Coming on the heels of the 2021 FedEx shipping increases, the 2021 UPS Rate Increase is here! UPS announced increases in the 2021 shipping rates. In short, the rates for UPS ground, air, and international services will increase an average net 4.9% effective December 27, 2020. In addition to daily package rates increasing,…
ASIN and FNSKU are two essential terms all Amazon FBA sellers should know. Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a unique set of ten-digit letters and numbers identifying items. No two products will ever have the same ASIN. ASINs are meant to keep everything in order. The FNSKU stands for…
As an online seller, there is nothing more frustrating than fraudulent returns. On Amazon specifically, a buyer has precisely 30 days to return a product, but sometimes the buyer will get a refund before sending it back. This leaves the seller out of a sale and inventory. It’s no secret…
Many FBA sellers might not be aware of stranded inventory within seller central. But, it is an issue that all sellers must address regularly. Stranded inventory prevents your products from being sold and affects your IPI. Therefore, let’s dive into this issue. What is stranded inventory? Stranded inventory is a…
COVID-19 has stimulated an increase in residential deliveries across the U.S. As a result, FedEx is experiencing extremely high demand and increased operating costs. Therefore, you will see a rate increase on FedEx One Rate pricing effective May 2, 2022. The new FedEx One Rate 2022 price increase base rates will…
What is a FedEx Priority Alert? Every minute counts when you must deliver time and temperature-sensitive shipments in perfect condition. FedEx offers peace of mind for global customers who require the highest level of reliable monitoring for these types of shipments with FedEx Priority Alert. FedEx Priority Alert packages are…
COVID-19 changed the way the world interacts. The pandemic has changed shipping and the parcel delivery landscape. Naturally, more people are having packages delivered. Brick-and-mortar stores have limited hours, declaring bankruptcy or just halting operations altogether. Therefore, here is some data to show how this shift has affected one of the…
When shipping a package, typically, you think of the big guys. FedEx, UPS, and USPS. If you haven’t considered or implemented regional parcel carriers, you might leave money on the table. A regional parcel carrier is a package delivery company that is usually cheaper, more flexible, and more responsive than…
There are shipping terms the carriers use that often cause the most experienced shipper to pause and think. One of these terms that I regularly forget is girth. So today, we are going to explain the girth of a package and why it is crucial. Girth is essentially the circumference…
Last-minute changes and mistakes happen when shipping and shopping online. At some point, a package will go out with an incorrect address, or you may need to stop the parcel from being delivered. This is why UPS offers delivery changes and intercepts. Therefore, what are these options, and how do…
Previously, we learned that the last mile or final delivery of packages, regardless of distance, is truly where costs add up. Coincidentally, that last mile varies from a few blocks to hundreds of miles. This is where UPS SurePost and FedEx SmartPost (FedEx Ground Economy) can help. SmartPost is a…
The last mile or final delivery of a UPS package voyage is where costs add up regardless of distance. The last mile varies from a few blocks to 100’s of miles, which is where UPS SurePost can help. Consequently, reducing shipping bills and realizing viable cost savings start with last-mile…
A successful FedEx or UPS parcel rate negotiation is essential to substantially lower shipping costs. Preparation is critical to how well a company can negotiate lower small parcel rate agreements. Therefore, let us look at a few key points that all businesses, big and small, need to follow. 1. Get…
Online shippers face many obstacles in today’s complicated multi-channel world. Knowing how to handle shipping delays will turn customer service issues into a competitive advantage. Shipping delays before and during transit are two of the most frequent problems online business owners experience. Buyers do not like shipping delays; however, it…
How can a company save money even with a bad UPS agreement? There are many reasons that shippers cannot get the best in class pricing for UPS or FedEx. They could not have significant volume, less than desirable package characteristics, or they are located in a remote area. Let us…
Is your UPS spend higher than it should be? Have you noticed that the increase in shipping volume and overall shipping costs seem to be increasing at different rates? If so, we will review some strategies to help reverse this trend and give shipping a competitive advantage. If your UPS…
Accessorial fees and surcharges are a considerable part of any shipper’s yearly shipping costs. Many shippers see these as a part of doing business, but there are many fees that you, as a shipper, can stop. The FedEx address correction fee is our topic of discussion here. Address corrections happen…
Finally, FedEx Sunday delivery is here. Today’s customers want to receive their purchases every day. In light of this, Saturday and Sunday delivery are standard for Home Delivery residential shipments at no additional cost. Correspondingly, Amazon and USPS have been delivering seven days a week for a long time. In…
Here at Refund Retriever, we audit FedEx and UPS invoices for late deliveries and billing mistakes, we know data. Especially data relating to FedEx and UPS peak season deliveries. So how late were FedEx and UPS this holiday season? Many shippers were even removed from Amazon because of the delays…
Shipping is a fundamental part of all e-commerce companies and most other industries. As a result, what would happen if your UPS account was hacked? A UPS security breach could be disastrous for any company. Let’s examine some best practices to limit unapproved UPS access by hackers attempting a brute-force…
USPS has some of the lowest postage rates and offers excellent value in shipping. Like FedEx and UPS, the USPS price increase can be expected yearly. Here at Refund Retriever, we audit FedEx and UPS shipments for late deliveries and other billing mistakes. As a result, the majority of our…
Shipping is an essential part of all e-commerce companies and most other industries. As a result, what would happen if your FedEx account was hacked? A FedEx security breach could be disastrous for any company. Let’s examine some best practices to prevent unauthorized FedEx access by hackers that are attempting…
Shipping Firearms with UPS might appear daunting, but it is not that difficult as long as you know some essential rules. It is easy to ship firearms through UPS; be sure one of the parties in the transaction has an FFL license. A Federal Firearms License (FFL) is a license…
Online retail has improved how we shop and open us up to convenience and accessibility. But with this development comes the risk of Porch pirates. You’re probably wondering, ‘What are porch pirates?’ Porch pirates are individuals who steal packages delivered to the doorstep of your customers. Addressing porch pirates’ concerns…
Many shippers open their weekly UPS invoices to find a few surprises in the form of a UPS large package surcharge. Therefore we are going to examine this surcharge in more detail. What is a large package surcharge? What is the cost? How can we negate the charge to lower…
In June 2018, UPS increased a few surcharges and announced a new shipping charge correction audit fee. A UPS audit fee will be charged when the average shipping charge correction during a week exceeds $2.00 per package, subject to a shipping charge correction. This Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee does…
In light of FedEx One Rate and USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail, UPS has introduced UPS Simple Rate. UPS Simple Rate is the new UPS flat rate service offering, much like a UPS flat rate box. Now shippers can use their boxes up to 1,728 cubic inches at one low cost. At…
Ground and express packages have a guaranteed delivery date and time whenever your business ships with UPS. If your late UPS package arrives even one minute after the guarantee, you are entitled to a full refund. UPS calls this a guaranteed service refund, or GSR for short. According to the…
The UPS damaged package claim process is easier to navigate than shippers believe. Recently, a valued customer of Refund Retriever contacted us with a question about damaged packages. UPS notified the shipper that they damaged a package during transit and discarded it. UPS never delivered the item to the customer….
Whenever your company ship with FedEx express or ground, you have a guaranteed delivery date and time. You are entitled to a full refund if the package is delivered even one minute late. To emphasize, FedEx will NOT notify you of the late package. FedEx will not voluntarily give money…
In a previous blog post, we discussed the UPS CWT services, and now we will go over UPS Hundredweight surcharge fees. Hundredweight CWT is a cost-effective delivery for non-palletized, multiple-package shipments that weigh 100 to 500 pounds. As a rule, UPS Hundredweight CWT has a 150-pound maximum weight per package….
We get many calls and chats monthly when a FedEx shipper sees this charge on a FedEx invoice. Often, they see “NDOC P/U” yet have no clue what this is. To summarize, these charges are non-document pickup charges. This is a charge when someone contacts FedEx to have the package…
The eCommerce industry is growing each year. That’s a lot of sales, a lot of customers, and a lot of competition. Reaching online shoppers before competitors is crucial to your future success. Fast shipping can help you reach more customers, convert sales, and drive more profits. Why fast shipping reaches…
Accessorial fees and surcharges are a massive part of any shipper’s weekly shipping costs. Many shippers see these as a part of doing business. But there are many fees that you, as a shipper, can prevent. Address corrections happen to be a huge profit center for UPS and FedEx. When…
In our previous blog, we covered the basic outline of a UPS agreement and the discount incentives on the published shipping rates. In part two, we will outline a few more essential points that you will need to understand to begin a fair and balanced UPS shipper contract negotiation. Accessorial…
With the demand for fast shipping rising, shippers and e-commerce businesses need to look at more options for speedy delivery. UPS offers three different next-day or UPS overnight services. As a result, companies can ensure delivery to compete with services like Amazon Prime. UPS Next Day Air Early UPS Next…
eCommerce is tough. Not only must you source great products, optimize your listings, and get to the top of the search results before your competitors, but when successful, you’ve also got to ship those products out and fast. Amazon has created a world where fast shipping matters, and those falling…
Third-party and drop shipping is a huge part of today’s e-commerce landscape. As a result, it is vital to understand this fee and know how it affects your daily shipping costs. The FedEx third party billing charge applies to express and ground services. Currently, the FedEx 3rd party billing fee…
Third-party shipping is a huge part of today’s e-commerce landscape. Therefore it is vital to understand this fee and know how it is affecting your daily shipping costs. Beginning in 2016, UPS began charging a third-party billing fee of 2.5% of the total shipping charge billed to the Third Party….
If your company ships to remote or rural destinations, you have seen additional fees tacked on the shipment charges called UPS delivery area surcharges (DAS) and extended delivery area surcharges (EDAS). UPS applies these additional charges to packages either picked up or delivered to specific predetermined ZIP codes. Therefore, let’s…
FedEx One Rate is a flat rate shipping pricing option that more large-volume shippers are exploring. FedEx One Rate was introduced in 2013 and is available for qualifying FedEx Express U.S. shipments in FedEx Express packaging. One Rate pricing is an alternative to FedEx Standard List Rates, account-specific rates, or…
The FedEx oversize charge for many shippers is a shipping expense that cannot be avoided. Many shippers do not know what these are until the charge is on a FedEx invoice. Let’s look at the definition of the FedEx oversize charge, the price of the FedEx oversize charge, and FedEx peak season…
FedEx Ship Manager FedEx Ship Manager is the shipping software that can be used to automate and make your shipping more straightforward. It ultimately helps high-volume e-commerce companies to access forms, prepare and arrange shipping labels and documents using databases of addresses and commodities, monitor the status of the shipments…
Who lost your package: UPS DHL FedEx USPS Amazon Most packages make it to their destinations intact and on time. But what do you do when a package is lost in transit? Your lost packages could sit “in transit” for over…
So it’s that time of year again, time to embrace UPS My Choice. Millions of shoppers are adding gifts to electronic shopping carts and having everything conveniently delivered to their doorstep. Let’s face it, it is so much more convenient to have items delivered. Who has time to battle for…
FedEx agreements’ black and white details can often look like a foreign language even to the savviest of shippers and business-minded leaders. From surcharges and money-back guarantees to termination fees and more, there is a lot to digest when it comes to reviewing, understanding, and ultimately feeling confident about the…
Many shippers have no clue how the carrier package minimum charge from FedEx and UPS minimum affects their overall shipping spend. Most companies do not realize carrier package minimums override a large percentage of the negotiated discount rates. Shippers must know the contractual UPS minimum net or FedEx minimum package charge….
Last year we published a blog on where exactly to find specific zone charts for your location. FedEx zones are critical to know for all FedEx shippers in an everyday application and each time you negotiate a new agreement with the carrier. Here is a list of all the FedEx zones…
Many times, customers come across FedEx invoice abbreviations and agreements yet have no clue as to their meaning. Here is a list of common FedEx invoice abbreviations that might come in handy. What are the FedEx service types? FedEx shipping is divided into two main service types. These are based on…
During the 2019 holiday shipping season, UPS will temporarily suspend the money-back guarantee for following dates. Other than the dates below, each ground, home delivery and express package shipped with UPS is guaranteed to arrive on time or it’s free. Therefore, take a look at the rules for the UPS…
All Refund Retriever customers must use the UPS online billing center to collect all late packages and billing mistakes. Online billing is nothing to be afraid of, trust me. UPS billing center online consolidates all your shipping invoices in one place with the ability to view your UPS invoices in…
Business owners as always looking for ways to reduce shipping costs. One new way to reduce your FedEx shipping spend easily was recently introduced by American Express. With American Express FedEx rebate offer, businesses can earn 15% back as an AMEX statement credit each time they use an enrolled business card…
Selling online is a dynamic, exciting way to deliver goods to consumers without ever having to engage in traditional conversations. Make no mistake, however… engaging is a key component to online selling success. In fact, successful e-commerce operators know that leveraging the strengths of others is often the key to…
Shipping refund credits are a huge part of how Refund Retriever’s shipment auditing clients save money on yearly shipping costs. Small parcel shippers contact Refund Retriever when their current auditing company isn’t doing the job. The rate of late delivery credits fluctuates from week to week. But there are ways…
While Alibaba and Amazon dominate the marketplace industry, it’s not just these two online giants that capture consumer dollars. In addition to helping strengthen the parcel business along the way, it’s fair to say that the shipping business has been dramatically influenced thanks to marketplace sales. As a result, ways…
FedEx & UPS Guaranteed Service refunds are part of a smart shippers toolbox. Shipping is an essential part of business operations for small and large companies. In fact, FedEx and UPS collectively ship billions of packages each year. Additionally, this number is rising as each day passes. Keeping this in…
UPS Saturday delivery is expanding! The carrier will now deliver ground with time-in-transit of 1 to 3 days and 3-day select residential packages on Saturday. Standard Saturday delivery applies for delivery to the top 100 metro areas. UPS express, and international deliveries have been available on Saturdays for many years….
The much anticipated biannual ASD Market Week trade show will be held on March 22nd to March 25, 2020, at the Las Vegas Convention Center with Refund Retriever located in the central hall lobby participating in the Independent Retailer Conference. Ever wondered about the history of ASD Market Week? ASD…
When it comes to e-commerce shipping, shipping information has a significant influence on consumer purchases. BigCommerce reports that shipping cost and speed influence 80% of U.S. customer decisions, while 87% of customers are influenced by price 71% by discounts or promotional offerings. Consider how your e-commerce business can be strengthened…
As the year quickly passes us by, it’s evident that commerce is experiencing a lot of change… and will continue to. Though this change can appear fast and furious to online sellers, it’s this same change that presents the opportunity for e-commerce businesses to be profitable and successful. The question…
When it comes to online selling, there will always be the issue of inventory management to consider. From where you stock your items to how much you should invest in each particular product category to the fine print details of shipping items sold online to their end user, there is a lot…
The annual Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition (IRCE) will occur June 3-4 in Chicago, IL. This event for online businesses began in 2005 by Vertical Web Media with 45 exhibitors and 1,150 attendees at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The size has continued to expand each year and nearly exceeded 10K…
With Amazon having scored the majority of e-commerce sales last year, Amazon sales keep rising. Therefore, it’s no surprise that marketplace selling is big business. Robust inventory assortment and management can help sellers strengthen their eBay sellers strategy, yet these key details alone won’t help marketplace sellers reach their fullest…
FedEx and UPS made some significant changes to their rates and contracts for 2024, yet many businesses have yet to either know or understand these changes. For this reason – and many others – companies must update their parcel carrier contracts and gain more clarity about what impacts their shipping…
FedEx guarantees the on-time delivery of your all Ground and Express packages, but not every shipment is on time. But, if FedEx delivers your package just 60 seconds late, you are entitled to a 100 percent refund of the shipping charges. Let’s look at FedEx Money Back Guarantee Waivers. Including…
Many shippers look at FedEx SmartPost (FedEx Ground Economy) vs. Home Delivery with a confused look. With FedEx rates rising yearly, we help many small parcel shippers evaluate current contracts and discount rates. One of the most commonly asked questions, “Would Smart Post be an option to lower shipping costs?”…
Refund Retriever is joining FotoZoomer and RS Associates for Print & Ship Symposium in Las Vegas from March 18-19. All matters are covered from print operations, print management software, shipping prep, point of sale entry, accounting, production techniques, hardware care and more marketing than most people can handle. Join us…
All businesses are looking for shipping resources. Growing your business online or offline means implementing an effective shipping strategy. Looking ahead into 2018, consider how aligning with the right resources can help you accomplish this goal – as well as help you reach new ones. Among the resources to consider…
One of the most important things you can do as an Amazon seller is master inventory management — without a solid strategy in this area, your business simply won’t grow. Instead, you run the risk of an Amazon stockout, could lose the Buy Box and/or your Amazon SEO rank, or…
Let’s face it… without shipping, the world economy would be a much different place. Thanks to shipping, however, small and large businesses can connect with suppliers and consumers faster than ever. Here are ten interesting shipping facts. Parcel delivery has come a long way since the days of horseback delivery….
If you’re shipping multiple packages to the same place on the same day, save time and money using the UPS Hundredweight Service (CWT). CWT stands for centum weight. UPS Hundredweight offers a guaranteed, cost-effective delivery for non-palletized, multiple-package shipments weighing between 100 and 500 pounds. Who can use UPS Hundredweight? UPS Hundredweight…
Shipping and shopping go hand-in-hand nowadays, so ensuring your shipping strategy is as effective as possible should top your priority list. First, evaluate your current shipping efforts to help strengthen your parcel efficiency. To assess your shipping strategy, ask yourself the following questions: 1. Is the shipping strategy you offer…
‘Tis the season for shipping… and there’s no better time to prepare your business for the demands consumers expect this upcoming holiday shipping season. Whether you’re an e-commerce based business, a marketplace seller, a vendor shipping to merchants, or offer shipping in any other capacity, aligning your holiday business goals…
We at Refund Retriever like to give back each year. We participate in Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fundraising events such as Great Strides and Shoot 4 The Cure. What is Cystic Fibrosis (CF)? According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, “Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes…
Effective January 22, 2018, FedEx will apply dimensional weight pricing with a dimensional divisor of 139. Plus, a per pound rate for all packages over 71 lbs on all SmartPost (FedEx Ground Economy) packages. Dimensional weights are, of course, (length x width x height) divided by a DIM factor. The…
Shipping fee surcharges for additional, supplemental, or value-added services can easily account for up to 40 percent of your overall FedEx or UPS invoice costs. After doing some research with our data, we found something interesting. FedEx invoices consistently have a higher percentage of accessorial fees over similar-sized UPS invoices….
FedEx and UPS cost more due to accessorial fees; there is no getting around them. Accessorial charges have rate increases each year, just as the general rates. Accessorial fee surcharges for additional, supplemental, or value-added services can easily account for up to 40 percent of your overall FedEx or UPS invoice costs….
UPS provides various UPS pick-up options depending upon a shipper’s needs. Every shipper is different, so knowing all the options available to busy UPS shippers is helpful. UPS is the only carrier that can pick up all package types (Ground, Air, and International) with a single driver and charges per…
You may have heard about the large cyber attack that affected computers all over the world on May 12, 2017, known as “Wanna Cry” (also known as “Wanna Crypt” and by other names). This affected universities, hospitals, and companies large and small all over the world (including our friends over…
UPS guarantees the on-time delivery of all Ground and Express packages, but not every shipment is on time. But, if UPS delivers your package just 60 seconds late, you are entitled to a 100 percent refund of the shipping charges. Let’s look at the UPS GSR waiver, also known as a…
What is a shipping zone? UPS & FedEx shipping zones are crucial for each package you send. Shipping contracts are divided into zone pricing. Each package price is based on the destination zone. You cannot get away from zones, so investigate what a zone is and how to determine your…
With FedEx and UPS increasing their rates each year, understanding your own shipping contracts is very important. Did the carriers create the complexity in these to increase their own profits, when was the last time you read through your carrier contract? With most FedEx and UPS contracts there are two…
Looking for the perfect gift for that business partner that is just so hard to shop for? Why not share a refund in the form of helping them save money on FedEx and UPS costs? Shipping is expensive. Help a friend lower their costs and earn $100 credit at the…
Refund Retriever has teamed up with Freight Cowboy to make LTL and truckload freight as easy as shipping a FedEx or UPS package. In just a few easy steps you can see a savings of 15-25% off your current rates by assessing our negotiated contract rates based on a billion…
As your business grows, so should freight costs. Above-average increases in freight costs could indicate your expenses are cutting into your bottom line. When freight spending becomes a large percentage of total revenue, it has a negative impact overall. Refund Retriever is proud to introduce Freight Retriever. Our new…
In today’s world, there is guaranteed to be an increase in packages stolen from your doorstep. Porch Pirates will closely follow a delivery truck and take merchandise as soon as the driver is out of sight. A report from August Home Inc. found nearly 11 million U.S. homeowners have had…
For nearly two decades, 3dcart has been the engine thousands of online stores use to build, market, and grow their online retail brands. The e-commerce software suite was designed from the very beginning to be customizable to the unique needs of different stores and easy to use for beginners through…
The U.S. Postal Service announced the 2023 USPS holiday shipping deadlines for domestic and international destinations. With this in mind, you need to prepare for the busy shopping and shipping season. USPS wants to make sure that businesses send all holiday packages and orders in time for their customers to…
UPS charges for each shipping label generated on your UPS account. Therefore, it is essential to void unused UPS shipping labels. You pay for the label even when a third party creates an unused label billed to your UPS account. And while the shipping labels can be voided, only the…
We deal with FedEx and UPS all day, every day. But we never actually ship anything out. The cost of transportation impact is huge for our customers. What would be cheaper? USPS, FedEx, or UPS? We went to the post office and got a few priority mail Tyvek envelopes. We…
Refund Retriever is on top of the refund technology game. Refund Retriever started back in 2006 with one UPS and one FedEx account. We could have tracked and estimated a week’s worth of packages in a few hours by hand if we needed. Disputes were all done with a phone…
When it comes to small parcel shipping companies like FedEx and UPS, you may have noticed a fuel surcharge. The cost of fuel and transportation impact delivery companies considerably. The surcharge was designed to help protect carriers during times of high gasoline, diesel, and airplane fuel prices. However, the fuel…
No matter how good your product or customer service is, a poor shipping policy is enough to drive anyone away. Too many businesses don’t spend enough time on their shipping policy, and it can affect the company in a significant way. Why? Firstly, you must ensure that your shipping prices…
Here at Refund Retriever, we audit parcels and invoices for FedEx & UPS shippers in all industries. From e-commerce websites, law firms, and Amazon & eBay sellers to independently owned shipping centers, we find late deliveries and billing mistakes and save our customers millions each year in transportation cost recovery….
A free shipping strategy is critical in today’s online marketplace. You have 100% confidence in your product. The price can’t be beaten. Customer service is off the charts. You receive a customer’s order and prepare products for shipping. And then it happens…the shipping process begins, and this is where your…
UPS offers many domestic delivery services with a wide range of delivery commitments. Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what service to use. Each service has different commitment dates and times. Here at Refund Retriever, we have prepared a quick reference chart for each service and its…
UPS and FedEx both provide excellent international delivery options. We decided to put each international service side by side to compare the estimated delivery dates for both carriers. This is a general guide to determining when your package will arrive. Contact each carrier directly for more accurate FedEx & UPS…
There are many FedEx domestic delivery services with a variety of delivery commitments. Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what service to use. Therefore, we have created a quick reference chart for each service with a delivery range. Enjoy! The price of each FedEx domestic delivery service…
How do I know if a shipping address is residential or commercial, and why does it matter? Shipping a package is simple. Box items and apply a shipping label. The carrier then takes the box to your recipient. So why does it cost different amounts? Why do carriers want to…
