Avoiding UPS Brokerage

[Heffty]

There is an item I'd like to order from the states (I live in Canada) from a computer company but they only ship UPS so that means I'll end up paying huge brokerage fees and taxes. I heard that if I get my friend to order it from the states, then get him to ship it to me as a gift...that I wouldn't have to pay anything. Is that true? If it is true, does USPS allow you to do this, or UPS? I'm not a crook...UPS are the crooks for charging brokerage fees that go directly to them. If I can screw them I will and i won't feel guilty for it.