To dispute a weight discrepancy charge, identify the affected orders in your settlement report, compare the charged weight with your catalogue and dispatch weight, collect packed-parcel photos, weighing proof and dimensions, then raise a dispute on the seller panel within the window in your agreement. Track each case until the credit appears in a later settlement.
What a weight discrepancy charge is and why it happens
A weight discrepancy charge is an extra shipping fee deducted when the weight recorded by the courier or the marketplace's logistics partner is higher than the weight declared in your catalogue or at dispatch. The difference is billed as additional freight and usually appears as a line in your settlement or shipping fee report, not as a separate invoice.
Common causes:
- Catalogue weight entered without packaging, so the dead weight is understated.
- Volumetric weight (length x breadth x height divided by a courier-specific divisor) exceeding dead weight.
- Wrong weight or slab mapped to a size or colour variant of the same style.
- Measurement error at the hub or a wrong re-weigh entry.
How weight is measured, how slabs work and how long you have to dispute differ by marketplace and logistics partner. Check the logistics clause of your seller agreement and the current rate card, and confirm the latest terms with your account manager.
Gather evidence before you raise a dispute
Disputes are usually won or lost on evidence. Marketplaces will not reverse a charge simply because you say the weight is wrong. Build a pack for each affected order or batch:
- Order and shipment IDs, AWB numbers and the settlement reference where the charge appears.
- Declared versus charged weight taken from your catalogue and the settlement or shipping report.
- Weighing proof: a photo of the packed parcel on a scale with the reading visible, taken before handover.
- Dimensions: a photo of the parcel with a measuring tape, plus your packaging specification.
- Handover proof such as the manifest or pickup scan time, to show the parcel was not altered later.
- Courier weight slip or re-weigh details, if the panel shows them.
If you do not photograph packed parcels today, start with a sample of fast-moving SKUs. Even a standard packed-weight record per SKU helps.
Step-by-step: how to raise the dispute
- Pull the charges. Download the settlement and shipping fee reports for the period and filter for weight-related adjustments.
- Compare against your data. Match each flagged order with your catalogue weight and packaging record. Separate genuine under-declarations from charges you can contest.
- Check the window. Find the dispute timeline in your seller agreement or panel help section. Do not assume it matches another marketplace.
- Raise the case on the seller panel or through your account manager, one ticket per batch where allowed, with the evidence pack attached.
- State the claim clearly: order IDs, declared weight, charged weight, the amount contested and the reason.
- Follow up with the case ID and escalate through your key account manager if the response is generic.
- Confirm the credit. Look for the reversal in a later settlement and mark the case closed only when the money is visible.
Why weight disputes get rejected
| Reason for rejection | What to do |
|---|---|
| No proof of packed weight | Photograph the parcel on a scale before handover, at least for sampled SKUs. |
| Catalogue weight is actually wrong | Accept the charge, correct the catalogue and avoid contesting valid cases. |
| Volumetric weight applies | Check the dimensions and divisor in your agreement or rate card, and resize the packaging if needed. |
| Dispute raised after the window | Set a monthly review calendar so cases are raised well within the allowed period. |
| Vague claim with no order list | Share order-level data with declared and charged weights. |
Reconcile charges against settlements
Weight charges are rarely visible in one place. They sit across order-level shipping fees, return shipping adjustments and settlement deductions. Without reconciliation, you notice them only when the total payout looks low.
A monthly routine works well: match each order's shipping fee to the agreed rate card and your declared weight, flag orders where the charged weight differs, and tag each as disputable, accepted or needing a catalogue fix. Keep a case log with the amount claimed, date raised, status and amount recovered.
MarketplaceMetrics by Fundle reconciles marketplace sales and settlements, checks fees against agreed terms and tracks returns and recovery cases. Myntra Excel reports are reviewed today, and other marketplaces are in scope discussion, so confirm coverage for your channels.
Prevent repeat discrepancies
- Weigh each SKU in its final packaging and update the catalogue, including variants.
- Standardise a few box sizes so volumetric weight is predictable.
- Record packed weight and dimensions for new launches before listing.
- Review the top repeat-offender SKUs every month and fix the root cause.
- Keep a rolling photo archive of packed parcels for disputes.
Returns deserve the same attention. If a charge also appears on the reverse leg, include return AWBs in your evidence pack and check the returns section of your agreement for how reverse weight is treated.
Worked example
Illustrative example only; figures are not real rates. A brand reviews one month's settlement and finds 40 shipments with a weight-related deduction. Assume an illustrative extra charge of ₹35 per shipment, so the total flagged is 40 x ₹35 = ₹1,400.
| Group | Shipments | Illustrative amount | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packed weight proof matches declared weight | 25 | ₹875 | Raise dispute with evidence pack |
| Catalogue weight was understated | 15 | ₹525 | Accept and correct the catalogue |
The brand disputes ₹875, logs the case, and checks the next settlement for the credit. Correcting the catalogue stops the ₹525 from recurring on future orders.
Questions and answers
How long do I have to dispute a weight discrepancy charge?
The window varies by marketplace and logistics partner, so there is no universal number. Check the logistics or shipping clause of your seller agreement and the panel's help section, confirm the latest terms with your account manager, and set a monthly review so you never run close to the limit.
What proof works best in a weight dispute?
Photos of the packed parcel on a scale with the reading visible, a measuring tape photo showing dimensions, your packaging specification and the handover manifest work best. Pair them with order-level data showing declared versus charged weight, so the marketplace can verify each case quickly.
Can I dispute charges in bulk?
Often yes, if the panel or your account manager allows batch tickets, but each order still needs an ID, declared weight, charged weight and evidence. Group cases by cause, such as one SKU or one packaging type, so the reviewer can resolve them together instead of rejecting a vague claim.
How do I know the dispute was actually recovered?
Do not rely on a ticket marked resolved. Look for the reversal as a credit line in a later settlement report, match it to the order IDs you claimed, and record the recovered amount. If it is short or missing, reopen the case with that reference.