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.

[asifur123]

$20 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST UPS. ANYONE WITH ME!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
last week i bought a router for $9.99 us. shipped it from los angles to calgary by UPS (Universal Postal Service, a public courier company like fedex, dhl, purolator) for a shipping fee of $16 us. UPS delivered the package (didn't ask for any money. i guess because of the price being blow $20cdn). today i received a mail from UPS asking me to send them $20cdn to their nova-scotia office for transportation+fuel fee. they even opened an money receiving account with my name without my permission.

it didn't take me long to understand that UPS is running a SCAM. since i didn't make any agreement with UPS about paying them anything, i am not bound by law to pay them a single penny.

decided to sue them for $20 million cdn for causing mental and financial stress. if anyone want to join, it can be a class action lawsuit against UPS.

till this matter settles, i request everyone in canada to avoid using UPS.

[dexmor]

"decided to sue them for $20 million cdn for causing mental and financial stress. if anyone want to join, it can be a class action lawsuit against UPS."

So you have $5 Million+ for legal fees?

[dexmor]

...and are willing to dedicate the next 5 years of your life, not to mention running the very high risk of getting nothing. If so, I am sure your will find a few lawyers lined up ready and willing to take your money.

[canuckchat]

.. it is not a "scam" .... a courier company will charge you a brokering fee to bring your item across the border into Canada ... if you had it shipped via postal service, then the nominal $5 brokerage fee would be levied, plus the applicable PST and/or GST for your particular province/address/location ....

[canuckaloo]

So you have $5 Million+ for legal fees?

highly doubtful...considering he's suing for mental and financial stress over twenty bucks

B-)

[canuckaloo]

because they charge for services rendered?

[canuckchat]

.. quietly... get up.. and walk away from the keyboard..

[sb_global]

I had a similar problem with UPS. I bought a pair of shoes from a US seller for $101, seller charged me 14 dollars for expedited shipping. After two days UPS left me a notice with a payment due for 54.7 dollars. They even had the gal to not disclose the breakdown. After spending several hours with their customer service I found out that they had slapped me with several brokerage fees by appointing themselves as my clearing agent. To top everything they charged me for expedited clearing as they wanted me to save one day on customs clearing. Since that incidence I never buy from a seller who offers UPS shipping even if the seller is from within Canada. That one incidence was enough to teach me a lesson.

[canuckchat]

... there is no reason not to buy from canadian sellers who use UPS ... the reason that the courier charges brokerage charges is to CLEAR your item in to the country ... if your item is already IN the country, there is nothing to broker ....

[mikemclarenf1]

Well, it's not the first time being burnt by the UPS brokerage fees. It would help though, if they handled my package somewhat properly.

I was aware that UPS was carrying my LCD. I was aware that UPS charged brokerage fees.

But, I am saddened when I recieved the LCD, because some mofo dropped it on the middle of the box, cracking the panel, and yes, it's junk now.

I am going to return the panel, but does UPS "return" the brokerage fees? I have officially no use for the defective item that they just created for me. I'm not even going to give them crap for their fees, I just want either my money back or their reimburishment on the panel, without any cost. It's why UPS has shipping insurance anyway, right?

[Anonymous]

asifur + many others obviously have no idea how the legal system works and the rules depend on your province. Forget about a single suit against UPS. The reasons would be about 10 pages long. As well, the chances are slim that any lawyer worth his salt would take on any single retainer against UPS and asifur is talking pure nonsense.The reference to a $5 mil cost is also nonsense if you are referring to legal fees.

At this time, there are thousands of people in Canada who are bent on claiming against UPS viz class action suits. Click on the link for information:

http://www.classaction.ca/content/actions/ups.asp

[mark_helene]

I am amazed at the outright lies and misinformation of many in this thread.I worked for UPS for yhears,in the 90's,and 'brokerage' is a scam,pure and simple.Its highway robbery in the new millinium,nothing more,and nothing less.

The Fifth Estate,as well as 'Market Place' and a few other news groups/tv shows here in Canada have done reports/shows on this garbage,and that it is,an under handed money grab,and very very little else.

DO NOT PAY.Broker your own packages people.Google is your friend,do some searches and find out how to get around broker fee's.Its very easy,and VERY VERY legal.

These laws and rules are not new,they have been around for ages.Do some research on this crap,and dont let UPS/Fedex/DHL,etc,walk all over you and your wallet.

[mark_helene]

Oh,and dont get me started on shipping insurance.... ROFL... The stories I could tell you.UPS insurance
claim reps are paid to disallow as many claims as
possible.Insurance on courier packages is another HUGE scam.If all UPS and every other courier company charged was a flat 1 dollar to clear,they would still make a killing.Anything above and beyond that is straight highway robbery.

You could have video footage in HD of the driver throwing your lcd out the window of his truck on the 401 at 100 miles an hour,laughing all the while,as well as being stinking drunk,and they would still find a way to not give you your claim money.

I have worked for two large courier companies here in Canada in the past 18 years,and both were/are the same.Both used decietful and under handed 'policies',to shaft the consumer and take them to the cleaners.The latest in a long line of coffer padding is the 'fuel surcharge'.

If you need that last one explained to you,well...

Just rememeber that companies with large vehicle fleets buy in bulk,and far in advance,by contract....Prices are set and locked quite often,and of course lower then you or I could ever hope to get it at.You do the math from then on!

[Anonymous]

I wonder how many people bother to digest all the information on these posts.

Once and for all,as having been stated several times, brokerage fees are not "scams". They are legitimate charges that cover the cost of processing goods through customs. Unlike duties and taxes, which are paid to the government, these fees are charged by the postal services and couriers. Industry Canada cautions consumers to check the shipper's tariff to determine the custom brokerage fees and, if they appear uncertain, check with the courier first. Make sure that you research the costs BEFORE you purchase. You will find that custom brokerage fees can vary widely.

Consumers who believe they have been a victim of deceptive business practices or who want information on the application of the Competition Act are encouraged to contact the Bureau's Information Centre at 1-800-348-5358, or visit the Web site at
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca

If buyers took the time and trouble to do their homework BEFORE they buy from the U.S. then complants would be non-existent.

[mauws2005]

Sorry Stopchick. Mark is right. Brokerage fees are very easy to avoid by self brokering. The process is very easy. I've been saying that for years, although many still believe the courier company's that tell you that you can't do it.

You can and the only reason that they tell you that you cannot is to rob you because there are consumers niave enough to believe them.

[Anonymous]

What are you sorry for and where did I mention self brokering? Of course you can opt to act as your own broker but to most people the process is very inconvenient.

[bump2k]

That's a whole lot of bandwidth for no purpose other than summarizing the obvious.

[kasiablue2000]

The others are right. Brokerage fees are not the seller's fault. You need to take this up with UPS. It's like Custom's duty. Sometimes you get hit, sometimes you don't.

I am not a seller but a buyer and it's a hard lesson I have also learned. Please don't neg the seller for this. The brokerage fee isn't going to the seller but to UPS.

[Anonymous]

[longdono]

First, let me say: I don't think anyone that's read through this post to this point is really going to believe any of the BS about UPS being super innocent in this; that's why there are class actions underway... (I signed up, did you? Well, don't bitch then :))

So, you'll never guess, but I bought something off ebay. Crazy, I know! Excited to get the item, I sent the shipping fee to the lovely person in the states. Then... I think, wait a minute, isn't there some insane fee that pretends to be a customs fee but isn't? I checked into it. Yup, I'm quite annoyed.

No worries, I researched my rights, etcetera, and figured, well, as several people here have stated, UPS is a reasonable organization just providing a customs clearing service. Many would suggest that the manor in which they try to collect it and the size of the charge is not based in reality, but that's not the point. The point is, they are a business, they can charge what they want, and they will at least treat me with some respect if I try to work within the system, right?


Call 1, to UPS
==============
I reach a nice lady and tell her I would like to self-clear my package, could she provide me with a copy of the waybill? She is more than happy to oblige, gets my email address and notes that sometimes it can take up to 15 minutes to arrive. I am quite pleased that this is going nicely, clearly UPS aren't trying to be deceptive or anything.

Call 2, to UPS
==============
It's been over 90 minutes, and no email. Hmmm. Not a good sign, oh well, I'll just ask again. The lady is a bit confused by my request but is more than happy to oblige, and takes my email address again.


Call 3, to UPS
==============
I believe it's the next day. I speak to some guy in Brokerage. He informs me that I can clear my package, but I'll need to be in Lachine, Quebec, where the item is to cross the border. It is not possible for me to clear the package here in Nova Scotia, even though there is a CBSA office here. Now, I figured he was giving me a song and dance, but not having any proof of this, I concede defeat and indicate I'll have to check into that and call back later.


Call 4, to CBSA
===============
I speak to a fellow who seems to know exactly what I'm trying to avoid, and tries to locate my item in transit (or something, took at least 5 minutes), but he can't find Lachine, Quebec as he's "not from that area." He reassures me that I can do what I'm trying to do, and provides me with a telephone number for the Lachine, QC office.


Call 5, to CBSA Lachine
=======================
Leave message with CBSA, as their answering system clearly is only to take messages and not take the call.

(the order of the following calls may be mixed up, but the call details are as described)

Call, to CBSA
=============
Guy in brokerage contacts the Halifax office and confirms that YES, I AM ABLE TO CLEAR THE PACKAGE AT THE LOCAL OFFICE. Aha, so they were giving me a song and dance as I suspected. (Since then, I've confirmed this on various places on the Internet)

(( CBSA Lachine calls my cellphone while I'm at work. I didn't recognize the number immediately and don't answer. They don't leave a message. ))


Call, to UPS (abbreviated conversation that isn't the exact wording)
============
Talked with a lady who once again said I had to be be at the "border crossing."
Me> Oh, no, I can clear at the local CBSA office.
She> (( puts me on hold ))
"Sorry, you need to be in Lachine, QC"
Me> Oh, I know they require you to say that, but I've talked to CBSA, they said it's fine, I just want a copy of the waybill, I'll clear it with them.
She> (( puts me on hold ))
"I'm sorry, that's against UPS Policy."
Me> I'm sorry, what?
She> "That's against UPS Policy. I'm so sorry I can't help you."
The agent is genuinely sorry, I can hear in her voice that she knows that what's she's doing is not in my best interest but alas, it's part of the job. I thanked the girl and said not to worry, I would figure something else out.

Call, to CBSA
=============
Had placed this call attempting to clarify if UPS had the right to do that to me, as, don't I have the right to self clear? Unfortunately, I worded my first question poorly, and the cranky lady told me that CBSA did not have control over a companies policy and what the heck do you expect? Okay, I added the last part. In any event, she didn't clearly didn't wish to assist me, so I bade her farewell.


While I ended the last call with UPS quite confidently, days go by, and I began to worry that UPS probably log calls with the associated tracking number and could try to delay the shipping of the item (a tablet PC I'm anxiously awaiting) in order to teach me a lesson for trying to avoid their brokerage fees, exorbitant though I (we) think they may be. At the very least, I expect that they may try to call me to collect the fees they want prior to delivery. Damn. I should have just tried to self-clear from the local UPS hub...

More days pass, and my item, which was scheduled for delivery, encounters a "Delivery Exception." Uh oh. "Adverse Weather Conditions." "Delivery rescheduled." Now, it no long indicates when my item will be delivered. It made it to Lachine and was released from customs immediately, but apparently it's gotten nowhere since then, and that was 3 days ago. Nice! As if I'm already not nervous about this...

I dropped a line to the shipper to let them know about this foolishness, if only to assist him in the future, and he thought it was insane, as UPS had already collected $107 from hip for the shipping! (He only charged me $85). He reread my email at a later point and said he'd be willing to go splits on the brokerage charges. I thanked the very generous young doctor, but told him I hoped neither of us would be paying them.

He sent me a fax of the papers he'd received when they shipped the item. I'll be calling CBSA on July 2nd to see if that's enough for me to self-clear the item, despite UPS attempts at, let's face it UPS Apologists, outright lies to mislead me to think I had no other options. I have no problem seeing people set straight when they go WHY WHY WHY to the charges and don't think they owe any taxes or duty. But sadly, some people make statements that imply the fees are almost all due to our "glorious government" or some such falsehood.

So.. I've continued to read many threads about this, and have encountered only a few where where people have been successful in self-clearing their package. There only seems to be about three scenarios...

a) avoided the delivery and went to the city depot, asked for self-clear papers, waited while staff made them wait 55 minutes for a print-out, went to CBSA, back to UPS, got their item, still considered it worth it even though they had to drive back and forth, paid parking, etcetera.

b) item was left without bill. Paid CBSA, provided proof of this when bill arrived in mail.

b) paid with credit card, THEN, reported the card stolen (I kid you not). When they paid, they took the info FedEx/UPS (?) gave them, went to CBSA, paid the taxes, and when FedEx/UPS billed them because the charge didn't go through, sent a copy of their payment for the taxes. Wow! Needless to say, I won't be doing that and nor should you, something to do with it being illegal and all that, though, I can see how people would react that way when UPS pulls a fast one.

I guess later this week I'll see whether the local UPS staff are as uncooperative as their telephone support is. With any luck, I hope to be pleasantly surprised and will let you all know. Otherwise, I will have some new fodder for my blog; the sort of content that won't be hidden away on page 17 of ebay thread.

All the best,
...Donovan