Did you know an innocent typo can cost you a fortune when it comes to shipping addresses? If you enter the incorrect zip code, swap street numbers accidentally, or drop a digit in the PO Box number you will owe your carrier a fee for fixing the shipping mistake.
Any interruptions in the delivery process can cause delays that negatively impact your customers and your bottom line. If the shipment is undeliverable due to an address mistake, that package might even get shipped back to you at your expense and then you have to send it out again. Let’s take a look at how the two carriers differ in their charges.
What is the UPS address correction fee?
UPS explains its address correction fee saying, “If any shipment has an incorrect or incomplete address, UPS will make reasonable efforts to secure the correct or complete address, and will make available to the shipper the correct address. UPS may also correct or complete an address based on information obtained from the shipper or consignee. An Address Correction charge will be assessed to the shipper for an address correction or completion.”
Basically, if UPS has to complete or correct any address in order to finish delivering the package, then you will find that charge tacked on to your carrier invoice. If UPS sees the ship-to address you entered doesn’t match the corresponding address in the system, the carrier will correct it and send you the bill. The fee for a UPS address correction is $15.90 per package. The Address Correction charge increased by $2.50 in 2018 and the per shipment maximum increased by $20.30. Even if you aren’t a high-volume shipper, doling out $16 dollars per address correction is a steep price to pay for a keystroke error.
What is the FedEx address correction fee?
FedEx is increasing their address correction fee from $14 in 2017 to $15 in 2018 for U.S. express package services; international express package and freight services; and U.S. and international ground services. U.S. express freight services bumped up ten dollars to $80 per correction. The cost to ship continues to climb every year.
How to save on shipping
Of course, there are valid address correction fees when the shipper’s address blunder, impeded the carrier’s delivery process and required extra work. On the other hand, there are invalid address correction fees. An invalid address correction fee could be charged if the shipper typed building instead of unit.
Enlisting the help of a shipment auditing and recovery software will provide you with address correction information. Comprehensive data reports divide refunds by type to show you an accurate view of where refunds are being found. The data can be leveraged to update the shipper’s systems to avoid the same errors in the future. Share A Refund parcel auditing checks for invalid address correction charges and ensures the refund is credited back to your account.
