This means that the base and fuel amounts of a shipment changed. This is the core cost of a shipment. If shipment details change, the amount of the base & fuel will change.
These can change for any of the following reasons:
- Weight or dimensions changes (Billable Weight)
When a shipment travels through the courier’s sortation system, it will be automatically weighed and measured. If the measurements recorded by the courier are higher than the shipment details input when the shipment was created, the courier will charge an adjustment fee.
To avoid this type of adjustment, please weigh and measure your boxes carefully. Decimal points are allowed for weight, but to ensure the carrier does not add an adjustment, it is recommended to round up.
Be sure to measure even if the dimensions are printed on the box. Sometimes these measurements have been rounded down which will cause adjustments. We recommend measuring these boxes the first time they’re used. - Return to Sender
These often look exactly like billable weight adjustment. Usually, however, the weight is exactly double and the adjustment will be very similar to the cost of the shipment. If a shipment was sent back to your Ship To address for any reason you should expect a return to sender fee. - Incorrect Package Type
This occurs when the packaging type used for a shipment does not match the service selected. For example, if you select a ground service but send the item out in an express pak, the service will be upgraded.
These packaging types (courier branded express pack or envelope ) are always express services so the cost of the shipment is adjusted for the difference between the service selected and the service of the package type used.
- Beyond Delivery Area Surcharge
This charge does not get applied on its own. This charge is calculated as a percentage of the weight of a shipment and varies based on the destination. If there is a billable weight adjustment on a shipment that has a beyond delivery area surcharge, this will also increase as well. - Change of Address
If an address is wrong, the couriers will automatically make an effort to correct the address on a shipment and complete the delivery.
Unit numbers, buzz codes, street type, direction, etc. (no matter how small they may seem) are important parts of addresses. In Calgary, a 5th St. SW intersects with a 5th Ave. SW! - Residential
If a delivery is going to a residential address and the residential option is not selected, the courier will add the charge after the fact. - Re-Delivery Attempts
If a delivery was incomplete because the receiver wasn’t home and the parcel is not left at the door, a second attempt can be requested for a fee. - Duties and Taxes
Duties and Taxes may apply on any international shipment. Many factors including the type of product, the country it was made in, the destination, etc. can affect the amount of duties and taxes.
These are assessed by the destination country. If you select the shipper to pay duties and taxes these will be charged to your credit card as an adjustment. If you select the receiver to pay duties and taxes, these will be collected by the courier directly, usually before the delivery of the parcel can take place.
- Special Handling/Extra Care
Special handling is always at the discretion of the couriers and many different situations can trigger this to happen. If special handling occurs, the shipment is removed from the mechanized sortation system and is transported manually. This is to protect not only the item itself but also other shipments and the courier’s equipment.
Special Handling is not black and white. Clients may say they shipped something before and did not incur special handling. This is likely the case but we can never guarantee it won’t be applied on a shipment.
Note that an adjustment to the weight or dimensions could automatically trigger special handling.
Items Requiring Special Handling
Non-packaged (unboxed)
Objects not fully encased in a suitable shipping container (e.g., tires, pails, articles wrapped in stretch wrap, duffel bags)
Articles which, due to their nature (e.g., size, shape, packaging, contents), are deemed unsuitable for the sorting system (e.g., ball bearings, nuts, bolts and fasteners, liquids, wooden or metal crates)
Heavyweight/Oversized Pieces
Straps or excessive tape
Items wrapped in plastic wrap or shrink wrap
Liquids
Aerosols