FedEx Increasing Some Shipping Rates Just In Time For The Holiday Season

People gearing up to ship extra-large packages this holiday season might want to save a few more pennies (or think about buying smaller gifts) before heading to the FedEx store, as the shipping company says it will be increasing some rates starting November 2.

FedEx announced Tuesday that effective Nov. 2, it would increase the surcharges for shipments that exceed the published maximum dimensions – otherwise known as unauthorized packages.

The charge for unauthorized packages will increase from $57.50 per package to $110 per package.

Packages considered to be unauthorized – meaning they measure more than 108 inches in length, 165 inches in length and girth combined or weighing more than 150 pounds – may be refused or returned to the shipper and will be delivered at the option of FedEx Ground.

The company says the increased surcharge is in response to “changing industry demand dynamics, including increases in average package size and weight and increased residential deliveries.”

In addition to the Nov. 2 surcharge change, FedEx announced that it would once again implement an across the board increase in shipping rates effective January 4.

At that time, rates will increase by an average of 4.9% for U.S. domestic, U.S. export and U.S. import services, as well as FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight services.

A full list of the increases can be found on FedEx’s website.

The rate increases are the second for FedEx in the last two years. In June 2014, the company announced changes that took effect in January 2015.

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