UPS surcharges (Germany)

Purpose: In this section, we explain how you can avoid UPS surcharges if your shipment does not meet the shipping conditions of UPS.

Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee 

Starting September 30, 2024, UPS will introduce a new Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee to address weight differences in shipping charges.

Invoices are issued per account number, so each shipment is billed under its assigned account. Brokers managing multiple clients will receive either individual or consolidated invoices, with charges itemized by account. The Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee applies to the account with weight discrepancies. To avoid this fee, ensure accurate weight and dimension reporting for each shipment

The details are as follows:

• The fee will be €1.50 per shipment or 8% of the shipping charge correction, whichever is greater.
• This fee applies only if the correction exceeds 25% of the original net shipping cost, based solely on transportation fees, excluding fuel and other additional charges.
• The fee applies to domestic, export, and import shipments.
• The charge correction will be based on the Billable Weight, determined by comparing the parcel's actual weight and its dimensional weight. The greater weight will be used as the billable weight to set the shipping rate.

See the Shipment Size and Weight and Zone and Rates pages on the UPS website.

Multicollo

When you ship a multicollo, the applied surcharges will be assigned to 1 tracking number. This means that even if multiple parcels within your multicollo receive a surcharge, only one tracking number will be visible on the invoice. This could lead to:

1. The same tracking number being shown on your invoice multiple times. This means multiple different surcharges were invoiced for a multicollo. 
2. There are brackets with a number indicated behind the tracking number. If the same surcharge was applied to multiple parcels, the number of other parcels this surcharge was applied to will be visible in between brackets behind the tracking number. For example: tracking12345678 (+2).

Additional handling costs

An Additional Handling Fee applies to shipments that require special handling due to their size, weight, or packaging. This includes:

• Packages in metal or wood containers
• Cylindrical items (e.g., barrels, drums, pails, tires) not fully enclosed in corrugated cardboard
• Packages exceeding 100 cm in length or 76 cm in their second-longest side
• Import, export, or domestic packages over 25 kg
• Shipments where the average package weight exceeds 25 kg, but individual weights are not specified on the shipping document

UPS reserves the right to apply this surcharge if a package is deemed to require special handling at its sole discretion.

Important Notes:

• UPS does not provide a money-back guarantee for shipments requiring additional handling.
• Shipping charges will not be refunded if delivery is delayed due to special handling requirements.

Fees:

• National Shipments: €8.00 per package
• International Shipments: €9.00 per package

Undeliverable shipments

When UPS has taken measures to try to deliver any Worldwide shipments, but has been unsuccessful, they will process your shipment acting on your instructions. The transportation cost and a surcharge will be charged to the sender for the processing of each such un-deliverable shipment. 

For all shipments within the EU, we will automatically return your shipment by UPS Standard service (where available). Transportation and fuel charges will apply for the return.

The surcharge for undeliverable shipments is the same as the outbound shipping costs. 

Over Maximum Limits

Packages with an actual weight of more than 70 kg, or that exceed 270 cm in length or a total of 400 cm [L + (2x Width +2x Height)] in length and girth combined, as measured to determine their billable weight, are not accepted for transportation. These packages are subject to an Over Maximum Limits surcharge, in addition to all other applicable charges, if found in the UPS small package system. Packages exceeding 400 cm in length and girth combined are also subject to the Large Package Surcharge.

The surcharge over the maximum limits is €106.00.

Large Package surcharge

A Large Package surcharge of €36.00 will be applied to each UPS package when its length plus girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] combined exceeds 300 cm but does not exceed the maximum UPS size of 400 cm.

Large Packages are subject to a minimum billable weight of 40 kg in addition to the Large Package surcharge.

An Additional Handling charge will not be assessed when a Large Package surcharge is applied.

Import fees

UPS charges the following fees when a parcel is imported. Sendcloud will forward these costs to you (the merchant):

• Import duties: The Import duties are determined based on the HS Code and their corresponding import duty rate x (times) value of the goods.
• Import VAT: It's calculated as follows: tax rate of the importing country x (times) the value of the goods. The import VAT charged can be deducted as input tax in your regular VAT return for the relevant period. As a result, the import VAT doesn't constitute an additional cost for you.
• Provision costs: In the event that UPS pays import duties, VAT, and other government charges on behalf of the paying party in advance, then the carrier will charge you some a provision fee based on the intrinsic value of the shipped goods and the advanced amount. These are the costs: €6.20 per shipment with an intrinsic value less than or equal to €22, with a minimum of €13.05, or 2.50% of the advanced amount when the intrinsic value of the goods exceeds €22.

Surcharge return to sender 

If the recipient cannot be reached or refuses delivery, or if the parcel is returned for any other reason, a surcharge equal to the initial price (shipping costs) will be charged. If another surcharge was charged for the outbound shipment, for example, additional handling, this will also be charged again for the return shipment.

Surcharge Return shipments - Print label - EUR 2.03

If your customer has the return label printed at a service point, you will receive a fee of €2.03.

Shipping Charge Correction Audit 

UPS applies an audit fee when a shipping charge correction exceeds 25% of the original net shipping cost within a given invoice period.

• This fee is calculated per account number, based on all shipping charge corrections billed to that account during the applicable invoice period.
• The charge is €1.50 per shipment subject to a correction or 8% of the total amount of shipping charge corrections, whichever is greater.

Missing Package Level Detail Fee

UPS applies this fee when the shipper fails to upload the required Package Level Detail (PLD) information before the package is picked up.

• The charge is €4.00 per parcel for both domestic and international shipments.

To avoid this fee, ensure all package details are correctly submitted to UPS before collection.

Special Handling of Undeliverable Shipments Surcharge (In Addition to Transportation Cost) - EUR 7.35

If UPS is unable to deliver a worldwide shipment after making delivery attempts, the shipment will be processed based on the shipper’s instructions. The shipper will be charged for transportation costs and an additional surcharge for handling the undeliverable package.

• For shipments within the EU and domestic shipments, UPS will automatically return the package via UPS Standard service (where available).
• Transportation and fuel charges will apply for the return.

Prohibited Item Fee - EUR 280.00

UPS does not transport prohibited items. If a package is found to contain a prohibited article, the shipper will be required to pay:

• An additional minimum administration fee
• Any other applicable charges related to the shipment

For more information on prohibited items and shipping restrictions, refer to the UPS Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

UPS Import Control 

When shipping internationally via Sendcloud with UPS, you may encounter additional fees known as UPS Import Control fees. These fees cover services like customs handling, label printing, and collection attempts.

Fees for UPS Import Control:

• Print Label: EUR 1.95 per package (or per pallet for WW Express Freight)

  • This is the cost for printing a physical shipping label.

• Electronic Label: EUR 2.70 per package (or per pallet for WW Express Freight)

  • This is the cost for generating an electronic label.

• 1 UPS Collection Attempt: EUR 7.70 per package (or per pallet for WW Express Freight)

  • This is the fee for one attempt to collect your shipment.

• 3 UPS Collection Attempts: EUR 10.44 per package

  • If UPS needs to try collecting your shipment up to three times, this is the cost.

• Commercial Invoice Removal: EUR 20.25

  • This is the fee if you want to remove the commercial invoice from the shipment.

Why Are These Fees Charged?

These fees are related to the extra services required for international shipments, such as printing labels, collection attempts, and handling customs paperwork.

When Are These Fees Charged?

You’ll pay these fees when you create the shipment through Sendcloud. Sendcloud pays UPS for these services and includes the fees in your invoice to you.

Do These Fees Apply to Domestic Shipments?

No, these fees only apply to international shipments, as domestic shipments don’t require the same level of customs handling.

Print Label Fee – When Does It Apply?

Every time you create a physical label for an international shipment with UPS via Sendcloud, you can expect the Print Label Fee. If you use an electronic label, the Electronic Label Fee will apply instead.

Summary:

UPS Import Control fees apply to international shipments and cover label printing, collection attempts, and other services. These fees are charged by UPS and then passed on to you via Sendcloud. They don’t apply to domestic shipments.

To avoid the above-mentioned surcharges, please carefully read the shipping conditions, make sure you stay well within the permitted dimensions and, of course, select the right network for your package. 

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on UPS surcharges and conditions, please refer to the official UPS website. The UPS website will always be the source of truth regarding their rates and policies.