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Shipping With UPS From The States - BEWARE!

It seems more and more Canadian shoppers are finding out what you did the hard way. Go FedEx if you can, the extra money is worth it.

I figured that out the hard way too, but, I didn't know FEDEX didn't charge that fee.

FedEx treats duty fees differently. UPS charges their inflated brokerage fee to cover any duties. Not to mention that FedEx treats their packages better and almost NEVER screws up.

There was a story in another forum on this site where a case shipped via UPS was impaled by a forklift, and crushed on all four corners.

I just upgraded my raytracing software, Vue D'Esprit. It cost me $99.00 USA, plus a $20.00 shipping fee. I thought not too bad until UPS delivered it to my door with a brokerage fee of $59.00 !

reply to kaybertoss
I received an exuberant "brokage" fee from UPS on the shipping of second-hand computer parts back in the early 90's. They also charged PST/GST on the brokage. This was all ON TOP of the shipping I already paid for.

Needless to say I was digusted by it and almost never used them again. Postal mail has worked great as an alternative.

Incidentally, you can get the brokage fee waived by requesting (in advance) that you want to head out to the airport and file all the custom papers yourself. In my experience they just do it themselves, ignoring the request, but waive the charge simply because of your request. Another thing that works is stating a low dollar fee on packages, but that can screw up insurance.

How is AirBorne Express btw? I have a hardisk being RMA'ed back from the States by them, and I'm worried about brokage.

reply to kaybertoss
You'll get those fees with USPS too, unless it's being sent via priority mail. Basically if it's not being sent priority, there's a large chance Canadian customs will seize the package and charge PST/GST + $5.00 handling fee.

If FedEx/priority mail is too expensive, I'd suggest having the items sent to a friend/family in the US, then have them send it to you. If a package is coming from an individual instead of a company, there's less risk of being charged, and even if you are charged, getting a refund from Canada Post isn't too difficult. As long as it's from a private home.

reply to kaybertoss
if you live close to the US border, there are many post offices/private places that will be the reciever of your package for a very modest fee.

there's one at point roberts (30 mins from vancouver) that charges 2 dollars for the first 25 pounds parcel (a dollar more per 25 pound i believes) and 75 cents if they call you when the parcel arrives.

just drive it across the slack CDN border and there you go, no duties, no extra shipping charges, no taxes, no tie ups at the border (unless of course you are stupid and get pulled over!)
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i gave up my 5000/480, then 128/64 connection because it had a 6/2 limit. cruised the summer on a 2500/128 videotron line, and a month on a 44/30 line. now back on shaw, a 2300/480 a connection that i can't really use...

reply to kaybertoss
AMEN!!!!!!!!! UPS is the biggest pile of trash this side of the Atlantic. I've been ripped many times, I wonder why people would still insist on shipping with them? USPS delivered the other day to me and it was quick, and !free!(actual shipping costs aside). Also, for shits and giggles sound out the letters of their acronym, its OOPS! No kidding...

Concur, Im A VAR for ZyXEL, and I specifically tell them, sure send me that DEMO only if its Fedex International Economy, forget it if you want to send by UPS........
For a non-sellable item, test-drive item I paid over $50....... definitely a ripoff.
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Learn to laugh at yourself before laughing at others!

reply to IIgs

said by IIgs:

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How is AirBorne Express btw? I have a hardisk being RMA'ed back from the States by them, and I'm worried about brokage.

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reply to IIgs
you shouldn't be charged anything as its not something you are purchasing, rather a replacement of something you already bought and paid taxes on. As long as the shipper designates that, you will be all good.
[text was edited by author 2003-05-25 22:28:52]

reply to 72245156

said by 72245156:

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said by IIgs:

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How is AirBorne Express btw? I have a hardisk being RMA'ed back from the States by them, and I'm worried about brokage.

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What make of Hard Drive? I RMA'd a Maxtor drive which took 4 days of which only one was spent being shipped here from Texas via UPS. In this case Maxtor covered everything though.

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said by IIgs:

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I don't think Airborne Express will be delivering it though, it probably gets passed onto Purolator or another Canadian shipping company.

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reply to kaybertoss

reply to kaybertoss
Use this company. They deal with Canadians via Borderfree so you won't have nasty surprises..

»www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.···o=445222

You need to click on the 'Canadians' button. They have sweet countdown deals.

»www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/countdo···ault.asp

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Ma ma ma weer all crazee now!!!

[text was edited by author 2003-05-26 07:00:38]

reply to renton
I bought a used DSL modem from the States too not long ago, though I had the person on the other end use postal mail. Came through without a hitch, no surprise charges--in fact no additional charges whatsoever.

I can have someone literally pack a box of dirt and send it by UPS with a marked value of "$100,000". Guess what, they'll charge brokage based on that value, regardless if it's true, false or even a misprint. They'll also slap on GST and PST on top of that.

Heh, funny to see one of those yellow UPS stick-it-notes above. I always see them in the lobby of my apartment building, with of course some large $$ amount marked in the brokage section. They're kind of visual warnings/reminders never again to use UPS.

They even suck for delivery. UPS always delivers around 11AM, when you're usually at work. If you call to arrange a different delivery time, they claim it's not possible. If you tell them to not bothering to deliver they also say it's not possible--the driver will make two more attempts. And then after the 3rd attempt fails, it goes back to UPS headquarters where YOUR supposed to pick it up. Wait too longer (say a week) and you'll lose the package entirely. The only solution I've found is to leave instructions on the yellow note to drop it off with a next door neighbour.

Compare this with postal mail. You're not home, the package goes to the nearest postal outlet (usually within walking distance) where you can pick it up the next day. No playing delivery-tag.

reply to kaybertoss
I was going to ship something to Canada and use UPS, but after seeing this thread I guess maybe I should use something else. This stuff is all a big surprise to me. What exactly is a brokerage fee, anyway? Is GST/PST your sales tax? I want to ship a small box weighing about 2-3 kilos to a private party from a private party (me). I don't want the recipient to get nailed for some fees that are not necessary. The contents is not really valuable, if I have to put some kind of valuation on it for customs purposes, I'm sure 30 or 40 dollars would be plenty. By the same token, I would like to have some insurance on it, just in case it got lost.... Any suggestions for choice of shipper and how to handle the details?
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Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

Fedex automatically takes care of brokerage and builds it into their price. GST/PST are the responsibility of the buyer always, and is either handled upon delivery or via a letter afterwards.

Your best bet is to use FedEX IE International Economy. Its the lowest FedEX rate!
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Learn to laugh at yourself before laughing at others!

reply to Suchaknight

said by Suchaknight:

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I was going to ship something to Canada and use UPS, but after seeing this thread I guess maybe I should use something else. This stuff is all a big surprise to me. What exactly is a brokerage fee, anyway? Is GST/PST your sales tax?

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