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DementedReality · 04-22-2008, 01:13 AM

hey guys ... i have worked in the small parcel, customs brokerage and freight forwarding industry for almost 20 years.

i understand the frustration for the consumer, but let me explain something from the other side.

UPS provides a service, customs clearance. They are entitled to charge a fee for it. THat being said they should call you first to find out if you want to do it yourself, assign a 3rd party or have UPS do it for X. Sometimes they do, sounds like sometimes they dont. THat is poor customer service.

Here is the real point though. We charge between 25 and 85 depending on the volume of the client. Canada Post charges 5. You know why?

Because I have to pay someone 70k a year to have a customs license and Canada Post can not only pay them more, but also charge you less. You know why? Because they are subsidized by the government! Thats unfair competition and UPS, DHL and FDX have teamed up to fight it in court. In the meantime, i dont blame anyone for using USPS/Canada Post and frankly as a commercial enterprise, we dont want single one off clients. Hence the point of the postal service,to provide services that commercial enterprises dont want. So go ahead use Canada Post, thats the point of the product.

That being said, here is some inside details that some of you may or may not know.

Canada Post is the majority shareholder of Purolator
When you ship a parcel to the USA or around the globe with Purolator, they give it to DHL. Purolator is one of DHL's largest clients.
FDX is in negotations to buy DHL's US division
FDX is by far the most reliable and effecient express operator on the globe. However hey make mistakes, big mistakes! I one time had them divert an entire aircraft, that was fun.
DHL is the largest global express operator, bigger than UPS. UPS is bigger than FDX. FDX is by far the best.
DHL is owned by the German Post Office (Deutsche Post).
During the last big snowfall, i think it as thursday april 11? the airlines at YYC spent 500,000 in one day on deicing.

hmmm ... that was fun. hope this isnt the last post in the thread.

04-22-2008, 01:13 AM	#28
DementedReality Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Aug 2004 Exp:	hey guys ... i have worked in the small parcel, customs brokerage and freight forwarding industry for almost 20 years. i understand the frustration for the consumer, but let me explain something from the other side. UPS provides a service, customs clearance. They are entitled to charge a fee for it. THat being said they should call you first to find out if you want to do it yourself, assign a 3rd party or have UPS do it for X. Sometimes they do, sounds like sometimes they dont. THat is poor customer service. Here is the real point though. We charge between 25 and 85 depending on the volume of the client. Canada Post charges 5. You know why? Because I have to pay someone 70k a year to have a customs license and Canada Post can not only pay them more, but also charge you less. You know why? Because they are subsidized by the government! Thats unfair competition and UPS, DHL and FDX have teamed up to fight it in court. In the meantime, i dont blame anyone for using USPS/Canada Post and frankly as a commercial enterprise, we dont want single one off clients. Hence the point of the postal service,to provide services that commercial enterprises dont want. So go ahead use Canada Post, thats the point of the product. That being said, here is some inside details that some of you may or may not know. Canada Post is the majority shareholder of Purolator When you ship a parcel to the USA or around the globe with Purolator, they give it to DHL. Purolator is one of DHL's largest clients. FDX is in negotations to buy DHL's US division FDX is by far the most reliable and effecient express operator on the globe. However hey make mistakes, big mistakes! I one time had them divert an entire aircraft, that was fun. DHL is the largest global express operator, bigger than UPS. UPS is bigger than FDX. FDX is by far the best. DHL is owned by the German Post Office (Deutsche Post). During the last big snowfall, i think it as thursday april 11? the airlines at YYC spent 500,000 in one day on deicing. hmmm ... that was fun. hope this isnt the last post in the thread.