Overweight packages automatically caught and charged by USPS? HELP!

[danny1376]

Hello, I've frequently heard that USPS has automatic scales that weigh every package as they're transferred. I've heard that if you buy postage through eBay, then your account is then automatically charged any extra postage due.

How would I know whether or not this has happened to me? Would I receive an email notification (from eBay, or Paypal)? Or would any extra charge just go on my monthly eBay bill?

I'm just curious. Over the years I've had packages that--on my own personal scale--weighed pretty much exactly the most that they were supposed to weigh, mostly 12-oz. First Class packages (because 13-oz. and up costs significantly more), but I've never received notice that any of my packages happened to be 0.1 oz. overweight.

Just curious.

[dtexley3]

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@danny1376 wrote:

Hello, I've frequently heard that USPS has automatic scales that weigh every package as they're transferred. I've heard that if you buy postage through eBay, then your account is then automatically charged any extra postage due.

How would I know whether or not this has happened to me? Would I receive an email notification (from eBay, or Paypal)? Or would any extra charge just go on my monthly eBay bill?

I'm just curious. Over the years I've had packages that--on my own personal scale--weighed pretty much exactly the most that they were supposed to weigh, mostly 12-oz. First Class packages (because 13-oz. and up costs significantly more), but I've never received notice that any of my packages happened to be 0.1 oz. overweight.

Just curious.

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You will get a message from eBay on behalf of USPS stating that your postage was adjusted.  It can go up or down depending on the error.

[crescentstation]

This USPS policy was enacted about a year ago. I have never ever seen a chargeback and I ship about 1,000 USPS parcels per year. I use Stamps.com. I've always felt that their scale weighs maybe .1 ounce high (compared to my other scale, which I bought at Costco many years ago) and maybe that is deliberate. Also, if you had a commercial USPS account, you could use First Class for parcels up to 16 ounces.

[mvls1]

First Class goes to 15.99 for EBay labels.

[spreadlovelikefire]

They will send you a message through ebay and to your email if you are over or under charged. I've had this happen a couple of time recently to me. And I disputed both of them and won as they claimed I had shipped it in a legal flat rate envelope and I sent it first class. They reviewed the image that was taken of my package and another package stuck on the scale and determined I was charged incorrectly. In the email there will be a number you can contact for the postal service if you feel it needs to be disputed. I highly recommend calling if that is the case as there was no hold time and they refunded me within 12 hours, really quick.

[danny1376]

Thanks for the responses. I was just curious. I've shipped thousands of packages and have never received a notice. I wonder if there is any leeway in the USPS scales, maybe they only register if the weight is 0.2 oz. over or something. I'd bet anything that at least one of my 12-oz. First Class packages was actually 12.01 or 12.04, y'know?

[mtgraves7984]

In my experience (I've underpaid and overpaid), I get a message through eBay and the overage/underage appears on my next invoice.

[bar-29368]

I've had one overcharge when I was battling the new label flow and when it finally went through I forgot to change the weight from 2lb back to 3lb. Yet I know for a fact I've shipped a few FCP as 8oz when they were actually 4oz and never been reimbursed.

[mtgraves7984]

I think it's a 'random' weight check. I don't see USPS weighing all the eBay shipments. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes you're nailed.

[bar-29368]

They may also have it set to only weigh anything over a pound which is why they never caught the overcharged FCP items.

[a_c_green]

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@danny1376 wrote:

I'm just curious. Over the years I've had packages that--on my own personal scale--weighed pretty much exactly the most that they were supposed to weigh, mostly 12-oz. First Class Packages (because 13-oz. and up costs significantly more),

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It's 12.1 ounces, not 13.0 ounces, that will tip you into the highest FCP range. They're set up as four approximately 4-ounce price ranges, beginning with 0.1 - 4.0 ounces and ending with 12.1 -15.999 ounces.

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@danny1376 wrote:

but I've never received notice that any of my packages happened to be 0.1 oz. overweight.

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I suspect that they look the other way if you're only 0.1 ounces into the next price range, on the assumption that the package would have been weighed without the Shipping label that hadn't been printed yet. I've also noticed that although the Acceptance receipts specify the package weight to two decimal places (e.g. "7.70 oz."), the declared weight is never beyond one decimal place; the second decimal is always zero.

[martin2001]

I had one case via pirateship. USPS charged me (via pirateship) extra few $$ claiming that the package was 13 ozs while it was a 4 oz small bubble envelope. I take photos of all my packages on the digital scale. I also purchase calibrating weights so I also took a shot of one of the weights on the scales. Send them pics to pirateship, they submitted them to USPS and a few days later I " won"  the case and got the money back.

[lightlily_arts]

I have received email  notices from eBay, but surprisingly because I overpaid my postage.  I always round up to the next ounce or pound as I wouldn't want anything arriving postage due.

[kds99]

I don't think the weight checks are random, but in heavy workload periods or due to improper training or delayed implementation they may overlook some parcels. The weighing occurs at the processing centers, not the local post office.

[kds99]

I'm sure the post office's intent is to not look the other way when an item is "only" .1 ounce overweight. That's an excellent way for a clerk to get fired.