eBay

lubababie · ‎08-20-2022

I don't often buy postage via CP Snap Ship but every time I prepared and shipped a box I was then charged an additional fee because of the box or weight variation.

For example I shipped a box measuring 8 x 4 x 4 inches to Edmonton from Toronto. The cost was $26.17 . As soon as the buyer received it, I get another charge on my credit card for $8.67 .

Prio to shipping I always weigh the box with an electronic scale and add a few grams just in case. The measure I used was referencing the value imprinted on the box itself (on the bottom).

Mind you, I would get these charges every time. So I was fed up and reached out to CP. They audit every shipment for accuracy (using a computer as it moves through). The reason I got charged was because each measurement was greater by half an inch.

The moral of the story if that regadless of the measurement indicated on the box, you need to re-measure and provide those values. In other words the box measurement values are for the inner space and not outer.

Since I had the agent on the line I asked him what the postage cost would be had I entered the proper dimensions. He said he did not have access to that information. He said they were getting many complaints about this fee. The other nutty thing is that the agent could not tell me how these new charge was calculated - another extra for the post office.

mrdutch1001 · ‎08-20-2022

I would never, ever use any measurement that is printed on a box itself...boxes supposedly of same " printed measurements" are not an accurate measurement...box manufacturing these days is rather poor... the boxes themselves varying from box to box with many very poorly fitted together...

I take several measurements from several different points of a box packaged ready for shipping; and use the largest measurements for the label preparation - I also use the metric system for even better accuracy...and yes it's time consuming but it prevents a situation such as you have described...being billed after the fact because of inaccurate measurements)

I haven't had a problem with my box measurements in many a year...

pjcdn2005 · ‎08-20-2022

Those measurements are for inside the box, not the outside so you should always measure once the box has been sealed. Many CP services are calculated by the dimensions of the box so it's best to be accurate.

From what I understand there is a machine on the conveyor belt that reads the bar code and automatically measures each package.

msau4301 · ‎08-20-2022

I use Shippo to print my labels and for a while had the same thing happen. For some reason it was never an issue for packages going to the US (not even once) but across Canada I would get random upcharges added to my invoice, and not always, only some times but I never knew when it would happen.

I too was (mistakingly) using the measurements from U-line's boxes but now add an extra cm when I enter dimensions and haven't had a problem since. Only issue, I suppose, is with calculated shipping my shipping charges maybe show a little higher now also, but at least no surprises!

brettjet38 · ‎08-20-2022

I measure each side in cm, then round UP.

And, always verify the weight.

Never had a surcharge...

flipistics · ‎08-20-2022

Beyond just the inside measurements, final boxe sizes depend both on quality and how tightly and carefully you tape them. I often find the actual dimensions can be more than an inch larger in any given direction. Since most boxes go out as dimensional weight instead of actual weight, this is a very big deal.

What I did was set up a spreadsheet with the sizes of each box I regularly use along with the dimensional weights (both for the printed inside measurements as well as for "safe" measurements where I often add an inch to the dimensions and round up). I also have a line where I can input the dimensions and have it calculate the dimensional weight. This allows me figure out if / how much I need to cut a box down to reduce the shipping costs (assuming there's enough room to). It helps me out a LOT.

If you're in Toronto and have access to Stallion Express, you may also be able to ship something like that at a greatly reduced rate through them. Don't forget about the Canada Post flat rate boxes either.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎08-20-2022

@lubababie wrote:
I don't often buy postage via CP Snap Ship but every time I prepared and shipped a box I was then charged an additional fee because of the box or weight variation.
For example I shipped a box measuring 8 x 4 x 4 inches to Edmonton from Toronto. The cost was $26.17 . As soon as the buyer received it, I get another charge on my credit card for $8.67 .
Prio to shipping I always weigh the box with an electronic scale and add a few grams just in case. The measure I used was referencing the value imprinted on the box itself (on the bottom).
Mind you, I would get these charges every time. So I was fed up and reached out to CP. They audit every shipment for accuracy (using a computer as it moves through). The reason I got charged was because each measurement was greater by half an inch.
The moral of the story if that regadless of the measurement indicated on the box, you need to re-measure and provide those values. In other words the box measurement values are for the inner space and not outer.
Since I had the agent on the line I asked him what the postage cost would be had I entered the proper dimensions. He said he did not have access to that information. He said they were getting many complaints about this fee. The other nutty thing is that the agent could not tell me how these new charge was calculated - another extra for the post office.

In the scheme of things as far as it goes with CP you are always best to make sure your settings are on cm/grams and as noted by others round up as required. I've had even the paperwork added to the box cause the weight to go up to the next level. So I make sure to build that in.

If you happen to add extra cardboard inside the box/pkg you can trim slightly to bring down the weight to get "under the limit". Often if I have a fear someone is going to go gung ho with a knife to the box, I will add a pc of cb for safety. even slightly thinner cb can make a difference to the final weight.

=Lotz

2nd-time-around-jewelry · ‎08-20-2022

In my 20 years of selling on eBay I have never had an overcharge on any of my parcels. I always add a little extra on the size dimensions because no packages or boxes are exact. And I always add a little extra to the weight. Scales are all different & not always accurate.

pjcdn2005 · ‎08-21-2022

@msau4301 wrote:
I use Shippo to print my labels and for a while had the same thing happen. For some reason it was never an issue for packages going to the US (not even once) but across Canada I would get random upcharges added to my invoice, and not always, only some times but I never knew when it would happen.
-------------
Small packet and tracked packet are based on weight, not dimensions so that could be why you were not having a problem when shipping to the US, ALL parcel services within Canada use dimensional weight to figure out the postage.

byto253 · ‎08-21-2022

Curious, what was the approximate weight?

reallynicestamps · ‎08-21-2022

Canada Post went metric in 1974.

If you are using any other system there will be rounding errors creeping in.

Use the other side of the tape measure and switch your scale to grams. Most of these problems will cure themselves.

Also, the fuel surcharge changes monthly, but I'm not sure of what day.

reallynicestamps · ‎08-22-2022

And Canada Post announced parcel rate rises for mid-September.

ilikehockeyjerseys · ‎08-23-2022

That is one of the downsides of printing labels online.

I measure my boxes in good faith, but Canada Post charges me $1.XX here or there for a box being underpaid. I have never had a charge as large as the one you encountered.

You should look into flat rate boxes. Depending on the actual shape of the item(s) in your shipment, you may have been able to send them for less in a small or medium flat rate box.