UPS brokerage costs
03-18-2003 | 01:56 PM
#1
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Toronto
UPS brokerage costs
Just got a delivery slip from UPS today for a $20 item shipped from the U.S. to Canada. UPS wants another $61 to cover their brokerage costs (most of that amount) and taxes!
Just a note for Canadians buying from the US on eBay, make sure your shipper is using US mail, not UPS. With US mail, you don't pay brokerage costs. Not sure what other shippers do, but I've only had this problem with UPS.
Just a note for Canadians buying from the US on eBay, make sure your shipper is using US mail, not UPS. With US mail, you don't pay brokerage costs. Not sure what other shippers do, but I've only had this problem with UPS.
03-18-2003 | 02:07 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,155
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From: Canada, Vancouver area
Just a comment:
US mail (actually it is Canad mail, I think) also charges a "form preparation fee", in addtion to GST/PST, when the package goes to Canada. I know from experience... The bill may arrive a few weeks later though. These fees are quite a rip-off in my opinion, as they increase with the overall value of the package. Shouldn't "form preparation fee" be a flat-value fee?. Afterall, they spend the same amount of time doing it for a $5 or $500 order.
I'm not aware of a way to beat the system, unless the package has no monetary value (a gift, etc.), but commercial vendors won't mark it as such.
Stan
US mail (actually it is Canad mail, I think) also charges a "form preparation fee", in addtion to GST/PST, when the package goes to Canada. I know from experience... The bill may arrive a few weeks later though. These fees are quite a rip-off in my opinion, as they increase with the overall value of the package. Shouldn't "form preparation fee" be a flat-value fee?. Afterall, they spend the same amount of time doing it for a $5 or $500 order.
I'm not aware of a way to beat the system, unless the package has no monetary value (a gift, etc.), but commercial vendors won't mark it as such.
Stan
03-18-2003 | 02:09 PM
#3
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Nordschleife Master
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From: Toronto
That's Canada Customs that charges for taxing you, go figure. But with UPS you have to pay a brokerage fee on top of that! I'm surprised they don't pass it around to a few other organizations while they're at it.
03-18-2003 | 02:10 PM
#4
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From: A great big building in the woods, FL.
US mail works the best for all out of country shipping. At least on my end. I just shipped someone in Belgium the other week. Cost me $9 and it got there in 4 days. You cant beat that.
03-18-2003 | 02:12 PM
#5
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From: Kansas City
I have shipped a few things to Canada. As long as the seller and buyer agree that no insurance will be purchased, and a declared value is less than $10, you can avoid the brokerage cost.
The down side is that if it gets damaged or lost, your out of luck.
The down side is that if it gets damaged or lost, your out of luck.
03-18-2003 | 02:19 PM
#6
Nordschleife Master
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From: Minneapolis, USA
FedEx Ground does the same thing, but not quite as bad. Up to $20, no brokarage fee, then it starts going up on a sliding scale. At $5000 it has reached $54.
US Mail isn't so bad for small packages but when you get larger and heavier their base shipping rates are higher.
US Mail isn't so bad for small packages but when you get larger and heavier their base shipping rates are higher.
03-18-2003 | 02:55 PM
#7
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2001
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From: Asheville,NC (Don't move here!!!)
Not exactly Porsche parts, but I neededed to buy a $3.50 US plumbing fitting from Home & Park (the Canadian co. that does the Roadtrek RV conversion on Dodge vans). They only sell parts thru their dealers. The 'local' NC dealer (still 2 hrs. away) claimed that shipping to me (drop ship from H&P, bill thru the dealer) would be over $20.00 US.
Fortunately, I found a catalog that carries dam' near _everything_ you'd ever need to build an RV from scratch, including the particular fitting I needed. I got it from their warehouse in PA. for normal UPS ground costs.
If any of y'all ever need RV-specific hardware, appliances, or accessories, call Coast Distributing at 1-800-876-1627. They're a PITA to get on the phone, but they've got it all. Catalog is ~$5.00; shipping is quick, and they get it right.
Jim, gone downstairs now to put a new anode in the RV water heater... from Coast, of course!
Fortunately, I found a catalog that carries dam' near _everything_ you'd ever need to build an RV from scratch, including the particular fitting I needed. I got it from their warehouse in PA. for normal UPS ground costs.
If any of y'all ever need RV-specific hardware, appliances, or accessories, call Coast Distributing at 1-800-876-1627. They're a PITA to get on the phone, but they've got it all. Catalog is ~$5.00; shipping is quick, and they get it right.
Jim, gone downstairs now to put a new anode in the RV water heater... from Coast, of course!
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03-18-2003 | 04:34 PM
#8
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From: Canada
UPS sucks. The delivery boy hates coming to me because I shoot the messenger every time.
Thank God I have a friend in the US that is willing to accept my items and bring them up once in awhile.
USPS is the way to go. Some sellers in the US won't use the USPS because they have to drive down to the Post Office to have it delivered.
Thank God I have a friend in the US that is willing to accept my items and bring them up once in awhile.
USPS is the way to go. Some sellers in the US won't use the USPS because they have to drive down to the Post Office to have it delivered.
03-18-2003 | 05:47 PM
#9
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From: Ottawa, ON
I agree, UPS sucks for international shipping. Fedex rocks. Ordered some parts from paragon and got them the day after! Just lucky with timing I guess.
DHL works very fast and no hidden brokerage fees.
When I got my wheels from the US, UPS charged me another USD 200 PLUS the shipping costs... #@&$%*
DHL works very fast and no hidden brokerage fees.
When I got my wheels from the US, UPS charged me another USD 200 PLUS the shipping costs... #@&$%*
03-18-2003 | 09:36 PM
#12
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Nordschleife Master
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From: Toronto
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Mike B:
<strong>
It's almost to the point for me that if a seller only uses UPS I shop elsewhere...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Me too, I forgot to check this time. Another expensive lesson...
<strong>
It's almost to the point for me that if a seller only uses UPS I shop elsewhere...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Me too, I forgot to check this time. Another expensive lesson...
03-18-2003 | 09:52 PM
#13
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,598
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From: San Juan, PR
same here... I get charged 2nd day almost always, benefits of living in PR <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> , and it arrives the 2nd week ALWAYS. USPS takes a week or less and they don't charge taxes or nothing. They are really underrated IMO