Brokerage fee from UPS

[metallicat]

I ordered something from the USA that had to come via UPS. I knew I was in trouble off the bat, but didn't think it would hurt going up, as much as it did today. I paid 289 dollars for this item, and I was charged an additional 85 dollars at the door. 17.66 for duty, 14.83 for GST, and a whopping 50.40 for the brokerage fee. That's just plain ridiculous. Of course, complaining to UPS did nothing. I despise using this company, but when you have no other choice in the matter, it hurts even more.

Is there any way, to put a claim in, to receive some of this money back?

BOYCOTT UPS.

[burn_this_city]

I've been ripped off by this before.. Seems like if there is no price shown for the item they don't apply anything.. I bought a clutch cable for my mustang for $200 and paid around $75 for brokerage and duty. I bought a $700 Arai motocross helmet and the shipper put bicycle hemlet value $15 so I paid nothing in brokerage and duty. Thank you shrewd ebay seller.

[604flames]

If the ebay seller won't ship USPS, I won't buy it, plain and simple.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by 604flames

If the ebay seller won't ship USPS, I won't buy it, plain and simple.

Same here.

I also bought some sneakers through the mail from New Balance and they primarily used UPS. I said I would buy 3 pair if they would ship with anyone other than UPS. They agreed.

I learned my lesson 3 Festivus's ago when I ordered a mini-pole + stand and a book of Festivus traditions. All of my goods together cost $50 and I ended up paying $110 after fees..... total rip off.

[Clever_Iggy]

Im with you... no advice, but support for the boycotting of UPS.

I sent a package (single small envelope containing irreplaceable documents to Portland a couple weeks ago. I got to the UPS store, they said that UPS does deliver to PO Boxes. So I sent the package express ($25+). I check the tracking number a couple days later and there's an "exception" on my package (basically UPS-speak for "problem"). Well apparently they DON'T deliver to PO Boxes and the center in Portland didnt know what to do.

Now, I ask you, what is the normal course of business for a shipping/postal company when an address is incorrect/unattainable? That's right, send it back to the shipper. However, some genius at the shipping center in Portland decided to put a new address on the package. My documents were supposed to go to "Wells Fargo Bank" but instead, they looked up on the internet and found the nearest "Wells Fargo" and slapped a new address. Well that new address was a corporate office for "Wells Fargo Financial" - totally different.

So I called to get this straightened out, and they basically gave me the run around. Finally they said they adjusted the package to be picked up and redelivered to a new address that I assigned. To date, 2 weeks later, the package has not been picked up.

So I go to the UPS Store that shipped the package to get at least a refund for the cost to ship. The guy there said that "they did their job getting it out the door, so it's not their problem, you have to call the US shipper" WTF!!! Customer Service should be that they (the store) confirm the error, refund me my money and then work out the proper refund internally. Instead they said I needed to figure out who was at fault and get the refund from them! When, in the first place, the store should have told me that UPS does not deliver to PO Boxes.

So yes, boycott UPS. Although regular post and FedEx ain't much better.

[ken0042]

This comes up every few months, and there really isn't anything you can do; unless you want to launch a class action lawsuit or something.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=49487
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=54420
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=49331

[BlackArcher101]

The only way to avoid it is to do the brokerage yourself and clear the package through customs. It's a bit of a hassle I hear, and I've never done it myself.

UPS =

[Engine09]

I've been burned by UPS once, years ago when I ordered some motorcycle parts. The brokerage fees basically doubled the cost of the item. Never again.

Like others have said, always insist on USPS. If they will only ship UPS then don't bother.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by ken0042

This comes up every few months, and there really isn't anything you can do; unless you want to launch a class action lawsuit or something.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=49487
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=54420
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=49331

I'm in! Troutman??

[Sample00]

as a frequent user of ebay, I would only deal with a seller if he ships USPS.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Sample00

as a frequent user of ebay, I would only deal with a seller if he ships USPS.

I as well, unfortunately this wasn't from eBay. They specifically stated that they only deal with UPS, and no exceptions would be made.

[Sylvanfan]

Living in Osoyoos BC right now, I've been tempted to look into starting up some sort of brokering bussiness in which I'd go down accross the border, collect packages at the UPS office which is 5 minutes from where I live, and than bring it over the border myself for a much lower brokerage fee as well as other duties and than send it on it's merry way. Given how the Dollar is right now there are a lot of things that are much cheaper to buy in the U.S, especially if you can get it accross the border for a reasonable fee.

I mean, I'm going accross the border 2-3 times a week to buy gas and the UPS office is serioulsy right at the border, it would be so easy to do.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Living in Osoyoos BC right now, I've been tempted to look into starting up some sort of brokering bussiness in which I'd go down accross the border, collect packages at the UPS office which is 5 minutes from where I live, and than bring it over the border myself for a much lower brokerage fee as well as other duties and than send it on it's merry way. Given how the Dollar is right now there are a lot of things that are much cheaper to buy in the U.S, especially if you can get it accross the border for a reasonable fee.

I mean, I'm going accross the border 2-3 times a week to buy gas and the UPS office is serioulsy right at the border, it would be so easy to do.

Sweet. I'll get you to pick up my next shipment of cocaine and handguns for me...

[MelBridgeman]

well you are an oiler fan....so boo hoo for you

[worth]

Avoid UPS and FedEx. I just had to pay 2 FedEx brokerage charges on 2 separate items that I didn't realize were shipping through FedEx. One was $23 and the other was $86. Unreal.

[Flapper97]

I don't normally buy stuff online because I hate paying for shipping fees. So, I was wondering what the advantage is to ship stuff by USPS? Do they not charge a brokerage fee and only duty and GST?

[ken0042]

USPS ends up sending it through Canada Post, and their brokerage fee is around $5.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Flapper97

I don't normally buy stuff online because I hate paying for shipping fees. So, I was wondering what the advantage is to ship stuff by USPS? Do they not charge a brokerage fee and only duty and GST?

USPS goes through Canada Post. Canada Post charges a $5 flat fee brokerage, and then whatever taxes you owe. Under $20, you don't pay anything. Much more reasonable.

[mykalberta]

Do we have any Amerifriends on this site, there are quite a few people that refuse to ship USPS and go for UPS. I tend to think that UPS ground in the US must be cheaper, is that the reason?

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Do we have any Amerifriends on this site, there are quite a few people that refuse to ship USPS and go for UPS. I tend to think that UPS ground in the US must be cheaper, is that the reason?

I think that it is mainly because UPS will pickup from their house/business, and they don't feel like going to the post office.