A member of the NSFE posted a heads up about FedEx changing how they calculate the exterior dimensions of a package next month.
The poster is nervous this change could make OneRate “with your own packaging” more difficult.
1 Like
Why is the cynic in me seeing “oops I dropped it & the dimensions changed” becoming a thing?
6 Likes
If I used FedEx more, I would be worried. ( It is about once per year for me, when an eBay customer wants their book faster than USPS priority can do it )
The “inch/cm” leaves room for lots of errors. There may be software written in the US - using inches - and software written someplace else - using centimeters.
There is no statement of exactly who does the rounding, nor when conversion of units may occur. There is no statement that rounding or conversion will occur only once.
I foresee the following sequence of events.
-
Intake employee/bot measures the package at a bit under one inch, and rounds it up to one inch. (This is no problem for the well informed customer. )
-
Intermediate employee/bot converts one inch to 2.54 cm. This is not false. It then rounds up to 3 cm.
-
Truck-loading employee/bot converts centimeters back to inches. 3cm is converted to 1.18 inches, and then rounded up to 2 inches.
-
Customer is charged for a 2 inch thick package, along with penalties.
At no point in this sequence has any employee/bot done anything dishonest, illegal, or unannounced. Each employee/bot in the chain has done its part in moving the package along.
But the customer gets grossly overcharged, and finds it very difficult to say exactly where the fault lies.
4 Likes
Alright, so this seems like a good opportunity to explore measurement standards.
What are USPS’s standards?
What are UPS’s Standards?
I had always rounded UP over 1/2 inch, AKA 12 5/8" = 13" where 12 3/8" was 12"
Have I been wrong all along?
4 Likes
For USPS, yes as anything over the said length (or weight) would have been rounded up. Interestingly, USPS systems allows for input of decimal inches (ie 12.5 inches) when calculating … so one would think that USPS has the program set to round up when giving prices.
We rarely use UPS but would follow the same idea if we were to input dimensions and weight.
In either case, we normally add a pound when it is over 5 pounds to be on the safe side and all dimensions are rounded up to the next whole number.
With FedEx, we would worry more about a box the had a dimension of 12 7/8 inch being kicked it up to 14 inch than a box of 12 1/8 inch which would be 13 inch.
To us, FedEx is just putting pressure on the cheaters (those who tend to round down every time).
6 Likes
I always measure up with USPS.
This was to avoid any possible “Postage Due” at delivery until the USPS started adjustments to shipper accounts.
I used to round up at the 1/2 inch as well for UPS and FedEx.
I technically used .475 inch as my guide.
I round up for .48 inch
I round down for .47 inch
For the past year, I just enter the exact dimensions and let my shipping software calculate the rate correctly.
Example.
I use a box that has 18 x 18 x 5 inches printed on the outside.
I input 18.38 x 18.38 x 5.63 inches.
6 Likes
Some Ebay sellers have been complaining extremely loudly about FEDEX post shipment adjustments.
I wonder if this is really a change or an ex post facto attempt to justify what is already the case.
Since the only reason to use FEDEX ground is price, this is serious business. And the adjustments might be the difference between profit and loss.
You do not have to remind me that some Ebay sellers may not have the skills to use complex tools like a ruler or tape measure.
7 Likes
I think we have a winner here.
Just another reason why I stopped using them.
5 Likes
I rarely use FedEx, so can’t comment here. This is one more reason not to use them.
2 Likes
I use FedEx, USPS, and UPS. My coworker uses DHL occasionally.
I have had issues with all of them, but no hesitation to use any one of them again. They all occasionally make an error or mistake. But nothing that would cause me to drop them as a source for shipping services.
Edit: zero FedEx adjustments in my eBay reports from Jan 2025 to today.
2 Likes
I believe UPS “regular” service rounds up inches like they do pounds: Even 1% over and go to the next highest value. UPS Simple Rate (a volume-based service for packages up to 50 pounds) rounds up the conventional way: A half inch and above goes to the next highest inch value while less than that rounds down. That said, it’s rare on UPS “regular” services that adding an inch to each dimension results in a higher shipping cost, but my packages tend to be heavy.
2 Likes