Surprise Fees from UPS

[babarn]

Hi, I am wondering how to eliminate surprise fees from UPS. I have 2 large items and I'm hesitant on providing shipping. I had a bad experience, but eBay helped out with it, but I am worried the next time I won't be this lucky. I'm also seeing a lot of bad experiences from other eBay sellers on UPS added fees. If your eBay item states the Buyer pays shipping, shouldn't the extra fees go to them and not the seller?

[1tuna · Accepted solution]

I here this a lot on the forum.

ebay shipping with UPS has  hidden fees and there are many many of them

if you used pirate ship with UPS then they are all spelled out and not hidden

ebay is the shipper of record with UPS so a package cant be redirected

that is one advantage with ebay

@babarn 

[toysaver]

"I am wondering how to eliminate surprise fees from UPS."

Ship USPS.

[stephenmorgan]

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@babarn wrote:

Hi, I am wondering how to eliminate surprise fees from UPS. 

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Use a local UPS shipping center and not eBay UPS or start your own UPS account so at least you will be able to deal with them directly if something needs attention.

[donsdetour]

There is the actual weight: and then dimensions weight.

Figure out which one is correct (highest) to calculate large packages;

Note: may still be extra fees; check the shipping company site to find them...

[rfmtm]

Best to use your own UPS account or for great discounts a free PirateShip account.

[babarn]

Thanks for all of the responses...I am going to check out Pirate Ship and also try out the USPS Parcel Select/Ground options too. I usually have stuff that's under 10lbs and can fit in 10x10x10 inch size box or smaller...I seldom have larger items.

[redmodelt]

The thing most people don't understand is the UPS or FedEx price they see/charge is only an estimate and actual cost will not be billed till after delivered. Even having your own account or paying for shipping at a store of drop off, if there are extra charges later you will be billed for them. Your name and address will be on record when you ship. 

[theteamsetguy]

Or FedEx. Can’t have surprise fees from UPS when you don’t use them.

[ragingcomic]

Even if all the dimensions and weight are entered correctly, you can still expect UPS to overcharge on about 35% of the items you ship. I have discontinued using them altogether. They will never get my business again and I encourage others to find alternatives as well.

While shipping and delivery through UPS has always been top notch from me, The hidden fees and surprise charges in my opinion are paramount to theft, a very dishonest practice. Also recourse to collect these overcharges is nearly impossible. 

Save yourself some time and headache and use USPS or FedEx instead, while slightly more expensive I have never been overcharged using either service. In the long run I am saving money.

[tools*]

Use Pirate Ship.

[stephenmorgan]

Sometimes companies do as they please until the government gets involved and makes rules telling how they are going to operate.  Apparently this has not yet happened with the Package Delivery Companies and the companies do as the please. 

Write your Congress Person.

It happened with the Airline Industry.  There is no more selling you a Ticket and then when you pay or show up to the Airport add on fees are applied to the price.  The full price must be disclosed prior to the travel your purchasing.  

https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/airline-rules-fares

Disclosure of Full Fares and Ancillary Fees

For both domestic and international markets, carriers must provide disclosure of the full price to be paid, including government taxes/fees as well as carrier surcharges, in their advertising, on their websites and on the passenger’s e-ticket confirmation.  In addition, carriers must disclose all fees for optional services through a prominent link on their homepage, and must include information on e-ticket confirmations about the free baggage allowance and applicable fees for the first and second checked bag and carry-on.

[scientificdeals111]

UPS has been doing this back charging fees for quite a while. You are quoted one price and then two weeks later after the item is delivered they try to imply that your package wasn't as stated at time of shipping and want to give you extra charges. This happens to me one out of about every 30 packages I ship which is ridiculous considering every item I ship is the same item, the same package the same box, therefore if a fee was going to be added it would apply to all of them but 29 of them will ship just fine and then a surcharge will be added to just one of them. I have even taken photos of the package, sent it to UPS and someone has reviewed them and told me that it did NOT require special handling but yet I get these random charges. When I ask eBay to help they tell me that the fees are not disputable. This is not the answer sellers want to hear. EBay needs to step up and discuss this with UPS or at least create a division within eBay that these matters can be appealed with someone who works directly with UPS.  The best solution would be if UPS wants to charge these charges they should go into an appeal process directly and not be charged to the seller who then has to beg and plea to try to get the money back. Shipping through UPS or other delayed pricing carriers is a scam, especially during economic hardship where they're trying to make additional revenue. Where are you eBay? Why are you not helping your sellers?

[billdeniz]

When it comes to Customer service, protecting sellers & buyer ebay is Useless. Since switched over to Online App. format, nothing matters any longer. eBay is just an app. with built in seller tools features, that's All.

Nothing more than that. Ohh by the way, we all signed up for our bank accounts fully accessible so they can charge whatever they want ? 

[billdeniz]

I'm a eBay seller for long time but lately started getting extra shipping fees charged to my bank account.

Both UPS and Fedex started this for a while which is very wrong and call it a fraud. eBay will not do anything about it since they became an online App. platform. The only thing they do is send an email to UPS/Fedex file a dispute takes about 10-15 days but you get charged instantly which doesn't make sense. I also heard from multiple eBay reps. including shipping dept. EXPERTS that UPS/Fedex can only charge up to 14 days for any extra fees for underestimated packages. This should STOP UPS/Fedex overcharges right there but eBay claims and allows these companies to charge people anyways...

"REMEMBER UP TO 14 DAYS" As per eBay shipping experts...