A FedEx international quote can come back lower than the final charge when the processed shipment includes a special service the quote did not, most often the Broker Select Option. FedEx adds a per-shipment brokerage fee for it, and fuel and other surcharges are recalculated on the final shipment, so a quote of about $31 can bill at about $107.

Problem

A shipment was quoted at one amount (for example about $31) but processed and billed higher (for example about $107). If you reprocess, you get the original lower quote again, so it is not a typing mistake. The gap is one large line, such as a special-service fee, plus smaller fuel and surcharge differences.

Cause

The earlier quote did not include the Broker Select Option; the processed shipment did. The Broker Select Option lets you name your own customs broker, and FedEx charges a per-shipment fee for it (the amount varies by where you ship from and to; the reported case was about $55). Fuel and other surcharges are also recalculated against the final shipment. Together, the brokerage fee and the surcharge differences raise the final charge above the quote. This is a FedEx charge, not a Shipstore rating error.

Fix

  1. Open the quote and the processed shipment and compare the rate breakdown line by line.
  2. Find the largest difference. A single special-service line, such as Broker Select Option, usually explains most of the gap.
  3. Check whether the Broker Select Option is set on the shipment or in the profile International Options. If you do not want it, remove it and re-rate.
  4. Expect fuel and other surcharges to differ between an older quote and the final shipment. Confirm the current fees with FedEx for that lane.
  5. If the lines still do not add up, email support@shipstore.com so support can compare the two rate requests that were sent to FedEx.

What you should see

The special-service line (for example Broker Select Option) accounts for most of the difference from the quote, and re-rating without it returns a charge close to the original quote.

Related articles

  • FedEx Broker Select Option (BSO) and Customs Clearance
  • Incoterms - International Shipping