Any fellow Canadians have experience with brokerage fees? Some n00b questions.

[Locut0s]

So I was stung by UPS brokerage fees some time back and was really pissed off. I was a newb and had basically never bought anything through a courier cross border. The site I ordered from didn't have any other shipping options other than couriers like UPS. They also conveniently didn't mention anything about the possibility of brokerage fees, though I'm guessing this is something that no company mentions. Anyway I paid the fees angrily, not least because UPS couldn't get their act together and deliver the package at a sane time, I had to go to a local pickup location after missing 3 or 4 delivery attempts. Safe to say I don't want to go through a courier again if possible. But some sites don't give you any other options. So here are a few questions I have (yes these are n00b questions I know):

1. If you are ordering an item via UPS, say computer hardware, or electronics, or video games, and the item is crossing the US/CAN boarder is it a 100% guarantee that you will face having to get the items through customs? Or is this more of a random hit or miss thing?

2. I see there are online calculators like this one http://www.thefinalcost.com/shipments/calculate/ are these at all accurate?

3. I now know it is possible to clear the item through customs yourself. You have to go to your local CBSA Office with the appropriate documents then once the customs fees are paid you have to contact the shipper with proof that you have paid said fees. Here's a blog post I stumbled across on this. Has anyone done this? If so was the savings worth the effort?

4. What shipments methods are there whereby I would never face customs clearance issues? I'm guessing Canada Post / USPS? Why is it that you don't face customs issues with these methods and you do with a courier?

 

[Ichigo]

I don't know but as a rule I don't ship with UPS internationally and thus I have less problems.

 

[Locut0s]

I don't know but as a rule I don't ship with UPS internationally and thus I have less problems.

It's an issue with any courier when the item crosses boarders, not just UPS.

 

[RbSX]

It's an issue with any courier when the item crosses boarders, not just UPS.

If someone ships you something via USPS, they transfer it to Canada Post which has their own clearing house (e.g. they inspect the package and approve it for import into the country).

If you ship via courier, they have to give it to a 3rd party clearing house which charges a fee depending on the value of the item (which, doesn't make a ton of sense, but whatever), and then UPS/DHL/Fedex will pass the fees onto you.

It isn't that one courier is better than the other, it's the clearing house that they happen to be using when your package is sent.

It's amazing what first hand real life experience does when it comes to answering questions like this.

 

[D1gger]

I have used a mail drop service in Point Roberts to ship stuff to. Then I drive across, pick it up, and drive back. I have never been charged duty or any clearing costs at the border, and when I went during the week to avoid traffic I have been in and out in less than 20 minutes.

There is a $3 handling fee from the mail drop service.

http://tsbshipping.com/

 

[Firebot]

UPS is notorious for charging very hefty brokerage fees for running clearance on your behalf. Here's a chart you can go by.

http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

USPS / Canada Post is definitely the better option, but do expect to still pay duties.

 

[Ichigo]

It's an issue with any courier when the item crosses boarders, not just UPS.

"Less" being the operative term. After my first encounter with UPS and brokerage, any and everyone else's fees look really reasonable in comparison.

 

[Red Squirrel]

From my experience, it is completely random. I have paid as low as 10 bucks, to as high as 200 bucks. It's a risk and a gamble every time. From my understanding anything under 20 bucks will not get charged. When making ebay purchases I usually try to keep it under 20, unless it's something that's a couple hundred bucks and is a very very good deal, then the brokerage fees make it worth it.

If you buy through a US retailer that has a Canadian version, usually you don't get nailed. For example if I buy from newegg.ca, even though the item comes from the states, I do not pay any brokerage. I envy people who actually receive stuff in 3 days though. More like 3 weeks.

 

[KeithTalent]

It's an issue with any courier when the item crosses boarders, not just UPS.

The only time I have EVER been charged brokerage was when they used UPS. Every other time it has been free and clear and I've ordered many things from various places. I will not order from somewhere if they use UPS to ship.

KT

 

[Locut0s]

The only time I have EVER been charged brokerage was when they used UPS. Every other time it has been free and clear and I've ordered many things from various places. I will not order from somewhere if they use UPS to ship.

KT

What other shipment methods did you use? Cause UPS is BY FAR the worst from what I've learned when it comes to brokerage fees. If you used some other courier you may have still paid a brokerage fee without realizing it because of the smaller amount. Even Canada Post will still charge you something like a $5 handling fee.

 

[Locut0s]

From my experience, it is completely random. I have paid as low as 10 bucks, to as high as 200 bucks. It's a risk and a gamble every time. From my understanding anything under 20 bucks will not get charged. When making ebay purchases I usually try to keep it under 20, unless it's something that's a couple hundred bucks and is a very very good deal, then the brokerage fees make it worth it.

If you buy through a US retailer that has a Canadian version, usually you don't get nailed. For example if I buy from newegg.ca, even though the item comes from the states, I do not pay any brokerage. I envy people who actually receive stuff in 3 days though. More like 3 weeks.

200 bucks!? What was that on!?

 

[Locut0s]

I have used a mail drop service in Point Roberts to ship stuff to. Then I drive across, pick it up, and drive back. I have never been charged duty or any clearing costs at the border, and when I went during the week to avoid traffic I have been in and out in less than 20 minutes.

There is a $3 handling fee from the mail drop service.

http://tsbshipping.com/

Yeah I've read up on this option. Doesn't seem worth it to me unless you are shipping stuff ALL the time, which granted a lot of people are.

 

[someone16]

Yeah I've read up on this option. Doesn't seem worth it to me unless you are shipping stuff ALL the time, which granted a lot of people are.

Well, aside from getting the package you can get gas there which is about 20-30 cents cheaper. That'll cover most of the cost driving down to get it.

But as others have said, just use USPS, avoid UPS and you'll be fine with the brokerage fees.