What are Postage Adjustments and other Carrier Expenses

Posted on 2023-04-13 Updated on 2023-08-25

Postage Adjustments 


Our shipping carriers utilize automated systems to reweigh and remeasure all shipments upon arrival at their facility prior to delivery. Should there be any discrepancy between the carrier's assessment and the declared weight, dimensions, and packaging, the associated costs will be charged to your account.


Which carriers require payment for postage adjustments?


We are charged with postage adjustments from all shipping carriers. Upon receipt of the invoice from the carrier, these fees will be billed to your account.


UPS Delivery Surcharges


Delivery surcharges can be an unwelcome surprise, but they can often be avoided by understanding the factors that can lead to them. These factors can include the nature of the shipment, its destination, and any special handling required. Knowing the potential for surcharges in advance can help ensure you are not caught off guard by unexpected fees.


What are the most frequent UPS Postage Adjustments?


Weight: Packages with an actual weight of over 70 pounds/32 kilograms, or with an average weight per package exceeding 70 pounds/32 kilograms, where the weight for each package is not specified on the source document or the UPS automated shipping system, will incur additional charges.


Length: Packages with the longest side exceeding 48 inches/122 centimeters will be subject to additional fees.


Width: Packages with their second-longest side exceeding 30 inches/76 centimeters will also be subject to additional fees.


Freight Charge: If the parcel has a discrepancy in the dimensions, the dimensional weight (L x W x H / 139) will be recalculated and, if higher than the physical weight, will be applied and shown as a Freight Charge.


Shipping Charge Correction: If the declared physical weight is higher than the dimensional weight, the actual weight and declared dimensions will be reassessed. If discrepancies are found, a Shipping Charge Correction will apply.


Fuel Surcharge: This accounts for the fluctuating oil price depending on the day of shipment.


Address Change Correction: If a client requests a change of address for the recipient, an additional fee will be applied.


Additional Handling Fee: Special handling will apply to packages with the longest side exceeding 48 inches or its second-longest side exceeding 30 inches, packages with an actual weight of more than 70 pounds, articles encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood, and cylindrical-like items (such as barrels, drums, pails, or tires) that are not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container.


ShipShop Economy USA


Due to increasing fuel costs, the cost of fuel at the time of purchase and shipment may have changed, resulting in an adjustment of a few cents. To ensure accuracy, shipments are reassessed for declared dimensions. If found to be higher than declared, they will be rounded up to the next whole number, resulting in an adjustment of a few cents to a dollar or more. Similarly, if a shipment is found to weigh more than declared, it will be rounded up to the next ounce or pound, leading to a cost adjustment of a few cents to a dollar or more.


FedEx Handling Surcharges


A surcharge may be applied to any package that exceeds the following specifications:

(Dimension) Measures greater than 48 inches along its longest side, 30 inches along its second-longest side, and 105 inches in length and girth (length plus two times the height plus two times the width).

(Weight) Has an actual weight greater than 50 lbs. or 70 lbs.

(Packaging) Is not fully encased in an outer shipping container made of corrugated fiberboard (cardboard) materials, is encased in an outer shipping container that is not made of such materials (e.g., metal, wood, canvas, leather, hard plastic, soft plastic, expanded polystyrene foam), is encased in an outer shipping container covered in shrink wrap or stretch wrap, is encased in a soft-sided pack (e.g., courier packs, poly bags, bubble mailers) that exceeds 18 inches along its longest side, 13 inches along its second-longest side, or 5 inches in height, is round or cylindrical (e.g., mailing tubes, cans, buckets, barrels, tires, drums, pails), is bound with metal, plastic, or cloth banding, or has wheels, casters, handles, or straps (e.g., a bicycle) (including packages where the outer surface area is loosely wrapped or where the contents protrude outside the surface area), or could become entangled in or cause damage to other packages or the FedEx sortation system.


I shipped this package some time ago, so why am I receiving a charge now?


Carriers review the declared shipment weight, dimensions, and packaging upon receipt. Following this review, invoices are promptly generated and sent to our clients. Please note that the turnaround time can vary per carrier, and delays may occasionally occur.


What strategies can I implement to prevent similar occurrences in the future?


It's important to factor in dimensional weight when calculating your package's total weight.

This takes into account the density of the package, which is the amount of space it occupies in relation to its actual weight.

To calculate dimensional weight, simply multiply the package's length, width and height in inches, and divide the result by the appropriate rate type divisor


L*W*H / 166 - USPS

L*W*H / 166 - Canada Post

L*W*H / 139 - UPS

L*W*H / 139 - FedEx


Any fractions should be rounded up to the next whole pound. In some cases, the billable weight may be higher than the actual or dimensional weight. Please note that other delivery surcharges from UPS may be non-controllable due to the nature of the shipment, the destination, or the handling required.


Is there a way to challenge the fees?


We take great care to ensure our calculations are precise and accurate. We cannot guarantee the results, however we will do our utmost to investigate any charges and request an appeal if necessary. If you wish, you can also contact our partner carriers to clarify the charges.


How do I get an Invoice?


You can access your invoice through the Monthly Invoice feature, including postage adjustments and other fees.

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