48″ Drop Pin Crates Costly to Ship - Consider Fold & Carry Instead
October 23rd, 2006
I recently became aware of the fact that both 48″ drop-pin dog crates ship oversize 3 due to box size. Models affected are Better Buy 1048 and Starter Series 1148. The same crates in fold & carry versions (models 1248 & 1648) ship oversize 2. The difference in shipping charges between the two is substantial - usually in the $50.00 range. So unless you are dead set on the drop-pin style, the fold and carry crates are by far the better buy when shipping cost is considered.
I suppose this will teach me to read the fine print. Fedex ground regulations indicate that any package over 130″ length/girth will ship oversize 3. The package for the models in question measure a total of 129.75″ length/girth so I had the website setup to calculate these as oversize 2. Noting that I was being charged more by fedex for the shipments than the website was calculating, I questioned why. What is not clearly noted in the regulations but in the fine print under fedex’s terms and conditions is the fact that fedex rounds measurements that are a fraction of an inch. The result is they bill a 129.75″ package as a 131″ package. I think it would be easy for them to indicate this on their size requirements page but they do not. I had to search long and hard to find the reference to the fact that measurements are rounded. Considering the fact that shipping cost differences between the two are significant ($30 upcharge for os 3 and billable weight goes to 90 lbs), I really think it inexcusable that a company this large does not make this information clear or readily available.
There - I’ll get off the soap box and will probably hear from my fedex rep. now 
Entry Filed under: Pet Crates Direct News
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