Recurring FedEx Adjustment Errors on eBay Labels: A Call for Seller Protection

[darink7]

Every few weeks, I get slammed with FedEx “adjustment charges” for eBay labels—claiming wildly incorrect weights like 3 lbs → 50 lbs or 12 oz → 10 lbs. These are not minor rounding errors. These are blatant billing mistakes that result in charges of $12, $54, or more—taken after the fact with zero seller protection.

This isn't rare anymore. It's happening to sellers across categories—especially those shipping light but long items. We weigh our packages, pay for accurate labels, and yet we’re told we owe more when FedEx’s automation misreads a scan.

eBay then passes these bogus charges on to us without verifying anything, and the burden is fully on the seller to notice, dispute, and prove the obvious. This is not scalable, and it’s not right.

Let’s call it what it is:
🛑 Automated overbilling without oversight.
🛑 A quiet drain on small businesses.
🛑 A systemic failure passed off as policy.

Sellers built this platform. And if eBay wants to keep us here, we need:

• Automatic flagging and holding of extreme adjustments (e.g., 3 lbs → 50 lbs).

• One-click dispute options on the charge itself.

• Seller protection from platform billing errors—not reverse burden of proof.

If you've experienced this, speak up. The only way it changes is if we push back together.

[luckythewinner]

eBay then passes these bogus charges on to us without verifying anything

How do you propose that eBay would verify the weight and dimensions of a package they have never had in their possession? 

Seller protection from platform billing errors

FedEx is billing eBay for a reported discrepancy on your package, and eBay is billing you. If the billing correction is not accurate, that that is a carrier error and not a "platform" error.

If eBay paid the difference on billing corrections, then unscrupulous sellers would start mailing their packages with lower weights than actual, and forcing eBay to cover the adjustment.

[rjunk123]

This has happened to me a few times and it's forced me to call eBay and complain about these over charges. They (eBay) state they will return those over charges but now has been 6 weeks I have not seen it. Each time I had shipped an item in a bag not a box and wonder if that is the issue with FedEx? 

[lakefor94]

 I have shipped UPS every day/week for the past 8 years. 

2 dimension discrepancies for 2 dollars and change over that time.

LOT of shipments 20-60 lbs, up to 74".  

No problems. 

Dump FedEx 

[toysaver]

FedEx - Dimensional Weight Calculator

"*FedEx reserves the right to re-weigh and measure each package to verify the actual weight and dimensional weight provided by the sender. If the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, the package will be rated based on dimensional weight and subject to additional charges."

[mp36_2955]

Two things I don't get. Why use Fedex if you think they keep screwing you?

The other one "Sellers built this platform. And if eBay wants to keep us here"--> Chicken or the egg. Sellers are a dime a dozen nowdays, buyers maybe not so much. Doesn't matter who built it, who maintains it is all that matters to the stockholders. 

[annadryl]

This topic comes up a lot. Ebay isn't making these adjustments, it's the carrier notorious for it. What immediately comes to mind is If this keeps happening why are you still using this carrier?

[toysaver]

USPS is old school or straight forward and a 12" X 12" X 8"  with an actual weight of 3 pounds ships as a 3 pound package.  That is not how FedEx labels are calculated.   That same box has a dimensional weight of 9 pounds and that is the weight that needs to be inserted when purchasing a label.   It's a specific calculated number not from a scale.  They have simplified it here  FedEx - Dimensional Weight Calculator  but nobody uses it.   FedEx prices can be especially expensive with catastrophic price differences on larger packages.