Purpose: learn how to avoid unwanted UPS surcharges when your package does not meet the carrier shipping conditions.
The carrier may change the shipping prices and/or surcharges mentioned below without notice, therefore these prices may be subject to change. Even though we aim to inform you to the best of our abilities, no rights can be derived from the information provided below.
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. The details are as follows:
- The fee will be €1.70 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 is applicable 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.
For more information, see the Shipment Size and Weight and Zone and Rates pages on the UPS website.
Volumetric weight surcharge
It's extremely important that you take the volumetric weight of your parcels into consideration when choosing from one of the above three shipping methods.
To choose the right shipping method you need to take the following calculations into account:
- Volume weight KG: L x W x h /5000
- Exact weight in KG
- Girth in cm: L+W+W+H+H
Examples
- The parcel weighs 2kg, but has a volumetric weight of 34kg
- A shipping method for a parcel size of 34kg must be chosen
- The parcel weighs 27kg, but has a volumetric weight of 8kg
- A shipping method for a parcel size of 27kg must be chosen
Additional handling costs - €5.25
Additional handling fees are charged at a rate of €5.25 for the following:
- Any article that is encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood
- Any cylindrical item, such as a barrel, drum, pail, or tire, that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container.
- Any package with the longest side exceeding 100 cm or its second-longest side exceeding 30 inches (76 cm).
- Any import, export, or domestic package with an actual weight greater than 25 kg.
- Each import, export, or domestic package in a shipment where the average weight per package is greater than 25 kg and the weight for each package is not specified on the source document or the UPS automated shipping system used.
UPS also reserves the right to assess the Additional Handling Charge for any package that, in UPS's sole discretion, requires special handling. In consideration of the additional handling required on our part, and subsequent potential delays in processing these shipments, UPS does not provide a money-back guarantee for them. UPS does, therefore, not refund the shipping charges if shipments requiring additional handling are not delivered by the time normally scheduled for such shipments.
Surcharge for large packaging - €25.20
- This surcharge will be applied for each parcel in which the length + size [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] exceeds 300 cm, but is not more than the maximum allowed UPS size of 400 cm.
- For large packages, a minimum weight of 40kg will be charged, in addition to the large package fee.
- No additional handling fee will be charged if the bulk package fee applies.
Over maximum limits - €106.20
Packages with:
- An actual weight of more than 70kg; or
- With a length of more than 274cm; or
- With a total length + size [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] of more than 400 cm
...are not accepted for transportation. If they are found in the UPS system for small packages, additional costs will be charged to the amount of €426,20
For parcels with a belt circumference (length + 2 x width + 2 x height) more than 400cm will also receive a large package surcharge.
On-call collection (requested by the end customer) - €3.20
You can have the shipment picked up from home or office by scheduling a collection service online at ups.com or by calling 020 50 40 500.
UPS will pick up all packages with a single collection service request. A collection service may be scheduled for the same day or a future day.
On-call collection service charge applies for Electronic Return Labels, Print Return Label, and regular or alternate address pickup.
Cash payments are available for on-call collection service.
Charges differ based on the collection service request type:
- Same Day by Phone
- Same Day on the Web
- Future Day by Phone
- Future Day on the Web
This charge does not apply to:
- A daily customer's established collection hours (see daily collection)
- Return package collections included in the UPS 1 Attempt and UPS 3 Attempts Returns Plus services. If a UPS 1 Attempt Returns Plus collection is unsuccessful, all subsequent collections will incur the fee.
- Collections containing international shipments to destinations outside the European Union within the pickup stop.
Undeliverable Shipment Surcharge - €7.25
- For all international shipments refused by the consignee, or which cannot be delivered
due to any other cause beyond UPS’s control, UPS will contact the shipper for further
instructions.* - Forwarding costs, return transportation charges, duties, taxes, and a return surcharge apply
to any return, at the shipper’s expense. - The UPS Service Guarantee does not apply to undeliverable packages returned to the shipper
*For UPS Standard to Mexico shipments, in cases where the shipment cannot be imported, the shipment will be automatically returned to the exporter.
Special handling of Undeliverable Shipments - €7.65
When UPS has taken measures to try to deliver any Worldwide shipments, but has been unsuccessful, we will process your shipment acting on your instructions. The transportation cost and a surcharge will be charged to the shipper for the processing of each undeliverable shipment. Please see the Additional Charges table for pricing information.
For all shipments within the EU and your country, we will automatically return your shipment by UPS Standard service (where available). Transportation and fuel charges will apply for the return.
Surcharge Return shipments - Print label - €1.97
If your customer has the return label printed at a service point, you will receive a fee of €1.97.
Prohibited item fee
There are certain prohibited items that UPS will not ship due to laws or regulations. It is the shipper´s responsibility to comply with current government regulations or laws applicable in each country.
The carrier applies a surcharge of €280.20 for shipping a prohibited item.
For more detailed information, see the list of prohibited and restricted items prepared by UPS.
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: €6.70 per shipment with an intrinsic value less than or equal to €22, with a minimum of €13.80; or 2.5% of the advanced amount when the intrinsic value of the goods exceeds €22.
Weekly service charge - € 11.77
Without special arrangements for collection, a UPS driver will visit you once a day to collect any shipments. A weekly service charge will apply. Please see the table for pricing information.
Receiver or Third Party Refuses to Pay - € 14.15
If the receiver or a third party is selected to pay the transportation charges and the bill-to-account is incorrect or missing, UPS searches its records for the correct account number. Whether or not the account number is found, a processing fee per shipment is billed back to the shipper.
Entry Preparation Fee - € 7.15
UPS will charge a fee for every Import shipment requiring a customs formal entry.
Disbursement Fee (fee of % of the advanced amount/minimum, whichever is greater)
UPS customs brokers are experienced with complex commercial shipments. Electronic transmissions of shipment data help speed up customs clearance.
UPS may prepay duties, taxes, and other government charges on behalf of the payer.
Disbursement charges are noted in the Additional Charges Table.
- € 7,65 per shipment having an intrinsic value
lower or equal to € 22.20. - € 15,40 minimum or 3% of the advanced amount when the
intrinsic value of the goods exceeds € 22.20.