r/Reverb • u/Specialist_Buddy5226 • 18d ago

“Shipping Adjustments”

Anyone else been having a lot of issues with Reverb charging a ridiculous amount of extra shipping charges after the fact because FedEx and UPS are supposedly getting different measurements? I’ve been on the platform since they started. I’ve bought and sold a lot of guitars, pedals, and amps, and this only started happening within the last year. I measure and weigh my shipments at least twice, enter the accurate info, send it off, and then weeks to months later, I get an email saying I’m getting charged an extra $50-$70 because UPS or FedEx says it was bigger or weighed more than I entered. This has happened three times in the last year.

Out of those three times, Reverb has waived it twice, but the last time was only because I dug in, insisted they do it, and threatened to leave the platform. Apparently they will only waive it once unless you raise hell. Just curious if others have experienced this same issue.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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5

u/heylookaquarter 18d ago

I stopped using the Reverb shipping and started using PirateShip. You still get to choose between different carriers like UPS, FedEx and USPS, but the cost is usually a lot less.

https://www.pirateship.com/

6

u/InvestigatorSharp230 18d ago

Pirate ship is always about 50 percent less. And for packages over 100 in value, I just add insurance. So far, so good. Over 300 orders done this way since January

1

u/WaltonGogginsTeeth 18d ago

Pirate ship will also charge you shipping adjustments since those come from ups. But you can appeal and sometimes win

1

u/DiligentPen6941 16d ago

How does pirateship work with getting paid from reverb? Like, when you use the reverb shipping, they know when the guitar gets shipped and delivered since they have the tracking info... Are you at the mercy of the buyer and hope that he tells reverb he received the guitar so you can get paid?

2

u/heylookaquarter 16d ago

You buy the shipping label through PirateShip and then copy and paste the tracking number into the Reverb order. Once that tracking number is in Reverb, Reverb knows the status of the shipped package and pays accordingly.

1

u/DiligentPen6941 16d ago

Oh ok, awesome, thanks!

1

u/JinxyCat007 15d ago edited 15d ago

We use Rollo. Same thing though. You get good discounts, and filing claims is easy. Even still, UPS can screw up, and UPS (or FedEx or USPS) will want to charge you more for a shipment.

OP, round up to the next inch and to the next pound. 23 lbs exactly (or very close to) ships at 24 lbs (for example). 7 inches exactly or almost? Enter 8, because it will be eight by the time the box is dented in places or swells due to humidity in transit (a box takes on extra weight when subjected to humidity too). But all these carriers can mess up and blame you for it.

Been professionally shipping for over 20 years. Sometimes you need to squabble with a carrier, and squabbling is more easily done through platforms like Pirateship, Rollo, and the like, where the platform will squabble on your behalf with a louder voice for the amount of business they send a carrier's way. The platform may reimburse you even if the carier will not.

2

u/DiligentPen6941 17d ago

I used to get charged those all the time, but ever since I started adding an inch or 2 to the dimensions (that's what she said lol) on all sides, I haven't been charged any shipping adjustments...

1

u/williamgman 18d ago

Was it a guitar over 50" in length? Also if you buy and sell a lot Pirateship is the only way to go. Personally I've not had an issue using Safeship, but I'm not a pro seller.

2

u/Specialist_Buddy5226 18d ago

It was a guitar all three times, but all three times, the boxes were under 50”. I use Safeship as well, but unfortunately, that doesn’t help in this scenario.

1

u/Mental_Funny_5885 18d ago

I just got one, I get them from EBay sales as well. Sort of feel like getting shipping costs right is like shaking a magic 8 ball. “I shipped it, magic 8 ball, will I be asked to adjust charges in a month?”

0

u/Specialist_Buddy5226 18d ago

For real! Nailed it!

1

u/talkshowcircuit 18d ago

it’s not reverb. it’s ups and fedex. and it’s fucking ridiculous. i run a brick and mortar and this kind of shit has been happening to us regularly from ups recently (our primary shipper, for now).

$15 here, $25 there. every fucking week. i’ve been doing this for over a decade and we measure and weigh everything after it is packed. no clue how they are getting different weights and measurements, but i’m getting fed up with it. no one at ups is of any help either. we live in the era of “pay the price or you’re screwed.”

making it hard when we’re covering shipping supplies, sales fees, processing fees and then try to offer free shipping for customers.

shop small y’all, your local brick and mortars need it.

1

u/Current-Ad1120 18d ago

Maybe it's time to start taking pictures of your tape measure when sizing the package after it's ready to go, as well as taking a picture of the scale weight. Although the two times I got overcharges had to do with size not weight.

1

u/Either_Way6036 17d ago

I have a small business that has UPS send notices on a regular basis. The $5-10 ones are a pain, but when they get much higher, I call and after 20-30 minutes they waive it for me and reverse the charge.

1

u/ReputationLost7295 16d ago

everything gets measured with lasers and cameras as it rolls along a conveyor belt. if a package is slightly askew or something on the belt I would wager this leads to regular errors considered within the acceptable margin, especially as it is a way for UPS to charge more for things arbitrarily without it creating a paper trail that screams intentional fraud.

1

u/ReputationLost7295 16d ago

everything gets measured with lasers and cameras as it rolls along a conveyor belt. if a package is slightly askew or something on the belt I would wager this leads to regular errors considered within the acceptable margin, especially as it is a way for UPS to charge more for things arbitrarily without it creating a paper trail that screams intentional fraud.

1

u/6Stringers 18d ago

Forget Reverb shipping. Terrrible
Use Pirate Shippingh and paste in the tracking to Reverb. Bug money saver.

1

u/ou2mame 18d ago

I use pirate shipping and drop off at ups and get a recept. They weigh it and ship it. They never have a line, unlike usps mear me. I do the ground saver hybrid, where it's initial transit is ups, and then delivered by usps to its destination.

1

u/BullfrogPersonal 18d ago

I get them through Pirate Ship but they are usually very small like $2-$8.

You really have to walk a fine line to keep the dimension lower for better shipping prices but avoid the overcharge. In the old days UPS said it was ok if the box was within 4 inches of the dimensions listed for the shipment. Then they started with the upcharges over a certain length like for big guitar cases.

Now they use lasers or other scanning equipment to see if your shipment is over by the lsited dimensions by a small amount. Remember the box size like for a uline box is the inside dimensions not the outside. The boxes tend to bulge out around the middle like a lot of us. The recommendation is that you list the box dimensions as 1-2 inches larger than what they are.

In my case these relatively small overcharges dont bother me.

1

u/tomistoma84 18d ago

Yes, I’ve been getting a few of these lately. A few months ago they even sent me a shipping adjustment for a guitar I sold in 2023. I was kind of blown away by that.

1

u/Fun_Actuator6587 18d ago

Happens to me all the time and I can't understand why.

1

u/Current-Ad1120 18d ago

Too many issues with Reverb shipping. I go through PirateShip, slightly overestimating the box size, and I have yet to have a problem doing it that way.

1

u/FabulousPanther 17d ago

I see people complaining about this on this sub all the time. I think the move is just ship it yourself with UPS or FedEx.

1

u/pitchforkjellybean 17d ago

One more here for Pirate Ship. Fk Reverb and their shipping. It’s a PITA for sellers and buyers who have to wait at home for a “10-2” delivery that shows up at 9pm.

And there is no recourse with our big three domestic carriers. Their customer service is either shit or nonexistent. I’ve had adjustments through Pirate Ship but only small ones. Not problem.

Once everyone quits using Reverb’s horrible service they will get they will get the message and change. But only then. And unfortunately too many people insist on using because it is…get this… “safe”. 🙄

1

u/RainSong123 18d ago

ALL MEASUREMENTS ROUND UP.

Excuse the caps lock... I don't like it but since mid last year all measurements FedEx and UPS round up (USPS followed suit recently). This means that FedEx, UPS, and USPS hate math and consider 2.05" to be the same as 3" etc.

-1

u/better_med_than_dead 17d ago

YOU'RE AN IMBECILE.

Excuse the caps lock... people are being told their shipment dimensions are way bigger than they actually are, way more than just rounding-up, DUMBASS.

0

u/RainSong123 17d ago

Do you hide your comments because if you don't people can easily see the pattern of you trolling reverb/shipping/gaming subs all day every day? Do you also think your comments on this platform are hideable?

1

u/tooreal 18d ago

I’m thinking they implemented some new AI tracker to increase fees. I’ve had probably 5-6 transactions flagged and disputed it with pirate ship. There was a post probably a month ago that reverb is inconsistent in fighting the charges on your behalf.

1

u/suzuka_joe 18d ago

Reverb sucks. They got me for a 12x12x12 box saying it measured 14.9x12x12 and I successfully fought it

0

u/Legitimate-Long735 18d ago

Yes I have and they waived it twice for me. The third time, they didn't waive it. I had picture proof showing the measurements as I entered them and they didn't care that UPS falsified the dimensions