When purchasing postage, you are required to enter accurate packaging, dimensions, weight, and address data because it's what the cost of shipping is based on.

While your package is en route, USPS will verify that you've purchased the correct amount of postage for your package. To do this, USPS uses the Automated Package Verification (APV) System, which will automatically charge your Pirate Ship account for any postage owed.

However, not every package goes through these automated machines, and sometimes a local Post Office will notice an underpayment and collect payment the old fashioned way—in person, with your recipient having to pay the difference when they try to pick up the package 😥

Pirate Ship doesn't have any control over this process. Your recipient will need to pay their local Post Office the amount due to receive their package.

Of course, everybody is human and sometimes Post Offices make mistakes. If your recipient paid to receive your package and it doesn't seem right, please chat with our customer support. If possible, having a photo of the receipt showing the amount of the postage paid can help us understand what happened and see if the Post Office made the correct adjustment. We're here to help make things right if we can!

If you don't enter the correct weight and dimensions, UPS packages are also subject to surcharges that you will see reflected in your Pirate Ship account. These charges will appear as adjustments on your individual shipment page. You can keep track of every adjustment you receive in your Reports > Carrier Adjustments.

Learn more about the UPS surcharges you may be subject to on Pirate Ship.

Note: If your international recipient needs to pay in order to collect their package, these are import taxes and customs duties, which are completely different 😉