UPS wont let me clear customs myself =(

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nobb

Senior member
May 22, 2005
237
0
0
Hey.

I bought some stuff from the US and they only ship with UPS. Even with the customs factored in, the product is still cheaper than buying locally.

Before I ordered, I called UPS and the customer service rep assured me that there is a port of entry where I live (Calgary) and hence I would be able to clear the customs myself. So I went ahead and shipped with UPS. The package is now in transit and I called UPS once again to request that my package not be delivered because I want to go to the warehouse in Calgary to do the customs paperwork myself, then pickup the package myself. I was told that was not possible because the port of entry will be in Richmond, Vancouver and if I wanted to do the customs myself, I'd have to go to Vancouver. Obviously I now have no choice but to allow them to do the customs so that my package will arrive in Calgary, even though I was first told that I could clear it myself in Calgary.

So obviously UPS probably wont refund the customs charges that they will charge me at the door ($90). Does anyone have any ideas? I was thinking of maybe paying with my credit card then disputing the charges with Visa. Is this a valid dispute since it was UPS that failed to inform me properly? Does the UPS man carry a credit card reader?
 
F

Firebot

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2005
1,476
2
0
Just take it as a lesson never to buy stuff from people who only ship to Canada with UPS. Never trust what UPS tells you.
 
SacrosanctFiend

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
4,269
0
0
Originally posted by: nobb
Hey.

I bought some stuff from the US and they only ship with UPS. Even with the customs factored in, the product is still cheaper than buying locally.

Before I ordered, I called UPS and the customer service rep assured me that there is a port of entry where I live (Calgary) and hence I would be able to clear the customs myself. So I went ahead and shipped with UPS. The package is now in transit and I called UPS once again to request that my package not be delivered because I want to go to the warehouse in Calgary to do the customs paperwork myself, then pickup the package myself. I was told that was not possible because the port of entry will be in Richmond, Vancouver and if I wanted to do the customs myself, I'd have to go to Vancouver. Obviously I now have no choice but to allow them to do the customs so that my package will arrive in Calgary, even though I was first told that I could clear it myself in Calgary.

So obviously UPS probably wont refund the customs charges that they will charge me at the door ($90). Does anyone have any ideas? I was thinking of maybe paying with my credit card then disputing the charges with Visa. Is this a valid dispute since it was UPS that failed to inform me properly? Does the UPS man carry a credit card reader?
Click to expand...

Do you have the assurance in writing? If not, there's not much you're going to be able to do.
 
N

nobb

Senior member
May 22, 2005
237
0
0
I dont see how I would have gotten the assurance in writing. It was a normal customer service call.
 
I

imported_LoKe

Lifer
Jun 4, 2005
19,723
1
0
Refuse delivery and tell the sender to figure it out. If they assured you no brokerage fees, then you shouldn't have to pay one.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,290
16,796
136
If you'd like to join the "UPS Sucks" Club, we're always glad to have more members.
 
M

mrrman

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2004
8,497
3
0
Originally posted by: Firebot
Just take it as a lesson never to buy stuff from people who only ship to Canada with UPS. Never trust what UPS tells you.
Click to expand...

I hate UPS and try to avoid them
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
Don't ship UPS. Even if you don't have to pay any duty fees, they STILL charge you their Customs Brokerage fee of like $50, which is simply disgusting. It'll also sit for days in their warehouse before clearing. Always ship USPS to Canadapost, it takes 1/4 the time, you pay no brokerage fees unless there is duty to collect, and it's a percentage not a flat rate. I shipped something up once that was worth $800, they charged a standard duty which came out to almost $70, the Canadapost fee was like $5.

I don't even offer UPS shipping anymore, it's always USPS or Fedex if needed.


Edit:

At this point the best thing to do is suck it up and pay. In the future, don't buy unless they offer USPS. Or Purolator.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,290
16,796
136
Originally posted by: Sphexi
Don't ship UPS. Even if you don't have to pay any duty fees, they STILL charge you their Customs Brokerage fee of like $50, which is simply disgusting. It'll also sit for days in their warehouse before clearing. Always ship USPS to Canadapost, it takes 1/4 the time, you pay no brokerage fees unless there is duty to collect, and it's a percentage not a flat rate. I shipped something up once that was worth $800, they charged a standard duty which came out to almost $70, the Canadapost fee was like $5.

I don't even offer UPS shipping anymore, it's always USPS or Fedex if needed.
Click to expand...

We of the Club salute you for your solidarity, good sir!
 
N

nobb

Senior member
May 22, 2005
237
0
0
Well I bought tires from tirerack. Even with the stupid customs fees, my tires still come out cheaper than anywhere else. Tirerack did warn about the brokerage fees and they did nothing wrong, so they deserve my money. Tirerack is not at fault. UPS is at fault for telling me that I could clear customs myself, when in reality I could not.

I have learned my lesson from UPS a year ago when I first bought something online, but tirerack doesnt offer a choice other than UPS, so I am stuck with them. Btw...Ive noticed that UPS ships faster than USPS and other than their stupid brokerage policy, they seem to be a decent shipping company. I guess my only choice now is to pay the brokerage with my Visa, and try to dispute the charges.
 
Regs

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,665
21
81
I believe you had to notify the sender as well. The sender has to tell UPS to hold the goods at port location so that the cosignee can broker the clearence themselves. If the sendor does not notify UPS of this, UPS will act as the broker. Like Fed Ex, they'll pay the duties and taxes up front so the package can be cleared from customs ASAP and then UPS will bill you later for what they payed.

You might be able to get the sender to pay the duties and taxes out of good will...but I don't see any other easy way out for you since you did not notify the shipper. And you would of had to pay for the import tax and duties yourself anyway but you wouldn't be stuck with whatever UPS charges for the service.
 
P

Parasitic

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2002
4,000
2
0
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
If you'd like to join the "UPS Sucks" Club, we're always glad to have more members.
Click to expand...

Definitely. I have a mailbox at UPS store yet UPS refuses to deliver to it, while Fedex DHL and USPS seem to have no problem with it whatsoever.
 
Scouzer

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
I once bought a hard drive that was shipped via UPS...

It was $160. Brokerage was $55.

30%...
 
A

apepooooop

Member
Mar 26, 2004
45
0
0
Sounds like they will let you. Did you ask the rep if she knew where your specific package would go through customs.
 
Regs

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,665
21
81
Originally posted by: Scouzer
I once bought a hard drive that was shipped via UPS...

It was $160. Brokerage was $55.

30%...
Click to expand...

I believe the fees will start racking up the longer is stays in customs.
 
soydios

soydios

Platinum Member
Mar 12, 2006
2,708
0
0
plug for FedEx...
when I ship my computer back and forth between college and home, I use FedEx. no problems, ever.
 
Sphexi

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
7,280
0
0
At work certain companies require that we ship product to them via their own services, like USPS requires we ship USPS, Fedex requires we ship Fedex, and so on. Most of the UPS customers that call in ask that we ship another way though, usually USPS or DHL.
 
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