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.

[mr_lincoln]

@danny1376   Yes, their bulk package centers are fully automated as are FedEx's.  They have automatic checkweighers running around 360 ft/min with multi-head scanners to locate and read the tracking bar code plus light curtain windows to generate the package cube.  Obtaining the package size does a number of things ... one is it helps them cube out their trailer loads and/or airplane loads.  It also checks  to make sure packages are sized properly for the shipping method selected or checking to see if size pushes a package in the Dimensional weight category.   So the packages go whisking around at amazing speeds to get from point A to point B.

As to the APV system you are referring too the answer is that you would receive notification in eBay Messaging for any Over or Under payment.  Below is one for an Over Payment I had recently.

[thatisrathernice]

@mr_lincoln Whats up with the 1LB over weight? Not being a d you know ick but when I first starting selling on ebay I would gauge the weight of my shipments against canned goods, ounced, tuna mostly. One left hand, one right hand. Never had a problem. Still do it to this day when I want the biggest piece of chicken from the freezer but, I leave the packages for my digital scale.

[therogue-trader]

I've talked to my local post office about this in idle conversation, leeway is given for scale error