OUCH!!! New Shipping Costs!!!!

[chunks]

Just got back from the PO. There was a lady ahead of me discussing postage for a package to her daughter, keeping everything else the same, the cost for shipping her package(which was just over 108" lxg) was just over USD$ 120!!! If it was just under that size, it was just under USD$40!!! This isn't good. We've all heard about the new shipping charges, but this is entirely at a new level. Not good at all.

[immeww2]

That's a pretty hefty jump in price for the size of the package.

[VMF115]

sounds like the USPS is screwing up again.

[ostketten]

I'm not certain, but I believe it's referred to as a "balloon" charge, ie. an oversized package that exceeds a certain combined dimension. Another thing a lot of people aren't aware of is the new "dimensional weight" charges, if your priority mail package exceeds one cubic foot in size and is going further than zone 3 or 4 ( I believe) from your zip code you will incur a hefty dimensional weight surcharge that in my experience basically doubles your cost, or pretty close to it. Just something to consider when you are trying to accurately calculate your shipping costs.

[MG-42]

Talkin' about goin' Postal ! ...

This is absolutely rediculous ! ...

[ostketten]

Talkin' about goin' Postal ! ... This is absolutely rediculous ! ...

Talk about going postal, trust me, I found out about the dimensional weight thing the hard way. The little online postage calculator at the USPS website works nice, but there is no provision therein to calculate for this dimensional weight thing, you have to consult the "Postal Rate Tables" which are akin to reading a miniature version of War and Peace, and just about as confusing. So, I arrive at the post office thinking it's gonna cost me $12 bucks to ship my widget to California from DC, so when I see almost $24 bucks ring up on the cash register I'm like...there's gotta be some mistake here...??...the clerk looks at me with a devilish smile and says "Ahhh...Grasshopper...you forgot about the dimensional weight charge..." I was like...the dimensional Whaaaat??%$#*...oh nevermind, I just paid the bill and walked out with a confused look on my face.

[Rowsdower]

Every week I mail about 10-20 packages of all sizes using both priority and parcel post and I've never had any of the problems mentioned above. Put in your weight and zip codes on the first USPS rate calculator page and then select LARGE PACKAGE and enter in the dimensions of the box on the next page. If it is not considered oversized, you get the same result as if you just entered the weight and zips, if it is oversized it will tell you. I've never had to use the postal rate chart.

The policy does suck, but using the above method I've never had to pay more than what I expected or what I charged buyers for shipping. I believe this came into effect months ago, maybe even late last year. Anyhow, I hope this helps.

[ostketten]

Dimensional weight charges are real, it's not something I dreamed up...

"Dimensional Weighting:
Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 5-8 that exceed 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) are charged based on the actual weight or the dimensional weight (as calculated in 123.1.4), whichever is greater"

More info here... http://www.usps.com/rates/priority-mail-rates.htm

And here... http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/123.htm#wp1071591

Like I said, it aint easy to figure out.... but it's not some figment of my imagination.

[Rowsdower]

Dimensional weight charges are real, it's not something I dreamed up...

"Dimensional Weighting:
Parcels addressed for delivery to zones 5-8 that exceed 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) are charged based on the actual weight or the dimensional weight (as calculated in 123.1.4), whichever is greater"

More info here... http://www.usps.com/rates/priority-mail-rates.htm

And here... http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/123.htm#wp1071591

Like I said, it aint easy to figure out.... but it's not some figment of my imagination.

Woah! Trust me, I believe you, and as I said above, the policy sucks. I am trying to say is that by using the large package and measurment option I haven't had any nasty suprises at the post office when they give me the total price.

[ostketten]

Woah! Trust me, I believe you, and as I said above, the policy sucks. I am trying to say is that by using the large package and measurment option I haven't had any nasty suprises at the post office when they give me the total price.

No problem Rows it could be you just haven't crossed the "threshold" to get nailed with the dimensional weight fee. Here is a typical scenario at the Post Office, the names have been changed to protect the innocent, but the story is real....

You arrive at the post office and toss your widget up on the scale, the weight is noted by the computer and appears on the clerks screen, next the origin and destination zip codes are entered (this is critical because it determines what "zone" your parcel is traveling to), then the clerk takes out his/her tape measure and enters the dimensions of your box. Once all the numbers are input the clerk presses a key and presto, your total is calculated, and if your item meets the criteria for a dimensional weight fee it is levied whether you realize it or not, believe me, I wish it was not so, but as the saying goes... there's no free lunch. Generally speaking, for those of us on the east coast, zones 5-8 are from about Texas westward I believe, but there is a chart you can look at on USPS site that will clarify it based on your zipcode.

[Rowsdower]

it could be you just haven't crossed the "threshold" to get nailed with the dimensional weight fee.

You are right, I guess I have just been lucky, and I agree 120% that the fee is total BS, especially since they already raised all their other rates earlier this year. Perhaps UPS or FedEx would be cheaper for those packages that would be charged the USPS fee?

[ostketten]

Perhaps UPS or FedEx would be cheaper for those packages that would be charged the USPS fee?

I can't really comment on Fedex, my experiences with them have been, shall we say, "marginal" and I don't use them. UPS ground delivery is reliable but the delivery time runs 7 business days, in my experience USPS Parcel Post service (7-9 days) represents a much better value for roughly the same delivery time, and priority mail can be an excellent way to ship provided the item is not too large, heavy, or traveling long distances. It's a touchy subject, I know some people say they get great sevice from fedex and UPS stinks, I think it really depends on your location and experiences. For me, the US Post Office is by far and away the most convenient and cost effective method at the moment, and until I find something better, cheaper or more reliable I'm sticking with it.

[Panther F]

It's not just the USPS, it's ALL shipping companies. For example, where I work a transmission funnel (which weighs nothing) would ship the same rate as a 30 pound item. One because it now falls into the "oversize" catagory, and two because it's fragile and can crack easily. We hear the complaints daily and are powerless to change it.


Jeff

[Rowsdower]

[I can't really comment on Fedex, my experiences with them have been, shall we say, "marginal" and I don't use them. UPS ground delivery is reliable but the delivery time runs 7 business days, in my experience USPS Parcel Post service (7-9 days) represents a much better value for roughly the same delivery time, and priority mail can be an excellent way to ship provided the item is not too large, heavy, or traveling long distances. It's a touchy subject, I know some people say they get great sevice from fedex and UPS stinks, I think it really depends on your location and experiences. For me, the US Post Office is by far and away the most convenient and cost effective method at the moment, and until I find something better, cheaper or more reliable I'm sticking with it.

I myself have never shipped anything via FedEx, I have had a lot of stuff delivered to me by them and never really had a problem plus the guy usually comes before 10 am where UPS is like 2-6 PM, which sucks if your waiting for something, like my FOV B-25 and B-26 that will be arriving (in perfect shape hopefully!) tomorrow. I have heard a lot of FedEx horror stories though.

I shipped exclusively UPS when I started selling on Ebay because there is a UPS store close by run by a wonderful husband and wife team who gave me some great deals since I was a regular customer. Plus the included tracking and insurance up to $100 is nice. But, as you say delivery is SLOW. I switched to USPS this spring and I agree that it is the most convenient and cost effective method since the PO is about 1 mile from my house. Plus I like being able to offer buyers priority or parcel post for those who would rather wait a few days more and save a few bucks. I also add delivery confirmation to cover my butt. So like you I will stick with the USPS, but if I have to ship anything that falls under this dimensional weight BS, I will explore the UPS option.

It's not just the USPS, it's ALL shipping companies. For example, where I work a transmission funnel (which weighs nothing) would ship the same rate as a 30 pound item. One because it now falls into the "oversize" catagory, and two because it's fragile and can crack easily. We hear the complaints daily and are powerless to change it.


Jeff

Yikes! I'd hate to be the one having to explain this to angry people every day!

[King O' Fools]

Who said size didn't matter?

I've done enough translations for UPS and this "dimensional weight"-based surcharge has been around for at least two years now for oversize overseas shipments.

Calculating Dimensional Weight for Domestic Shipments


If you have more than one package to be shipped, consider each package a separate shipment for weight calculation purposes.

Determine the Actual Weight: Use any standard scale and round up any fraction of a pound to the next full pound.

Determine Dimensional Weight:


For UPS Ground Shipments: If the cubic size of the package is 5,184 or larger, divide the cubic size by 194 to determine dimensional weight in pounds. If the cubic size is less than 5,184, use the actual weight of the package.
For UPS Air Shipments: Divide the cubic size by 194 to determine dimensional weight in pounds. Round up any fraction of a pound to the next full pound.

Determine Billable Weight: Compare each package's actual weight to its dimensional weight. The larger of the two weights is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate.

If you have a multiple-package shipment, add the cubic sizes for all of the packages together. The total is the cubic size of your shipment.

[...]

Large Package Surcharge

A Large Package Surcharge of US$40 will be applied to all UPS domestic packages, including Hundredweight and Standard to Canada packages, when the size of the package exceeds 130 inches (330 cm) in length and girth combined.

Source: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resour ... eight.html


And that is in addition to the fuel surcharge, which is quite, er, hefty:

Fuel Surcharge

Current Fuel Surcharge Rate:

Ground
Through September 2, 2007: 4.50%
Effective September 3, 2007: 4.75%

Air and International
Through September 2, 2007: 14.00%
Effective September 3, 2007: 14.50%


Ground Fuel Surcharge

UPS uses an index-based surcharge that is adjusted monthly. Changes to the surcharge will be effective the first Monday of each month and posted approximately two weeks prior to the effective date. For your billing convenience, we will also post a 90-day surcharge history. The surcharge will be based on the National U.S. Average On Highway Diesel Fuel Prices reported by the U.S. Department of Energy for the month that is two months prior to the adjustment. (UPS research has shown this index is highly correlated with other major fuel price indices worldwide.) For example the surcharge for January 2006 is based on the November 2005 National U.S. Average On Highway Diesel Fuel Price.

Source: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resour ... harge.html

[jeffrowse]

so it's not just America going stupid over postal charges.


Someone sent me an A4 envelope (what's that, about 12"x7"xflat) and because they'd only used a "standard" first-class stamp but the letter was a "large" letter, I had to pay over $2 to collect it due to "insufficient postage".
I was not best pleased when the cost was about 12c short due to the wrong stamp, and the rest was almost $2 for the "administration fee"...
(obviously it was in UK pinds and pence but since most of us are more familiar with bucks and cents, I went the $ route...)

Jeff (Rowse. You've never heard of me? Okay, time for another meeting with my publicist. And a baseball bat.)

"Igor! Put the brain down and bring me the chest!"
(a few seconds pass)
"No! The medicine chest, you dolt!"

[tankgirl33]

Yeah, the BBI F-16 I bought for tosborne3 cost me over $25 bucks for shipping!! I was expecting it to say $12 or even $15, but $25!! Holy moly!! Oh well, the bite never seems quite as harsh when using a credit card. And he really likes the F-16 so it was worth it.

[ostketten]

the BBI F-16 I bought for tosborne3 cost me over $25 bucks for shipping!!

OUCH! Well don't feel too bad, you're not the first to fall victim and you sure won't be the last. The two key things to remember about dimensional weight are the one cubic foot limit and the zones 5-8, if your priority mail parcel exceeds one cubic foot in size and is traveling to zones 5-8 as calculated from the zipcode of origin, you will get slammed.

[tankgirl33]

Thanks for the tip, if that would've been an item for me I would never have paid that much, but it was for him so I went ahead and paid it. He would do the same for me. But dang that was steep!