Enter Accurate Information to Avoid Adjustments: When purchasing postage, you are required to enter accurate data because it's what the cost of shipping is based on.
You can avoid delays and unexpected charges by being 100% accurate when purchasing your postage, especially with exact dimensions and weights.
Adjustments Come After You Ship: While your package is in transit, USPS will verify that you've purchased the correct amount of postage for your package. They will charge your Pirate Ship account for any differences they notice.
Because of delays in the data, these adjustments can come up to 30 days after the package is delivered.
How the USPS Automated Package Verification (APV) System works
What the APV System Checks For: As part of its Automated Package Verification System, USPS will verify your packages for accurate:
Weight
Dimensions
Service
Package Type
Origin Zipcode
Destination Zipcode
USPS Charges You for Inaccurate Postage: If differences between what you entered when buying the postage and the actual package result in an underpayment or overpayment, they will automatically charge or credit your Pirate Ship account for the difference.
APV will not turn USPS Ground Advantage or weight-based Priority Mail into Priority Mail Cubic
Cubic Rates Don't Get Applied: The USPS APV system does not apply Priority Mail Cubic rates to packages containing postage for another service.
This means that in cases where Priority Mail Cubic would have been cheapest with the "new" dimensions and weight, USPS will essentially penalize you for entering inaccurate details.
For example, if you purchase a USPS Ground Advantage label for a 15.9-ounce package with the dimensions of 7x7x3", but the package is found to actually be 159 ounces, you'll be charged the weight-based Priority Mail rate...even though the dimension-based Priority Mail Cubic rate would have been much cheaper.
This is why it's important to enter accurate sizes & weights when buying postage!
Can I dispute an incorrect APV adjustment?
Dispute an APV Adjustment: To begin a dispute, head to that shipment either by looking up the tracking number or by using the link in the email, and click the “Dispute this adjustment” link.
Here's where to find that on your shipment page:
Reason for the Dispute: When you click this link, a popup will appear asking you to describe why you’re disputing the charge.
For example, you can explain “All my orders weigh 15 ounces with no variation,” or “This was not a Flat Rate Envelope,” to make sure USPS knows what they’re looking for!
Here's how that looks:
Dispute Confirmation: Once the adjustment has been disputed, you’ll see that reflected right on your shipment next to where the carrier adjustment is listed:
Carrier Adjustment Report: The filed dispute will also be shown on your Carrier Adjustment Report so you can keep track of all of your disputes in one place!
Timeline for Disputes: USPS typically takes up to 15 business days to process disputes once they're filed. It's only possible to file disputes up to 60 days after receiving the notification.
Approved Disputes Get Credited to Your Account Balance: Once USPS approves the dispute, your account will be credited for the amount of the adjustment, and Pirate Ship will send you an email letting you know 🙌
This will also be reflected on the shipment page and in your Carrier Adjustment Report.