First Problem With Pirate Shipping

[Kickin' Chicken]

I have been loving the inexpensive shipping using Pirate who most know utilizes UPS and USPS at a deep discount that is passed to us end users.

I shipped a cue from CT to NC in mid Dec and it was under $10 and made it safely, done deal.

Not so fast...

This morning I received three emails saying I am being charged an add'l $22 for handling surcharges and peak seasoon surcharge. And oh yeah, something called a "Non Corrugated" surcharge, too. FYI, it waqs shipped in a cardboard tube. WTH Feels like a bait and switch money grab to me.

Here's the breakdown.

UPS® Ground
$100 carrier liability (File claim)Estimated Delivery 12/18/2024 by 11:00 PM if shipped on 12/16/2024
UPS adjusted your shipment on Wednesday, 01/08/2025:
Additional Handling was added
Peak Surcharge - Additional Handling was added
UPS added notes:
Additional Handling-Non-corrugated
Demand Surcharge-Addl Handling-Non-corrugated
Adjustment disputed on Wednesday, 01/08/2025, pending UPS approval
Dispute this adjustment
$8.69
Peak Season
$0.50
Additional Handling
$0.00 $12.95
Peak Surcharge - Additional Handling
$0.00 $9.95
Total Cost
$9.19 $32.09
Ship Date
This is the date the carrier is expecting your package. If you’re shipping after this date, click the to understand your options

Saturday, 12/14/2024
Email Recipients
No Email Address set

 

[Zerksies]

More to me looks like UPS is being the D bag in this one as ususal. I've had them pull that crap on me several times.

At work i had to send something out to another busniess and they tried wacking me with a residential address charge claming that the delivery was a house and didn't have a forklift.

 

[Bob Jewett]

It's possible that PirateShip did not have the holiday additional charge programmed. I really doubt that they were intentionally screwing with you. I suspect the problem is either miscommunication and/or with UPS.

Yeah, what do they mean by non-corrugated? Did you have plastic or metal ends on the tube? Maybe their actual complaint was that it was a round tube. Can you take an identical package into a real UPS location (not one of the Mom-and-Pop UPS stores) to get some info?

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

It's possible that PirateShip did not have the holiday additional charge programmed. I really doubt that they were intentionally screwing with you. I suspect the problem is either miscommunication and/or with UPS.

Yeah, what do they mean by non-corrugated? Did you have plastic or metal ends on the tube? Maybe their actual complaint was that it was a round tube. Can you take an identical package into a real UPS location (not one of the Mom-and-Pop UPS stores) to get some info?

UPS is the culprit and the "Peak season surcharge" runs for about a month ending Jan 18th. It is a money grab.

The non corrugated cardboard surcharge is a new one on me. My tube was round cardboard and while maybe not corrugated, I've shipped many thru UPS and never such a surcharge. To me, another moneygrab.

 

[jay helfert]

I have been loving the inexpensive shipping using Pirate who most know utilizes UPS and USPS at a deep discount that is passed to us end users.

I shipped a cue from CT to NC in mid Dec and it was under $10 and made it safely, done deal.

Not so fast...

This morning I received three emails saying I am being charged an add'l $22 for handling surcharges and peak seasoon surcharge. And oh yeah, something called a "Non Corrugated" surcharge, too. FYI, it waqs shipped in a cardboard tube. WTH Feels like a bait and switch money grab to me.

Here's the breakdown.

UPS® Ground
$100 carrier liability (File claim)Estimated Delivery 12/18/2024 by 11:00 PM if shipped on 12/16/2024
UPS adjusted your shipment on Wednesday, 01/08/2025:
Additional Handling was added
Peak Surcharge - Additional Handling was added
UPS added notes:
Additional Handling-Non-corrugated
Demand Surcharge-Addl Handling-Non-corrugated
Adjustment disputed on Wednesday, 01/08/2025, pending UPS approval
Dispute this adjustment
$8.69
Peak Season
$0.50
Additional Handling
$0.00 $12.95
Peak Surcharge - Additional Handling
$0.00 $9.95
Total Cost
$9.19 $32.09
Ship Date
This is the date the carrier is expecting your package. If you’re shipping after this date, click the to understand your options
Saturday, 12/14/2024
Email Recipients
No Email Address set

I've had better luck all the way around with Fedex. All shipments went smooth and easy and typically arrived earlier than expected. Made me forget about ever shipping with USPS again. They are real scammers, will sell you a packing carton to use and then tell you it's oversized and charge you extra for using it!

 

[iusedtoberich]

I've had better luck all the way around with Fedex. All shipments went smooth and easy and typically arrived earlier than expected. Made me forget about ever shipping with USPS again. They are real scammers, will sell you a packing carton to use and then tell you it's oversized and charge you extra for using it!

FedEx is the gold standard. Many businesses use them for that reason. They also give steep discounts to big corporations. I used to ship a huge rubbermaid tote filled with tools from Atlanta to Philadelphia for $6 and back, several times per year, (commercial office to commercial office) around the years 2010-2015.

For small business or consumers, the price is just too much higher than UPS or USPS to use, IMO. I'd prob only use FedEx as a consumer if I was shipping a high end custom cue.

 

[7stud]

I shipped a cue from CT to NC in mid Dec and it was under $10 and made it safely, done deal.

It doesn't sound like you use Shipsurance. One reason I like Pirateship is that they have their own package insurance called Shipsurance, and when you buy it, UPS/USPS cannot see that the package is insured. In the past, Jay Helfert has posted that he doesn't insure packages because he is afraid an insured package will be targeted for theft by the carrier's employees. Well, with Shipsurance you are insured, but as far as I can tell UPS/USPS cannot see that the package is insured. When I look at the package info that UPS/USPS provides after I've paid for Shipsurance, it does not show that the package is insured.

 

[Buckzapper]

Here at the Post Office, we check packages from custom cue makers. We have a 6 man league team and we've all acquired pretty nice cues that had loose labels on the box and tape that was peeling off. Once a box is unidentified, we have to open it and make a decision. My, what nice shiny cues they send from the factory. We had a surveillance camera, but a wire got pulled loose and it doesn't work. The guys that work nights all have nice cues and cases too. If you have any problems wondering where your package is, call 1-800 BOX LOST. Stay on the line. Your call is very important to us.

 

[maha]

never ship a round tube. pay the extra ten or twenty bucks and use a larger rectangular box.
rod tubes get rolled around and easily lost or stolen. and most know they are more likely to have cue sticks or fishing rods of value in them if heavier than maps.

and dont ship around holidays. you are asking for higher rates which should be, and lost packages as over worked and weekend hires are handling your stuff.

i use usps as they are federal employees and have more to lose if they do something illegal.

 

[mikemosconi]

After 20+ years ,I have settled on Fed Ex for all cue shipments. Their tracking is far superior and they move items with less transfers than UPS. Forget the post office!

Only thing is round tubes are surcharged so put them in a free USPS large priority mailing triangle- Fed Ex will take it!

Opening a Fed Ex account and using a QR code at their drop off sites is the best cost option on Fed Ex Ground - you are in and out in 3 minutes!! My last trip to the USPS was a 20 minute wait for all the unprepared shippers showing up at their windows.

 

[garczar]

UPS is the culprit and the "Peak season surcharge" runs for about a month ending Jan 18th. It is a money grab.

The non corrugated cardboard surcharge is a new one on me. My tube was round cardboard and while maybe not corrugated, I've shipped many thru UPS and never such a surcharge. To me, another moneygrab.

Those assholes tried to charge me a 'gravel road fee' one time 'cause the cuemaker's driveway was about 1/8mi of gravel. total f^&kery imo.

 

[thepavlos]

UPS once tried to charge me a "warehouse fee" I called them and explained they were contracted to ship my item NOT let it sit around, they removed the "fee"

 

[crabbcatjohn]

Fed Ex is by far the best shipping service in every way. But you pay for it... I get a 30% discount through Fed Ex. With my discount my average package cost is 130.00.
Same box is around 90 bucks using pirate ship. Bad news is large boxes like mine they use UPS. UPS is by far the worse shipping service in every way.
The guy who ran UPS in the ground runs the USPS now....lol

That being said, smaller packages like expensive cues are only like 5 or 10 bucks more using Fed Ex. I would 100% ship a cue with Fed Ex. Touches less hands, much better tracking for you and your customers and your stuff gets there fast and in one piece...JMO

 

[Texas Carom Club]

ive been using pirate ship for the last 2 years, hasnt happened to me yet
what i and people i sell to dont like is the usps not updating the tracking alot of the times until its out for delivery.
8/10 of the last packages i sent went this way
with one guy getting upset and making a paypal claim against me

 

[ChrisinNC]

I have been loving the inexpensive shipping using Pirate who most know utilizes UPS and USPS at a deep discount that is passed to us end users.

I shipped a cue from CT to NC in mid Dec and it was under $10 and made it safely, done deal.

Not so fast...

This morning I received three emails saying I am being charged an add'l $22 for handling surcharges and peak seasoon surcharge. And oh yeah, something called a "Non Corrugated" surcharge, too. FYI, it waqs shipped in a cardboard tube. WTH Feels like a bait and switch money grab to me.

Here's the breakdown.

UPS® Ground
$100 carrier liability (File claim)Estimated Delivery 12/18/2024 by 11:00 PM if shipped on 12/16/2024
UPS adjusted your shipment on Wednesday, 01/08/2025:
Additional Handling was added
Peak Surcharge - Additional Handling was added
UPS added notes:
Additional Handling-Non-corrugated
Demand Surcharge-Addl Handling-Non-corrugated
Adjustment disputed on Wednesday, 01/08/2025, pending UPS approval
Dispute this adjustment
$8.69
Peak Season
$0.50
Additional Handling
$0.00 $12.95
Peak Surcharge - Additional Handling
$0.00 $9.95
Total Cost
$9.19 $32.09
Ship Date
This is the date the carrier is expecting your package. If you’re shipping after this date, click the to understand your options
Saturday, 12/14/2024
Email Recipients
No Email Address set

FYI, In the past, I’ve received surcharges from both FedEx and UPS when shipping tubes, so I learned my lesson. Apparently tubes can roll off the conveyor belts so they are not permitted without a potential surcharge being added.

 

[td873]

Yeah. Sucks. But PirateShip isn't the issue. They just pass along whatever the carrier decides to do.

I've had something like this happen for international shipments. It sucks to get a "SURPRISE! You owe us money" email. [Well, actually, "we took some more money!"]

-td

 

[garczar]

FYI, In the past, I’ve received surcharges from both FedEx and UPS when shipping tubes, so I learned my lesson. Apparently tubes can roll off the conveyor belts so they are not permitted without a potential surcharge being added.

Likely excuse. Its just more f^&kery by the shippers.

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

Fed Ex is by far the best shipping service in every way. But you pay for it... I get a 30% discount through Fed Ex. With my discount my average package cost is 130.00.
Same box is around 90 bucks using pirate ship. Bad news is large boxes like mine they use UPS. UPS is by far the worse shipping service in every way.
The guy who ran UPS in the ground runs the USPS now....lol

That being said, smaller packages like expensive cues are only like 5 or 10 bucks more using Fed Ex. I would 100% ship a cue with Fed Ex. Touches less hands, much better tracking for you and your customers and your stuff gets there fast and in one piece...JMO

Respectfully, I am detecting a contradiction in the first 4 sentences highlited in blue, above.

 

[crabbcatjohn]

Respectfully, I am detecting a contradiction in the first 4 sentences highlited in blue, above.

I am a living contradiction

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

I am a living contradiction

and a better (richer?) man than me.

Were you really saying that Fedex has you paying on average around $130 per package, and was that for cue shipping?