The quoted shipping fee for international express was 100 yuan, but the final bill was 150 yuan? The extra money is most likely...Additional fee.
Remote area fees, fuel surcharges, extra length fees, extra weight fees, residential delivery fees, address change fees... If you don't understand these before shipping, you'll be shocked when the bill arrives. This article lists the surcharges of FedEx, UPS, and DHL.
Remote Area Surcharge: The Most Common Pitfall
If the delivery address is classified as a "remote area" by the courier company, a remote area fee will be charged. You can check this before the shipment is sent, but many people don't know this until the bill arrives.
FedEx remote area fee
FedEx categorizes remote areas into three tiers: A, B, and C.
| grade | unit price | Minimum charge |
|---|---|---|
| Grade A | Fee based on ticket | 23 yuan/ticket |
| Grade B | 3.9 yuan/kg | 171 yuan/ticket |
| Class C | 5.1 yuan/kg | 222 yuan/ticket |
The unit price multiplied by the chargeable weight is compared with the minimum charge; whichever is higher is charged.
Sending 10kg to a remote area (Level B): 3.9 × 10 = 39 yuan, which is lower than the minimum charge of 171 yuan, so we charge 171 yuan.
UPS remote area fee
UPS is divided into standard remote and ultra-remote:
| type | unit price | Minimum charge |
|---|---|---|
| ordinary remote | 3.7 yuan/kg | 174.8 yuan/ticket |
| Extremely remote | 4.2 yuan/kg | 197.7 yuan/ticket |
DHL remote area fee
DHL does not differentiate between grades; there is only one standard: 4 yuan/kg, with a minimum of 200 yuan/shipment.
Sending 10kg to a remote area will cost at least 200 yuan. The remote area fee will be increased by the fuel surcharge.
Tips to avoid pitfalls:Check if the address is remote before shipping:https://exp.czl.net/remote
Overlength and overweight surcharge
If a package is too big or too heavy, the courier company will charge extra.
FedEx
Basic surcharge: 195 yuan/pieceIf any one of these conditions is met, the payment will be received.
- The longest side exceeds 121cm
- The second longest side exceeds 76cm
- The actual weight of a single piece exceeds 25kg
- The circumference (length + 2 × width + 2 × height) exceeds 266cm
- Its volume weight exceeds 33.9 kg.
Oversized shipment fee: 516 yuan/piece:
- The longest side exceeds 243cm
- Circumference exceeding 330cm
- The actual weight exceeds 50kg
These two items can be combined. A long and heavy package might cost 195 + 516 = 711 yuan.
ups
Additional service fee: 142.8 yuan/item:
- The longest side exceeds 122cm
- The second longest side exceeds 76cm
- The actual weight of a single piece exceeds 25kg
- Irregularly shaped packaging
Large parcel surcharge: 514 yuan/piece: Circumference exceeding 300cm (but not exceeding 400cm)
Large parcel fees and additional service fees are not combined; only one fee is charged. The minimum chargeable weight is 40kg.
DHL
DHL is relatively simple:
- Extra length fee: 155 yuan/pieceThe longest side exceeds 100cm, or the second longest side exceeds 80cm.
- Overweight fee: 840 yuan/pieceSingle item weighing over 70kg
- Unable to be moved, fee is 155 yuan/piece.25-70kg per piece
Excess length and excess weight are not cumulative; the higher one is taken.
Other common surcharges
Residential delivery fee
Sending to a private address (not a company address) will incur an additional charge.
- FedEx: 24 RMB/shipment (USA, Canada)
- UPS: 25 yuan/ticket
DHL does not have a separate residential fee.
Address change fee
The address was entered incorrectly, and the courier company will charge a fee for correcting it.
- FedEx: 83 yuan/ticket
- UPS: 86.3 yuan/item, maximum 331.2 yuan per shipment.
- DHL: 87 yuan/shipment
Spending just one minute checking the address before shipping can save you this money.
Customs clearance related fees
UPS charges a customs inspection fee of 158 yuan per shipment. This fee is unavoidable if customs inspects your goods.
UPS customs clearance information modification fee: 410 RMB/shipment. A fee will be charged if incorrect declaration information needs to be corrected.
High-risk area surcharge (DHL)
For shipments to war-torn or high-risk countries, DHL will charge an additional 230 RMB per shipment. These include countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen.
Let's do the math
The package, shipped via FedEx to the United States, measures 130×50×40cm and weighs 15kg. The delivery address is a residential address in a remote Class B area.
- Remoteness Fee3.9 × 15 = 58.5 yuan, which is lower than the minimum charge of 171 yuan, so 171 yuan will be charged.
- Extra length feeThe longest side is 130cm > 121cm, so the price is 195 yuan.
- Housing fee24 yuan
- fuel costsAssuming the current month's revenue is 28%, the sum of the above three items multiplied by 28% equals 28%.
Total surcharges: 171 + 195 + 24 = 390 yuan, plus fuel surcharge. The shipping cost is probably only around 200 yuan, so the surcharges are almost as much as the shipping cost.
How do I check the additional fees?
- Additional Fee Inquiry:https://exp.czl.net/surcharges
- Remote address lookup:https://exp.czl.net/remote
- Shipping cost inquiry:https://exp.czl.net/fee
Tips for avoiding pitfalls
- Remoteness FeeCheck the address before shipping; change the address if possible.
- Excess length and weight feesPackaging should be as compact as possible, controlling size and weight.
- Housing feeIf you can send the company address, then send the company address.
- Address change feeVerify address before shipping.
If you include these costs in the quote, there won't be any surprises during settlement.