once.