Help! ugly UPS Customs Brokerage Fees

[algernon]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

I am certainly not an expert on this at all, but I would think you might have trouble crossing the border like that. I know that it might prevent you from being pulled over driving around town, I just don't see them being alright with that at border patrol when they have you pulled over already.

Why? If the projecting material is less than 1m, you are legal. With the tailgate down, your good to go...I think.
Border Guards don't care about traffic enforcement. If they have a problem with you, they'll just call the Mounties anyway.

[Starfishy]

Originally Posted by algernon

Why? If the projecting material is less than 1m, you are legal. With the tailgate down, your good to go...I think.
Border Guards don't care about traffic enforcement. If they have a problem with you, they'll just call the Mounties anyway.

Well I just did a quick scan of the North American Cargo Securement Standard and I think you are absolutely correct. As far as I can tell straps are fully legit. The flag can only be used during the day (if at night you need a light) and the flag has to be at least 40cm X 40cm.

[dre]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Ok guys I need some help. I really want to buy this screen from monoprice http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...#specification

only problem is they wont ship to canada because it is so huge. I am going down there next week and can pick it up but my car and everyones trucks who are going down are to small for the 10ft 130 pound package. What would be the best and cheapest way to ship it to calgary?

Stupid ford f 150 short boxes!!!

Try this website.

http://www.frontierpc.com/searchView...lectric_Screen

[fundmark19]

sorry guys forgot to mention the truck will be carrying 5 suit bags and my bride to be's wedding dress so my dad does not want to risk haveing the tailgate down.

[algernon]

This is not rocket science people.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by algernon

This is not rocket science people.

Then do you know of a cheap way to ship something of this size?

[algernon]

Strap the luggage down, leave the tailgate down, strap the Board & screen (you can even build a box/lid with 4 boards, a hammer and 40 3" nails). To really secure your luggage, tarp it, then put a cargo net over the bags, and strap the whole works.

If your ratchet straps are secured properly, nothing will fall out. Take a look at a semi hauling drilling pipe some day. Granted, you are not securing 20,000 pounds of pipe, you are securing a couple of a hundred pounds, therefore the straps can be a lot smaller.


$50 for the materials down there is cheaper than $150.

[kyuusei]

Originally Posted by Ducay

My Rating for getting stuff delivered from US:

1. Fedex: Fast, good brokerage rates, but they're pricey overall

2. Canada Post (USPS): Good rates, cheap brokerage, and my package goes to post office if I miss delivery. Can be a bit slow clearing customs though.

3. UPS Air/Express: Expensive, but includes brokerage in the cost. Almost always is cheaper than other express methods when brokerage is factored in. They'll redeliver a billion times if you ask them to.

4. Purolator (USPS): Again, good rates (USPS express goes to purolator when it hits the border). Good brokerage.....but oh god they try delivering once and then send it to one of their sparsely located shipping locations with terrible hours.

5. UPS Ground: Cheap, slow, and will basically rape you on brokerage (per discussed). The worst of the worst for US shipping. You're better off hiring a courier from Calgary to personally drive down to the states, pick up the package, drive to a USPS location, pay for USPS, and then fly back first class.

I don't mind Purolator since there's a location near me if I miss the delivery. They and UPS are fine as long as I'm ordering it from within Canada and with UPS I can re-arrange a delivery. Otherwise, Purolator likes to send me brokerage fee invoices but eventually I ignored them and they stopped bothering me.... :P

Last time I cleared my own package from UPS from the states, I had to go all the way to frickin' YVR to go do it. But it was a big package, so I probably saved myself like $100 or so in fees...

[fundmark19]

No offense it has nothing to do with things falling out. It has to due with keeping everything away from the elements. Noone likes a wrinkly wedding dress that has to be worn again a week later. Like I stated having the tailgate down in the truck is not an option. It is not my truck I can't just go rig something up.

Lets get back on topic does anyone know a good solution to ship this item

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by browna

Well, all depends. I think EXPRESS international air service includes brokerage fees from UPS.

This isn't true.

[Lyle]

I find it frustrating to shop on eBay or Amazon and discover that many sellers (or perhaps products) won't ship to anywhere else but the U.S. This too (as well as customs issues) may be a problem DFF could help with...

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I've helped several people have items shipped by the US Postal Service guys. I work for the USPS. I have some good references here on calgarypuck. If you are ordering something from the US and the company won't ship USPS contact me. You can send it to me and I will send it to you. We can work something out to cover the cost.

Having someone forward U.S. to Canada using USPS might be the an option. I'll from PM to get more details...

[normtwofinger]

I just wasted 15 minutes reading a 6 year old thread.

[mykalberta]

FYI on USPS, why they are less expensive, they have gotten alot more expensive in recent years. But then again they dont screw you on the brokerage so...

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

I just wasted 15 minutes reading a 6 year old thread.

Me too. And I started laughing when one guy's solution was "break it". Then I realized that was my own post and I had absolutely no recollection of it

[octothorp]

I only clue in to these old threads after spending a couple minutes wondering 'hey, where did the like buttons go?'

[Hack&Lube]

Whoa, it's even freakier when you are the OP from 6 years ago. Who the hell was that guy back then? It's like reading a post from a total stranger.

Since this has been necro'd anyway, I might as well contribute an update for the hell of it. The Shuttle computer that was shipped to me 6 years ago did get slapped with brokerage duties since I couldn't intercept it in Winnipeg. It has however, still proved to be excellent value as it's still alive and serving as my parent's HTPC for them to download their own movies, etc. The miracle chopper from the infomercial is still being used as well.

[Bertuzzied]

hahaha. the best is Ken's warning saying 5 years ago that it was a 1 year old thread.

[stang]

The worst part is Displaced Flames Fans post... He could have saved me 1000's of dollars...

[fundmark19]

Well I picked the UPS shipping that normally comes with brokerage and just got a call to authorize them to clear it.

I am really afraid what the bill is going to come to once it gets delivered

[TheGrimm]

Seeing as how it's necro'd... I ordered a purse for my wife a few years ago and UPS delivered it and tried to slap we with a rediculous brokerage fee, it was like 80 bucks or something... Anyway, I simply refused at the door, and then closed the door on the guy. Once you have the package there isn't much they can do. They called me a few times and I basically screamed at them into the phone and told them I wasn't paying any "hidden" fee's etc etc. Eventually they stopped calling, this was 3 or so years ago and I haven't heard anything since.

I also don't think I've shipped with them since, so that would be interesting to see what happens if I tried.