UPS and FedEx raising rates

The weight comes into play only if the actual weight is more than the dimensional weight. I believe UPS just started this yesterday; FedEx starts on January 1st. I just sent out a 15x15x15 box on 12/26 when UPS was still going by the old system and was charged for 13 lbs. The new system (15x15x15=3,375 then divide by 166) would have placed my package at 21 pounds. A big difference. They add a fuel surcharge. Not sure if they'll continue that or if FedEx does that as well.
I double box, so this is gonna hurt a little.

 

Link to the article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/29/us-ups-fedex-pricing-idUSKBN0K71BJ20141229

Looks like a money grab for everyone shipping small boxes in my book.

 

Ugh...so I just put in the dimensions and weight for a box I'm getting ready to send out through FedEx. 17x14x10 box weighing 14 pounds. They're saying it's going to be $23-24. I would have expected this box to cost $17-19...must be the new changes. This will add up quick...not sure what can be done to minimize the impact of these changes.

 

My suggestion would be to try and use as square of a box as possible. That might help a little.

 

When I changed the dimensions to 14x14x14...it actually went up a few bucks. 12x12x12 is pretty close, just under $23. 10x10x10 not much better, also just under $23. I think this just may be the new price of shipping FedEx...I may need to explore how this compares to their OneRate boxes, and maybe USPS, as they did not adopt the dimensional weight thing (not sure it's impacting the prices in this particular instance).

 

FedEx Express packaging offers you a practical and advantageous solution. Dimensional weight standards are not applied to this packaging, providing that the dimensions have not been changed.

No idea how much the Fedex Express packaging is but it does not seem to be subject to dimensional weight. A possible alternative anyway.

 

Good thought but the Express Saver option (assuming that's the one they reference) is $56 to ship.

I also checked the One Rate, and it would be $19 with their large box, but that is only 9 x 8 x 11 (give or take). Extra Large Box is 12 x 11 x 11, but that ups the price to $39 (crazy jump).

So it seems that if you can fit everything into the Large box and ship One Rate, that's the best deal and you don't have to worry about weight. The size, however, means I probably couldn't use it for most of my shipments.

 

I have to do a little more math, but what I did was re-cost the last 7 boxes I have shipped (with the same information as I was charged for) and my costs increased 35%. It went from $110 to $150 for shipping of those boxes...

I sure hope I mathed wrong somewhere.

 

Based on my quick calculations/playing around the website, and your quick calculations, I don't think you are wrong...I think shipping just got more expensive.

 

Ok, just got home, analyzed my last 30 days of shipping, here is how it breaks down:

My overall cost increase is 13.1% due to the new switches.

Half of my boxes are hit with the new dimensional weight BS, which for those boxes alone the cost increased by 19.5%.

Here is the anonymized spreadsheet if anyone wants to see the math.

What I have learned is basically to use the dimensional formula ((L*W*H)/166) to my advantage and get my box size and weight as close to the dimensional weight as possible.

 

Do you use UPS? Because the Fedex dimensional weight formula is ((L*W*H)/139) which really gets the shipper in comparison.

 

I'm sure glad gas prices have gone down. This makes the price increase more justifiable, right?

Someone or some people at FedEx are getting a big bonus this year.

 

More incentive to make your own labels and drop at a drop store like postnet or other spin off. Those people could care less. They scan it in and put it in the back for pickup.

 

FedEx or UPS could very well catch it later in the shipping cycle. Most do actually at least from what I have personally experienced. I dont have a scale at home and usually try to guess the weight. Well, more often then not I get billed for a higher amount than what I am quoted when I make the label. It is what it is though will influence me to do more IP trades

 

Another reason to trade less often.

 

I believe 139 is the international formula ...

 

Doh. Yep, sorry. The first link on a google search is a french link.

 

I've never had this issue. The only thing that really changes the cost of my boxes is where they go.

 

Figured this out today. I had a irregular shaped box and shipping was like $29 for 5.6 pounds. I freaked out and got a box from the fedex location and the price to ship went down over %50.