As has been said, even on this thread, previously
UPS/FedEx/DHL, and all other
*heres the important part*
Privately run FOR PROFIT business are NOT a part of the UPU, an institution which has been in existance for over 100 years, of which USPS and CP are members
THAT is why you only pay 5 to 8 dollars
The
Privately run FOR PROFIT couriers are allowed to charge whatever ... WHAT EVER, they feel the market will bear
When you buy something from out of the country, you become an importer, whether you like it, know it, or understand it.
That is the way it is.
And it IS up to importers to know the rules, the different methods, and most importantly, the rates charged by the various services
If everyone would stick to using USPS and CP, this thread would most likely not exist
to alisonlaidlaw - have you already recieved it, and paid for it?
If yes, then sorry but no, nothing you can do now
If it's in transit still, you can self-broker the item yourself, and save the UPS charges
self brokering
You need to call UPS, and inform them you will be self-brokering, and give them the item number
They will try telling you several things, just say whatever call me when it arrives @ the local depot
(I've read how they try telling people in Toronna that the nearest depot is in Windsor ... hogwash, they can deliver it to the nearest-to-you UPS store)
When it arrives - you print off the page showing how much you paid for the item
You take that to the UPS place where your item is, and get the paperwork for your item
You take all that paperwork to your local Inland Customs/Clearance House
You present all your paperwork, pay the taxes owing(no courier fees, just the taxes)
They stamp your paperwork
You take that back to UPS, and you are given your item ... no more money owed
The important thing to remember is ... courier companies are run PRIVATE companies, run FOR PROFIT
Canada Post and the USPS are national companies, and are bound by the terms set by the Universal Postal Union (UPU)
An informed shopper is a shopper that doesn't pay needless expenses to a private courier, like UPS, FedEx, etc etc
C:
C:\spot
C:\spot\run
run spot.run
"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it."
George W. Bush