50% UPS Brokerage fee????

[kazoobers]

I bought an item that was $99.95 US. The Seller charged me $16.00 for UPS standard shipping to Canada.

The package arrived and here is a Brokerage C.O.D. due to UPS for $54.17. What a rip! The seller said nothing about additional fees due IN ADDITION to the $16.00 I paid him for the shipping. By looking under Help in eBay, I see there is nothing I can do about it.

[lacan10]

A retired friend of mine who used to work for Purolator recommended EMS Priority Courier when I asked him about importing stuff from India.
Looks like they are related to Canada Post or something?If it's the case,perhaps they are less mercantile than other known big guys couriers!
Anyone used that service yet?Would like to know more about it.
Thanks

[canuckchat]

I believe EMS comes across the border with an $8 brokerage charge ... whether it is any faster or not ... who knows...

[whsyerfroggy]

The service is pretty slow, but the brokerage is acceptable

[canuckchat]

..might as well have regular USPS and only pay the $5 brokerage then...

[mauws2005]

However don't you think UPS should inform a customer about their fees?

They may yet be forced into full disclosure if they lose the class action lawsuits currently pending against them in B.C. and Ontario.

[lacan10]

....might as well have regular USPS and only pay the $5 brokerage then...

Yes but I don't think I could use it to have stuff sent to me from India though!

[lacan10]

For those who would like to know more about UPS policies & fees,there are a couple PDF's available right from the ups.com website

Customs brokerage fees are all listed here,page 59 & following:

http://www.ups.com/media/en/ca/rate_guide_ca2.pdf

Doesn't mean I'm a UPS fan,however!

[waywat52]

Payed $35 shipping for a $55 item, but at least I knew that going in, UPS charged another $39 for brokerage fees, etc. I will not use them (or Fedex) again, across a border!

[canuckchat]

... well at least you KNEW that you were going to pay it, as you said you KNEW going in ....

[kazoobers]

He said he knew about the $35 shipping NOT the $39 brokerage fee.

[canuckchat]

... that was not how i read it ... but its not like we have not been trying to educate people on these forums at all.... that they are going to pay brokerage fees with couriers in addition to the PST and GST they owe on items incoming to Canada ....

[lzjwhu]

I wonder what happened to the lawsuit against UPS brokerage in BC last year.


Can someone tell me?

[mauws2005]

I believe it is still pending. Not sure if the B.C. supreme court has approved the lawsuit as a class action suit yet.
It's listed on the lawfirm's site as a current class action lawsuit, so I imagine it is still in litigation.

http://www.poynerbaxter.com/current_class_actions.htm

[sinathtuy]

Awesome just reading this i've learned alot today. Thank you Ebayers! =D

[guitar-77]

I recieved a very high brokerage fee too but I was told if you ship the item on the 1-3 bussiness days it will be a cheaper fee. I also heard that there is no fee if u ship usps. Is this true?

[canuckchat]

The brokerage clearing charge with Postal Service is a nominal $5.00

[shelleywaring]

I'm a little confused why anyone would actually pay UPS and then when a bill shows up pay them again or pay them if they send a collection letter, so you end up paying them twice. If you pay UPS, you should be getting a receipt, whether you pay cash, cheque or credit card. If UPS sends you a letter saying you haven't paid, you contact them telling them you have paid. If they threaten to sue, let them. Counter-sue (because you've paid and a judge will not be sympathetic to them). They did the same thing to me, I emailed them back, said I'd paid, wouldn't pay this bill and to sue me if they'd like. I've since obtained my credit report and there is nothing on it from them and they never bothered me again. I don't ever bid on anything shipped from the US by UPS -- too much hassle!!! I guess basically what I'm saying is if you pay UPS at the door or pick it up, GET A RECEIPT!!!

[canuckchat]

I think people are saying that they pay for shipping to the seller, item is shipped via UPS, and then when it arrives, there are brokerage charges and PST and GST to be paid on the item.

That would not be paying UPS twice; that is paying for the shipping, and paying for the charges for importing the item to Canada.

[deev_hutch]

Canuckchat:

You keep saying that Canada post has "negotiated" a rate of $5 as a brokerage to clear customs. This is not correct, and confuses the matter. Canada Post, UPS ,Fedex and other couriers DECIDE THEMSELVES what brokerage fee to charge. The do NOT need to negotiate these fees with anyone. UPS has DECIDED to charge more fees depending on the value of the item. (why they charge more for doing the IDENTICAL paperwork makes no sense, but I guess they DECIDED that they could get more money this way. Please stop confusing the matter - there is no 'negotiation" of brokerage fees. It is a UPS business decision to charge in excess of what other couriers and the postal system charge for the identical service.

This is particularly true when you consider that brokerage fee information IS NOT made clear to the shipper of goods in the USA. (It used to be far worse - a few years ago, their brokerage fees were not even listed on their website, and seemed to be basically randomly generated)

[sysfixr]

DH - sorry I think you are slightly misinformed!
First, read and understand the UPU rules and regs.
http://www.upu.int/
As a member of this organization, Canada Post has

SET FEES BY NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT

with other member organizations.

Couriers such as UPS FEDX DHL etc etc do

NOT

belong to the UPU, and they impose their own charges

(At least this is how I basically understand it, someone correct me if I'm wrong)