What is dim-weight?
Dim-weight is the weight shipping companies calculate packages at if they are below the average weight for a package of that size. In other words, this prevents UPS/FedEx/USPS and other freight carriers from losing money on larger boxes which are significantly lighter than a normal package of those dimensions.
Most merchants carry products which are a similar size or weight, but what can you do if your products are oversized or cannot be fit in a standard box size?
When you have set your default box size in the Settings page of Shipping Manager, you will need to go to the UPS website and determine the Dimensional Weight (also known as dim-weight) of these larger items/boxes. Note: The default box size is 10 inches cubed.
You will then compare the dim-weight to the actual weight of the product and enter the heavier of the two. You must use the greater of the physical weight of the box or the dim-weight of the box or you will see significant differences in the estimated and actual shipping charges. It's a good idea to test and confirm that the weight entered for any item's dim-weight applies correctly.
Important: Weights are rounded up to the next pound. If you are trying to provide precise weights for low weight items, you may not be adequately compensating for the weight of the box and causing your charges to be under. You may want to check the package weights for typical combinations of items that are ordered and adjust their weights to be a better match.
Note: Charges calculated in Yahoo Small Business's tools are estimated amounts. It's possible that UPS may add additional charges based on certain factors, such as differences between reported weight/size and fuel surcharges.
Learn how to determine dim-weight.
Other causes of incorrect shipping charges may include:
- An incorrect UPS rate chart being used if the wrong Account Type is set.
- The UPS rate settings are set to Negotiated when it should be set to Published (Standard).
- The Shipping Location setting does not accurately reflect the location from which your orders are being shipped.
As you can see, it's very important to make sure that your UPS settings are set up correctly. These settings can be complex, so please contact your UPS Account Manager for assistance if you're not sure which settings to use. Learn more about your UPS shipping settings.
