I have decided to use fedex express for all my shipments. Please join pool...

[aabros]

I have decided to use fedex express for all my shipments. 2-day service (economy) or overnight (priority) to the USA and overnight to canada.

We need other sellers to join this so we can save some $$$ and get a big discount.

Todd; we surely need your help here. Anyway, please give me some advice/tips on how to set this up. I can't wait to see my overnight parcels (in the free fedex box) cost me only $168-$19 CDN...

Thanks for your help.
-Anthony

[your-chic-shopper]

It's very important thay you look into The Federal ID # requirement . There are messages posted all over Ebay.ca

Do a search on my name Your-chic-shopper , you will see about 2 mouths ago i was defending the exact thing you guys are talking about . However it has started as a requirement in some area's of UPS shipping

[acurael]

I'm double checking with my UPS rep right now.

I looked and only found two threads by you about UPS... or maybe the search thing just sucks?!?

http://forums.ebay.ca/search.jsp?forums=7&search=true&q=ups&forum=&date=any&user=your-chic-shopper&range=30

[your-chic-shopper]

Opps sorry American Ebay.com site under my name

[frazqui]

I used UPS all last year for my shipments of Fur and Leather coats, paid the insurance, complied with everything and life was good. Then one day for some reason one of my boxes arrived empty. They said it was my fault for not boxing properly and that they would not insure the item as it was used and sold through eBay. I would say at the time I was shipping about three to five hundred dollars a week and they wouldn't even reimburse me for the shipping charge for the item they STOLE!

Yes UPS does offer great rates and is way easier to use than Canada Post, but beware... Everybody is out to screw the eBay seller 😉

[ospreylinks]

Speaking of UPS not paying out a damage or loss claim, the note by Frazqui reminded me that a couple of years ago, we had a golf club delivered apparently damaged to a customer in California. For some reason, UPS wouldn't pay a claim here either....(as I said a couple of years ago, so I can't remember why they wouldn't pay) So thats two stories that UPS have not paid claims on.... anyone have a claim paid by UPS on lost or damaged goods?

Jeff

[acurael]

In the last 12 months we've had 5 claims for damaged or lost goods - representing approx $1000 USD in claimed amounts. All were paid fairly quickly: 1-2 weeks after the trace/damage inspection was completed.

For those unfamiliar, a lost package needs a trace completed first (usually 7-10 days) then it can be claimed if the trace hasn't found it.

A damaged package will sometimes need an inspection (UPS goes and examines item if it's been delivered) or if it's damaged while still in UPS hands they'll send to claim process right away.

Oh, and before someone goes 5 packages? $1000 USD? That's lots!!! That's 0.1% of packages shipped.

[acurael]

Oh, and I checked with my UPS rep about the US individuals SS# or a company's federal tax id for shipments going into the US.

This applies only to shipments with a value of $200 or more.

It is a US customs requirement, not a UPS requirement.

The majority of packages of move without formal processing - a very, very, very small percentage will get pulled and have their paperwork checked. If a shipment does happen to get pulled, US customs will contact the importer directly and obtain any missing info - including the SS# or Fed Tax ID.

All couriers and the post office are subject to the same requirements.

[aabros]

UPS always refunded my shipping charges when I called them saying they have not delivered my parcel on-time. Good work UPS!

[bromberg66]

I would like to ship with FedEx going to the US & Canada, could ebay support a discount. I would like to join a pool for cheaper prices!

[amberwoodottawa]

Regarding the SIN # being a US Customs requirement per UPS. That cant be as 75% of what I ship into the US is valued at over $200. I ship using CP and there is nowhere on the forms I use to put in those details let alone ever being advised that would be a requirement.

I am sorry to say this but it appears to be, once again, another un-informed UPS individual fudging the truth.

Malcolm

[acurael]

Malcom,

I would trust UPS before CP - they're only once removed from the govt... 😉

This being a new implementation of US customs, it would make sense that private carriers such as UPS and others would react quicker to the new requirements than a bureaucracy like CP.

As for un-informed - they no doubt have clueless people working for them, just like everyone else does - but they don't put people like that at the phone number I call... the regular 800# ? for sure

Wade

[amberwoodottawa]

Wade
Before I signed a CP contract I was negotiating with UPS. I had 2 of their reps dealing with me and putting the contract together. One was their senior guy over brokerage and the other delivery.

There were 2 reasons I didnt choose UPS, and price had nothing to do with it. The first is an insurance issue over what I sell and whether UPS would insure my products.

The most important reason I tunred my back on them was a result of the total number of lies that came out of their mouths in order to try to get me to sign a contract with them.

I wont waste anyone's time here over going into details however the lies were not limited to only these two representatives but also a key figure out of the Montreal office.

The way I look at it, if your product isnt good enough to sell on its own, forcing you to resport to lying about it, the competition and guarantees, I dont want anything to do with you.

I like my UPS delivery person who brings me shipments ocassionally, and someone in their NB office that I deal with when I am having some brokerage problems on imports.

You may be lucky enough to have a rep with the same qualities as my UPS driver (honesty) but the senior managers that they offered me are better suited for the unemployment line than representatives of a company as large as UPS.

Malcolm

[your-chic-shopper]

Malcom

Sorry Malcom normally I would agree with you However

Quote "I ship using CP and there is nowhere on the forms I use to put in those details"

If you ship with any off the on-line tools provided through Canada Post . It requests the Customers Federal ID # on shipment sent Expedited commercial USA

Listen Malcom I am not keen on this whole Federal ID requirement . I have been on many the message board fighting the against the dam situation . I have personally never had to place it on a package, because NAFTA states ,items under $200 can state on the package available upon request

However as the shipper ,

If an item is inspected by American Customs and the value is over $200.00 . You run the risk of being fined and paying for the return of the item back too you

[acurael]

Malcom,

I've had one "slimy" rep in my UPS experience - but she quickly moved onto pharamceutical sales.

I know the majority of drivers here (small city), the rep, his boss, and several others in variuous tech and support areas. I've yet to experience an issue with any of them. They also have a "preferred customer" line and our account rep is simply outstanding.

Anyhow, when in doubt - check google!!

http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=us+customs+social+security+number+canada

Some interesting links are the first hit - which includes excerpts as well as a somewhat broken link to the actual US law.

You'll also find a link from fedex's site further down, as well as sites of many Canadian companies with explanations as to why they want the SS#.

I personally think it's dumb law, but there's lots of those on the books. At the moment (for us anyway) it's not being enforced. When/if it does, I guess we'll have to do something about it.

I just take issue with broad brush strokes - I feel UPS gets a bad rap here in Canada (and it seems to be due to their import brokerage fees - but that's another thread)

Wade

[acurael]

Another interesting link from that same search - a couple pages deep - also fedex...

http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:C6dizMrWCHUJ:www.ftn.fedex.com/about/usbulletin/100603.htm+us+customs+social+security+number+canada&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

note the bold text

[your-chic-shopper]

One Thing to Remember , NAFTA states that it is not required on items under the value of $200. American . It also states that I believe you can place the purchaser phone # on the invoice

[amberwoodottawa]

Curiosity:

If someone sells to a US business, is the vendor required to obtain their Federal tax number instead of a SS #?

What happens if someone is purchasing the item as a gift? Do I put on the buyer's SS # or the person who is to receive the gift's SS #?

What if the person purchasing is a minor and doesnt have a SS#?

What if the person is a US resident but not a US citizen and does not have a SS #? This was the case with my family when we resided in the US. I had a SS # but my wife didnt? Would that mean she could not purchase anything?

What if I was a Canadian snowbird living in Florida for 6 months of the year and didnt have a SS# as none do yet purchased something on eBay from Canada?

How do I know that is the customer's SS # and what is my liability for putting down a false SS #?

Do you think that George Bush would give you his SS # if he was making an eBay purchase?

I will get clarification on this whole issue on Wedensday as I am having lunch with the Deputy Secretary of NAFTA, Canadian Secretariat, a close personal friend of mine.

Malcolm