UPS Label Cost Adjustment

[jrmaddox]

Recently I sold a barbell on eBay, dimensions were 4x95x4 and package weighed 48lbs, I shipped it with UPS and even went up to 50lbs just to be safe. Went to UPS to confirm I could ship it with a ground service and didn't need something like a freight instead. Today I get a cost adjustment, carrier claimed it weighed 90lbs and their claimed dimensions where 7x101x5, 100% a lie since I took it to the UPS store, they weighed it and took the dimensions themselves. They adjusted the label for $95 more, can this be disputed?

[toysaver]

UPS uses dimensional weight not the weight of the package.

Shipping Dimensions and Weight | UPS - United States

"Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies compared to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international package services.  Determine the package measurement in inches. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.  Multiply the package length (longest side of the package) by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in inches.  Divide the cubic size in inches by the divisor to calculate the dimensional weight in pounds. Increase any fraction to the next whole pound.  The divisor varies by rate type: 139 for Daily Rates; 166 for Retail Rates. Dimensional Weight = (L x W x H) ÷ Divisor."

[redlinear]

You can try to dispute it.  Most of the time it's just a waste of time though. 
Even 20+ years ago, with your own UPS or FedEx business account...we would see upgrades every so often (where they re-weighed and re-measured packages). 
Usually it was the larger or heavier packages.
   Sort of came to the assumption that somewhere along the line, a difficult to handle package pizzd off somebody, so they upgraded it.  (FedEx due to how to the drivers get paid) 
   OR, a new manager at a hub was trying to shine, and upgrading packages to increase revenue (UPS). 

Have noticed this more-so recently with packages taped up with eBay brand tape.  Those seem to get upgraded more often than plain tape packages. 
Theory there is: eBay is more than likely the "shipper" and FedEx / UPS know there's almost no recourse for the person getting the upgrade.

I see shipping adjustments every week.  We use one scale, one tape measure, and the same person does all the weighing, measuring, shipping.  
USPS adjustments are ALWAYS in our favor.
FedEx and UPS are ALWAYS in their favor.

Over the years, we have come up with a few ways to offset these though.  

[jrmaddox]

Yeah, not getting far with it so will probably just eat it and move on. Just makes you feel a bit down since I've used them for 7 years with all of my larger shipments only to have them lie about the dimensions and weight today. The barbell I shipped was in a tube, their claimed dimensions wouldn't even make sense being 7x105x5, the tube wasn't an oval, also the bar measured at 90.5", I had an extra 2.375" on each side to secure it to make it 95" long but they claimed 105", just makes no sense. Thanks for the input however. 

[robbie31415]

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@toysaver wrote:

UPS uses dimensional weight not the weight of the package.

Shipping Dimensions and Weight | UPS - United States

"Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies compared to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international package services.  Determine the package measurement in inches. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.  Multiply the package length (longest side of the package) by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in inches.  Divide the cubic size in inches by the divisor to calculate the dimensional weight in pounds. Increase any fraction to the next whole pound.  The divisor varies by rate type: 139 for Daily Rates; 166 for Retail Rates. Dimensional Weight = (L x W x H) ÷ Divisor."

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I'm not sure you know what you are saying.

What's the dimentional weight for 4x95x4 in comparison to the actual weight ?

Figure it out 🙂

Because then you'd know they would go by actual weight not dimentional weight.

[jrmaddox]

Just filled a dispute so in 48 hours I should have an answer if it was granted or not. Probably not but worth a shot to try. 

[pcobra93]

Disregard anyone throwing out "dimensional weight" being the cause. We put in the weight and dimensions and their calculator figures it. You absolutely need to keep calling Ebay and demanding they provide a "revenue assurance pic" showing that you had the wrong dimensions or that Ebay needs to refund you and go after THEIR shipper for a fraudulent up-charge. This is not a new issue....both UPS and FedEx run this racket and have for many years.....and Ebay does nothing about it. I am pretty convinced at this point that they are allowed to send these charges and is written in their contract on a certain percentage of transactions.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@robbie31415 wrote:

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@toysaver wrote:

UPS uses dimensional weight not the weight of the package.

Shipping Dimensions and Weight | UPS - United States

"Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies compared to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international package services.  Determine the package measurement in inches. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.  Multiply the package length (longest side of the package) by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in inches.  Divide the cubic size in inches by the divisor to calculate the dimensional weight in pounds. Increase any fraction to the next whole pound.  The divisor varies by rate type: 139 for Daily Rates; 166 for Retail Rates. Dimensional Weight = (L x W x H) ÷ Divisor."

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I'm not sure you know what you are saying.

What's the dimentional weight for 4x95x4 in comparison to the actual weight ?

Figure it out 🙂

Because then you'd know they would go by actual weight not dimensional weight.

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I wish eBay would comprehend that all couriers/postal services use L X W X H when measuring but for some reason when they do it that L gets moved in the middle which is completely incorrect when dim measurement calculations are made.

[robbie31415]

But why does it matter?

95x4x4

4x95x4

4x4x95

It doesn't change the calculation.

Personally I always do larger numbers first. 95x4x4 regardless how the box is structured.

[wastingtime101]

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@jrmaddox wrote:

dimensions were 4x95x4 and package weighed 48lbs, I shipped it with UPS and even went up to 50lbs just to be safe.

Today I get a cost adjustment, carrier claimed it weighed 90lbs and their claimed dimensions where 7x101x5, 100% a lie since I took it to the UPS store, they weighed it and took the dimensions themselves.

They adjusted the label for $95 more, can this be disputed?

The barbell I shipped was in a tube

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You should have seen a cost adjustment for using a tube in the neighborhood of $14. You should have seen a cost adjustment for length exceeding 48" on the longest side, which would be $20-ish, depending how far the package traveled. eBay's shipping calc doesn't account for irregular packaging or size surcharges for FedEx/UPS.

All in, your adjustment should have been in the $30-35 neighborhood, not $95 @jrmaddox .

The claimed UPS weight/dim are obviously wrong. UPS has a consistent issue where other packages are too close to tubes when going through check points so the machinery comes up with weight/dim that exceed actual. In your case, this resulted in erroneous adjustments for:

- Weight

- Dim exceeding 103" length+girth

You can file an appeal but eBay CS has to do it on your behalf since it's their UPS account. Sounds like you already got that appeal filed - let us know how it works out.

[redlinear]

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@jrmaddox wrote:

Yeah, not getting far with it so will probably just eat it and move on. Just makes you feel a bit down since I've used them for 7 years with all of my larger shipments only to have them lie about the dimensions and weight today. The barbell I shipped was in a tube, their claimed dimensions wouldn't even make sense being 7x105x5, the tube wasn't an oval, also the bar measured at 90.5", I had an extra 2.375" on each side to secure it to make it 95" long but they claimed 105", just makes no sense. Thanks for the input however. 

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Recently noticed that anything that wasn't a "pretty" square/rectangle box is getting upgraded.
We've slowed the upgrades down by doing our best to make "pretty" packages...uniform dimensions with corners.   
Round, Oval, and odd shapes are now a NO