Hey UPS, 'dimensional weight' is not a thing.

[mikeoso]

The reality is, they write the rates and rules. If they say it's a thing, it is.

 

[LowTorque]

Like many of you, I ship everything with Pirate Ship. And consistently, about a week after I ship, I receive a notice from Pirate Ship, along with a PayPal charge, stating that UPS has cameras that estimate the size of my shipping package. Almost always, they see it as slightly bigger. As a result, they adjust the 'dimensional weight' of my package and charge me for the difference.

Most recently, I shipped a bass using a standard Uline box that has the dimensions printed on the box (18x7x52). I weighed the shipment at 23lb 9.9oz and printed a label. A week later, I received a notice that UPS thinks the package is 19x8x52 and as a result, has changed the 'dimensional weight' to 49lb. They proceeded to take another $10 out of my PayPal account via Pirate Ship.

Of course, with this notice comes the ability to dispute the charge. And I always do, noting that I have photos of the box, the dimensions and the weight on the scale. And with every single dispute, they reverse the charges and refund my money (about 2 weeks later). So it ends well, but the whole process is a giant waste of time.

I'm still trying to figure out who thought 'dimensional weight' is a valid method of measurement. What if I was shipping feathers in one box and anvils in another box of the exact same size? Would they want me to pay the same amount? It's so silly.

Or maybe I'm missing something and there is some genius, common-core math involved that makes this all make sense?

I know I'm not the only one. Someone please enlighten me.

You are missing a few things. First per Uline those dimensions are the inside dimensions, not the outside dimensions. Second, everybody charges dimensional weight. All shipping companies have to balance between volume and weight. A light but big box will take up a lot of space in a truck.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

While its called dimensional weight, its connected to volume as well, not just weight.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

UPS needs to make a minimum amount to ship a truck full of boxes. You are basically paying for the dimensions (up to a certain weight) If it is exceptionally heavy (full of anvils) you will pay more. The same size box weighing 1 lb, 5 lbs, 10 lbs and 15 lbs will all cost the same because they occupy the same space. "shipping feathers" is actually what started this whole thing. Amazon was shipping things like, for example, a sheet of decals and using maybe a 10 x 12 x 8 box. They were filling ups trucks and there was not enough being billed to cover the cost of sending the truck. FWIW I also get my shipping dims modified after the fact. I just learned to round everything up.

The best simple description there is for this.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

Scanner-scamming is a real thing, those devices are calibrated to round UP, never to round DOWN.

It.s not a scam. If its rounded down you could end up with trucks/containers/whatever being overweight or the physical size of the shipment not being able to fit into what the system calculates it to fit in.

 

[micguy]

Dimensions are very important when shipping things. A lot of pro audio loudspeakers (big things that have to get moved a lot) are designed as a specific integer fraction of a truck width - you can neatly pack them 4 in a row across the width, for example. Make your speakers an inch wider, and.....you won't sell any.

 

[wboyd68]

I used to work in shipping, and all of the carriers charged whatever was greater, actual vs dimensional weight. This was 30 years ago.

 

[FRoss6788]

Why would anyone think a business would round down, and lose money.

I know that I wouldn’t, neither would anyone else here….

 

[DigitalMan]

Shippers round up to the next inch. The slightest bulge is enough and I can’t believe I just wrote that.

Anyway, the size printed on boxes is nominal and it’s very common for them to exceed their stated dimensions by a tiny amount.

 

[porkynuggets]

The slightest bulge is enough

This IS.good news for me!

 

[tb-player]

UPDATE: In case anyone is wondering, UPS/Pirate Ship did refund the extra charge. But based on the comments in this thread, it seems they may have been justified in the extra charge.

I shipped another bass yesterday and made sure I rounded up on measurements. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen again. But I do appreciate all the understanding on the rationale behind dimensional weight.