UPS address correction charges

[TommyBike]

We are having a problem with UPS address correction charges ($5.00 each). Surprisingly, a lot of the address errors are coming from the consumer. They are entering wrong info - usually wrong street number, or st. instead of Rd., or wrong zip code. We have no software that verifies an address. Must be expensive to have such software at the point when the customer enters his info. Not sure how we're going to control this. Anyone have a similar problem?

Tom

[jsinger]

Anyone have a similar problem?

I'd think we all do.

Everything about shipping is costly and getting more so. That's why offering free shipping is ludicrous for many web commerce businesses.

[BananaFish]

Use fedex you can verify the address before you print the label.

[sun818]

Yeah, the UPS WorldShip address verification system is rather pathetic. Fortunately, the order manager software we use validates every shipping address during import. Instead of validating through UPS, it validates in real-time by using the Endicia servers. Endicia makes a software called Dazzle, a desktop program for printing USPS labels. If you get hit with at least three address corrections per month with UPS, the subscription cost to Endicia will pay for itself.

[philbish]

You can stop some of the errors with USPS address verification API's

[usps.com...]

[wingslevel]

yep, the api's are good, but you just have to decide what to do with the data - sometimes a customer will put his address in as "corner of 3rd and Maple" and it'll prompt him to fix it - then we get an abandoned cart - tough call...

[Corey Bryant]

Can you not at least use the AVS from the electronic payment gateway maybe to verify the street number and zip code?

-Corey