What Is a Postage Adjustment?
A postage adjustment occurs when a carrier re-weighs or re-measures your package and finds a discrepancy between the dimensions you entered at label creation and the actual package. The carrier bills the difference between the original postage and what should have been charged — this charge is called a postage adjustment.
Adjustments are a standard part of how carriers operate. Every major carrier audits a portion of packages that pass through their network, and any mismatch between declared and actual measurements triggers an automatic correction.
Why Do Adjustments Happen?
Postage adjustments are triggered when the actual package does not match what was declared. Common causes include:
- Inaccurate weight — the package weighs more than the weight entered when purchasing the label
- Incorrect dimensions — the length, width, or height of the package differs from what was entered
- Dimensional weight exceeding actual weight — carriers calculate dimensional weight (based on package size) and charge whichever is higher, actual or dimensional
- Address classification — the carrier determines that the delivery address is residential rather than commercial, or that the address needed correction
Common adjustment types
| Adjustment type | What it means | Typical cause |
|---|
| Weight adjustment | Carrier weighed the package higher than declared | Scale not calibrated, packaging material weight not included |
| Dimensional weight adjustment | Carrier measured dimensions that result in a higher DIM weight | Box too large for the item, dimensions entered incorrectly |
| Address correction surcharge | Carrier corrected the delivery address | Incomplete or incorrect address entered at label creation |
| Residential delivery surcharge | Carrier classified the delivery as residential | Address flagged as residential by carrier database |
| Fuel surcharge | Periodic carrier fuel surcharge applied | Standard carrier practice — varies by fuel cost index |
When adjustments appear
Adjustments typically appear 7 to 21 days after delivery, depending on the carrier and the volume of packages being audited. Some carriers process adjustments in weekly batches, while others may take longer during peak shipping seasons.
When an adjustment is applied, it is deducted automatically from your wallet balance. You will see a line item in your transaction history showing the adjustment amount, the shipment it relates to, and the reason provided by the carrier.
Handling Fees
Some postage adjustments include a carrier handling fee on top of the postage difference. This fee is charged by the carrier as a penalty for the discrepancy and is passed through to your Stallion account.
The handling fee amount varies by carrier and the size of the discrepancy. Repeated adjustments on the same account may result in higher handling fees over time, as some carriers escalate penalties for accounts with frequent mismatches.
How to Avoid Adjustments
The best way to avoid postage adjustments is to measure accurately every time:
- Use a calibrated scale for every shipment — do not estimate weight
- Use a connected scale for automatic weight capture, which removes the risk of manual entry errors
- Measure all three dimensions (length, width, height) of the actual package, not the product inside
- Save box presets with accurate dimensions in your Stallion account so you can select them at label creation instead of typing measurements manually each time
- For irregular shapes, measure the longest point of each dimension — carriers measure the furthest extents of the package, not the average
- When in doubt, round up — it is better to overpay slightly at label creation than to receive an adjustment with a handling fee later
- Account for packaging materials — tape, bubble wrap, and filler add weight and size
How to dispute an adjustment
If you believe an adjustment was applied incorrectly, you can request a review through Stallion support. To file a dispute:
- Locate the adjustment in your transaction history and note the shipment ID and the adjustment amount
- Gather your evidence — photos of the package on the scale, dimension measurements, or any other documentation that supports the weight and dimensions you originally declared
- Contact Stallion support with the shipment ID, adjustment amount, and your evidence
The support team will review your case and, if the evidence supports your claim, file a dispute with the carrier on your behalf. Carrier dispute resolution can take 2 to 4 weeks depending on the carrier's review process. You will be notified of the outcome once a decision is reached.
Good to know: Postage adjustments are billed to your Stallion account and deducted from your credit balance. Keep your balance topped up to avoid interruptions to your shipping.
