eBay

sirshadow1001 · ‎11-01-2018

Does anyone else have any issues with the eBay Shipping Calculator not accounting for dimensional weight properly?

The situation: I want to send a 3 lb package package that's 13 x 12 x 5 using FedEx Smartpost. (Please show me you read this and don't say things like Smartpost isn't smart or don't use Smartpost.) The way FedEx calculates dimensional weight is dimensions divided by 139. This means they consider the package to weigh 6 lbs. I'm not shipping it far...less than 150 miles or Zone 2. (FedEx doesn't have a Zone 1.) The base charge should be $9.22. Instead it charges me a base of $8.82 which is the 4 lb weight.

Now that difference in price doesn't seem like a big deal until you apply eBay discounts. With the actual weight and dimensions eBay says it will cost $6.01 ($8.82 + $0.43 fuel charge less $3.24 eBay 37% discount.) If I put in 6 lbs with those dimensions it's $9.21 ($9.22 + $0.66 fuel charge less $0.67 eBay 7% discount.) So 50% more if it gets priced as a 6 lb package.

Anyone else see something like this? How did it get discounted when all was said and done?

laylajames9 · ‎11-01-2018

There are a couple posters here who are well versed with FedEx and the eBay calculator. I think @berserkerplanet is one of them?

berserkerplanet · ‎11-01-2018

>>The situation: I want to send a 3 lb package package that's 13 x 12 x 5 using FedEx Smartpost.

Ok. I read it.

>>The way FedEx calculates dimensional weight is dimensions divided by 139. This means they consider the package to weigh 6 lbs

It isn't that simple. At least 3 dimensional weight divisors are in play with FedEx here on eBay, and that is not the correct one for eBay FedEx Smartpost. The dimensional weight divisor currently in play when using eBay labels for Smartpost is 250.

(IF one had Smartpost capability on a FedEx account at FedEx.com, I believe the default Smartpost divisor would be 139, but could/would possibly be negotiated higher for volume shippers - that stuff is all in whatever deal is struck)

13x12x5/250 = 2.13 = 4 lb dimensional weight. Exceed the actual 3lb weight so billable weight will be 4lb.

The base charge for 4 lb to zone 2 IS $8.82 as you mentioned.

You seem to have a good grasp on the rest of it.

Normally Smartpost gets approx 4-7% discount which pretty much just negates Fuel surcharge), and your Smartpost quotes end up being about the amount of the base rates, but that is an odd one with a 37% discount.

Does that clear up your question?

(Note that that eBay negotiated 250 divisor and pretty much everything else will probably be turned on its ear in January after FedEx rate increases and depending on what eBay negotiates with them. And it will be like pulling teeth to figure a lot of it out by reverse engineering 🙂