Topic 'Re: UPS charge on gift' in forum 'Canadian Chat' - dslreports.com

Re: UPS charge on gift

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 13:06:07 EDT

anon posted : I payed only 15$ and it was because of the change of the custom declaration did by my relative to avoid the 61$ fee.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:34:44 EDT

Tig posted : I'm confused, is the problem that $180 gifts should not be subject to customs charges and UPS clearance fees? If so, take it up the line at UPS.
Did UPS instruct you to present fraudulent customs documentation?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:02:40 EDT

Gone posted :

said by Grappler:

I was being very generic in my description, mostly to show that land movement of an item is where you will pay the high fees. However, thank you so much for the clarification. :)

The stupid thing in all this is that air is handled pretty much the exact same way as far as electronic filing goes. :)

»goo.gl/maps/CSOsT

They're all brokerage companies, including many of the buildings that look like houses. There's also the CBSA commercial building which houses the CBSA commercial offices, truck docks and a bunch of brokerages itself. The street directly to the north of this one has a bunch of brokerage comapnies, too.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 10:52:24 EDT

anon posted : Dealing with UPS customs fees is really easy. When the package show up, say you have your own broker. They will hold the package. Call thems and ask UPS to prepare the form to use your own broker. 1-2 days later, pickup the form go to CBSA office and process the form. I once ordered a pair of shoes and UPS was charging me over 70$ on a 60$ item in brokage fees. CBSA charged me something along the line of pocket change (less than 10$).

Re: UPS charge on gift

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 07:15:38 EDT

Grappler posted : I was being very generic in my description, mostly to show that land movement of an item is where you will pay the high fees. However, thank you so much for the clarification. :)

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:17:02 EDT

Gone posted :

said by Grappler:

However, they only use their own clearance staff if an item is transported by land into Canada and their first Canadian stop has their own office or an office at the crossing: Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Windsor, Sarnia, etc.

The items don't actually stop at the border. Everything is handled electronically and all the brokerage does is pay the CBSA taxes on your behalf. UPS charges an arm and a leg in service fees because they're more or less paying those taxes on your behalf on the intention of eventually collecting them from you plus a tribute for their trouble.

There are brokerage houses here in Fort Erie that are nothing more than an office with two people. The amount of physical work done with goods when crossing the border by the brokerage themselves is extremely limited.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:11:21 EDT

WhaleOilBee posted :

said by mlerner:

said by WhaleOilBee:

Tell me the system isn't slanted to discourage John Q Public from bothering customs agents.

Possibly because the courier companies handle the paperwork electronically and customs likely has it already.

And I guess it also has an electronic jpeg image of the contents of the package for the agent to 'inspect'.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:05:46 EDT

mlerner posted :

said by WhaleOilBee:

Tell me the system isn't slanted to discourage John Q Public from bothering customs agents.

Possibly because the courier companies handle the paperwork electronically and customs likely has it already.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:59:14 EDT

Gone posted :

said by urbanriot:

Intel is the only company I've ever encountered that's done that.

TigerDirect, Newegg and Amazon all do the same thing when something ships out of the US.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:52:40 EDT

WhaleOilBee posted :

said by Tenar:

You can self clear an item with UPS.

Edit: a commercial invoice can just be the receipt from where ever it was bought.

I once tried self-clear at Ottawa airport..... Fill out form at customs. Need to keep asking customs agent for explanations of codes. Drive over to warehouse to get paperwork from shipment. Drive back over to customs with paperwork. Fill out more forms; get release document. Go back to warehouse with release documents to get package. Bring package back to customs unopened. Agent inspects contents to verify if it matches paperwork. Frustrating hour or so of my time.

Meanwhile... UPS driver comes into customs office with a clipboard. Customs agent rubber stamps each page. Says "have a nice day" to UPS guy. 30 seconds of UPS guy's time.

Tell me the system isn't slanted to discourage John Q Public from bothering customs agents.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:11:32 EDT

zod5000 posted :

said by Mont:

said by zod5000:

USPS turns their packages over to Canada Post.

The sender has to declare a value on a sticker they put on the envelope. If it's more than $20 (or $60 if its declared as a gift) Canada Post is SUPPOSED to charge tax on it. I think they charge around $7 (it used to be $5) to determine that amount. So you pay $7ish + your provincial/federal sales tax.

The thing about Canada post is they rarely actually do it. I might get 1 in 10 parcels dinged for tax (I'm not even sure its that high).

Courier companies like FEDEX and UPS have a vested interest to check each package because they charge huge brokerage fees (or have contracts with companies that have huge brokerage fees, who I'm sure kickback a sizable portion of those fees back to them).

USPS to Canada Post probably doesn't have a vested interested in checking every package (nor the manpower). So you've got pretty good odds when you ship this way that your stuff will make it through without fees (but always plan on that it will).

That's the different between couriers and USPS/Canada Post. The brokerage fee (the amount they charge to determine how much tax money you owe) is considerably higher with courier companies. With Canada Post you also run pretty high odds it'll come through without being charged as Canada Post doesn't seem to be all that worried about checking every package.

So a package worth 156$ would cost around 29$ $ if it get charge with USPS/Canada Post ?

I'm not familiar with Quebec sales tax. It would be GST+PST (or HST) plus $8.50 to come through canada post (I was a little off on my $7 dollar estimate). Thats assuming you don't lie on the customer declaration and get reassessed by customs :)

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:42:51 EDT

mlerner posted : FedEx also in my experience is more reliable, never had a problem with them at all. Although always depends on a person's perception, experience or if a company has a discount with a specific courier.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:33:41 EDT

J E F F posted : UPS are rip-off artists, not even sure why anyone would think of using them. Had to mail something to the Montreal:

Canada Post Parcel: $12.50 (4 days)
ExpressPost: $13.50 (1 business day)
FedEx: $12.90 (1 business day)
Purolator: $13.00 (2 days)
UPS: $39 (2-3 days)

I did FedEx simply because it was on my way. FedEx also, as far as I know, doesn't charge crazy custom fee's. I've gotten plenty of stuff from eBay via FedEx, no custom fee's, UPS...usually $20-$60. So I won't buy anything if it is shipped UPS.
USPS also doesn't charge custom fee's. (though that goes to Canada Post)
--
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:10:29 EDT

Last Parade posted :

said by Grappler:

Toronto LPB, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, etc.

Lester Pee Bearston?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:08:40 EDT

Mont posted :

said by zod5000:

So a package worth 156$ would cost around 29$ $ if it get charge with USPS/Canada Post ?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 06:32:33 EDT

Grappler posted : Reference Ontario area only as I do not know the other ports, etc.

Whether it is UPS, Fedex, DHL you will be charged brokerage fees if they have to clear your item themselves, this is their business. However, they only use their own clearance staff if an item is transported by land into Canada and their first Canadian stop has their own office or an office at the crossing: Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Windsor, Sarnia, etc.

If an item is shipped by air and they land at an airport that has a Canada Customs Office then those items will be cleared/inspected by Canada Customs, you will only be charged the Duty and Taxes owing, no brokerage fees, Toronto LPB, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, etc.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:19:15 EDT

Bob posted : Why not just lie and say the value is $40? I doubt they open the packages and check.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:02:07 EDT

zod5000 posted : USPS turns their packages over to Canada Post.

The sender has to declare a value on a sticker they put on the envelope. If it's more than $20 (or $60 if its declared as a gift) Canada Post is SUPPOSED to charge tax on it. I think they charge around $7 (it used to be $5) to determine that amount. So you pay $7ish + your provincial/federal sales tax.

The thing about Canada post is they rarely actually do it. I might get 1 in 10 parcels dinged for tax (I'm not even sure its that high).

Courier companies like FEDEX and UPS have a vested interest to check each package because they charge huge brokerage fees (or have contracts with companies that have huge brokerage fees, who I'm sure kickback a sizable portion of those fees back to them).

USPS to Canada Post probably doesn't have a vested interested in checking every package (nor the manpower). So you've got pretty good odds when you ship this way that your stuff will make it through without fees (but always plan on that it will).

That's the different between couriers and USPS/Canada Post. The brokerage fee (the amount they charge to determine how much tax money you owe) is considerably higher with courier companies. With Canada Post you also run pretty high odds it'll come through without being charged as Canada Post doesn't seem to be all that worried about checking every package.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:14:53 EDT

Mont posted : So if he would have shipped with USPS dsa wouldn't have had the 61$ fee even he declared the same amount ?

I ask this since i had the same issues with fed ex and ups so now i try to avoid them too when it's coming from out of Canada but i noticed that sometime for the same item i didn't pay any fee when it was shipped from USPS.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:57:15 EDT

bt posted :

said by MichelR:

Why should UPS charge me such fees when FedEx don't?

I've had those charges from FedEx as well, though it's been quite some time since I've received anything via either of them.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:31:47 EDT

A Lurker posted :

said by peterboro:

I always ask who a company will ship with and refuse to purchase if it is UPS.

Yep, same here. The first time I got hit with their BS clearing fee (many years back) I emailed the company who had shipped it. I suggested if they wanted to keep their Canadian customers happy they should consider offering options. They do now, and they were nice enough to reimburse me the fee (something I wasn't actually looking for).

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:56:15 EDT

Bob posted : Now you know to have your relatives declare the value at less than C$60 even if it's worth more. Also mail it via the United States Postal Service.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:22:46 EDT

mlerner posted :

said by MichelR:

Why should UPS charge me such fees when FedEx don't?

Because UPS is a private business and they can choose the prices they charge. On top of that, unless otherwise specified, UPS will choose a clearance agent of their choice. Sometimes, if you choose to clear it yourself or use a third party clearance agent, you can get the fee down even further.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 07:12:10 EDT

MichelR posted :

said by peterboro:

I always ask who a company will ship with and refuse to purchase if it is UPS.

Same here. If it's within Canada I may let it go, but not from the U.S. (though I did order a Kindle from Amazon.com and since they handle everything, it wasn't too bad and cheaper as well). Why should UPS charge me such fees when FedEx don't?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:06:34 EDT

anon posted : Called ups again now they tell me a fee of 15$ will have to be charged to an error on the amount declaration. At worst il pay it.

My relative will send the fax letter on to them so we will see.

Thanks for the fed ex form , i found a similar one on the ups website.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:47:23 EDT

Mont posted : Good point.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:36:31 EDT

elwoodblues posted : 0 value, sample, not for resale.. lots of ways around it.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:30:01 EDT

Mont posted : Riplin , it don't seem you could put gift on those invoice or am i wrong ?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:07:49 EDT

Riplin posted : »www.fedex.com/il/shippingguide/invoice.html

many blank ones out there

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:39:50 EDT

elwoodblues posted : I have a vendor in Cali that does it for me.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:12:55 EDT

anon posted : You could put it on your income tax in case you have no choice of paying the fee.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:53:24 EDT

XoX posted :

said by urbanriot:

said by bt:

Fun fact: Shippers can pre-pay the official customs fees (same as what you'd pay to self-clear), and it will show up with no further brokerage costs. I've heard of very few retailers that will do that, though.

Intel is the only company I've ever encountered that's done that.

Amazon does it also since i bought something from them and they added the custom fees... They even reimburse you if the charge is lower. At least they did it once for me after i bought something from them...

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:38:50 EDT

urbanriot posted :

said by bt:

Intel is the only company I've ever encountered that's done that.

said by dsa :

Thank you , refusing the package would mean my relative lose the shipping that he paid with ups ?

Yes, so that's the issue here... refuse the shipment and he ships again, and the total ends up being close to $60 anyhow, or accept the shipment for $60.

The only way you can win here is if he spent less than $20 in shipping, otherwise it's a waste of time and money. There's also the potential that you'll still have your item pass through customs the second time around anyhow...

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:18:50 EDT

anon posted : Tenar , what do you mean by self clear ?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:18:47 EDT

anon posted : Thank you , refusing the package would mean my relative lose the shipping that he paid with ups ?

USPS is charging 30 $ more but i guess they won't charge ?

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:00:58 EDT

Tenar posted : sometimes listed as an expedited import / export

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:48:32 EDT

bt posted :

said by urbanriot:

UPS has their own arbitrary customs fees + you're almost always gauranteed to pass through official custom fees too.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:44:57 EDT

Tenar posted : You can self clear an item with UPS.

Edit: a commercial invoice can just be the receipt from where ever it was bought.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:35:43 EDT

urbanriot posted :

said by elwoodblues:

Refuse the shipment, it'll go back to your relative. Then have them send it USPS, UPS is going to hose you no matter what.

^ What he said. UPS has their own arbitrary customs fees + you're almost always gauranteed to pass through official custom fees too. I decline when that happens and have the person send via USPS.

Like peterboro, I typically won't order low cost goods if they ship with UPS.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:14:55 EDT

peterboro posted : I always ask who a company will ship with and refuse to purchase if it is UPS.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:25:29 EDT

donoreo posted : UPS sucks crossing the border.

Re: UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:20:25 EDT

elwoodblues posted : Refuse the shipment, it'll go back to your relative. Then have them send it USPS, UPS is going to hose you no matter what.

UPS charge on gift

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:09:58 EDT

anon posted : One of my relative in the US sent me a gift via UPS unfortunately and even if he wrote gift , yesterday i got a fee of 61$ , the item was insured for 180$ which is what it the cost of it. So i was told to refuse the package in order to contest the charge so that is what i need but now they a my relative to send a commercial invoice written gift on it with a value of less than 60$ Canadian.

Now the issue is that my relative is not a company so how can he make a commercial invoice.

Anybody know's what can be done ?