Shipping via UPS to Canada

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 4:11 pm

I recently shipped a package to a member in Canada, and went to the UPS Store. While there I was given quotes for UPS, USPS, and FedEx. UPS was the "least expensive", by about 3-4 dollars (it cost about $30 to ship), so I went with them. Now the package has arrived in Canada, and our friend tells me that UPS is charging $75 more over and above the shipping fee I paid on the shipping end! This to me is unconscionable. I know that we send a lot of packages back and forth across the border, but is this a standard practice for our Canadian friends (to get gouged on the "receiving end" (a bit of double entendre there, eh?))?

I'd like to hear from our friends north of the border, and see if this is standard, but for me, short term (and permanently if this is their normal business model) I won't be shipping anything to Canada using UPS. For the rest of us US Members, I'd advise using USPS to ship to Canada (if the package meets size and weight limitations). When I get back home I'll do a bit of investigation and keep you posted on their (UPS's) "justification" for this kind of bait and switch tactic.

For me (for now) it's "To hell with UPS"...

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 4:27 pm

cliffiec wrote:

I recently shipped a package to a member in Canada, and went to the UPS Store. While there I was given quotes for UPS, USPS, and FedEx. UPS was the "least expensive", by about 3-4 dollars (it cost about $30 to ship), so I went with them. Now the package has arrived in Canada, and our friend tells me that UPS is charging $75 more over and above the shipping fee I paid on the shipping end! This to me is unconscionable. I know that we send a lot of packages back and forth across the border, but is this a standard practice for our Canadian friends (to get gouged on the "receiving end" (a bit of double entendre there, eh?))?

I'd like to hear from our friends north of the border, and see if this is standard, but for me, short term (and permanently if this is their normal business model) I won't be shipping anything to Canada using UPS. For the rest of us US Members, I'd advise using USPS to ship to Canada (if the package meets size and weight limitations). When I get back home I'll do a bit of investigation and keep you posted on their (UPS's) "justification" for this kind of bait and switch tactic.

For me (for now) it's "To hell with UPS"...

Do not ship anything to Canada from the US via UPS or Purolator or Fed Ex. Only ship USPS if possible, because USPS only charges a nominal $5 handling fee at the border to hand over to Canada Post (same as USPS), and then "sometimes" they (Canada Post) will also charge the taxes. The assholes at the others charge a brokerage and duty fee, and also taxes, on the declared value. This can easily be 50% of the declared value extra and above the initial shipping charge.

If I MUST ship larger items by UPS, I have it sent to a holding center at the border on the US side (40 mins from me) and then go get it myself .... that way no duty or brokerage.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:06 pm

I completely agree with Petrat. For shipping to Canada from US, there are only really two good options. One, use USPS. Two, if that is not possible, ship to a US holding service of some type (I use the Ogdensberg UPS store) and then drive over from Canada to get it in person.

Using UPS from the US to Canada always results in the Canadian receiver getiing a$$ F'd at the delivery point.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:11 pm

petrat wrote:

cliffiec wrote:

I recently shipped a package to a member in Canada, and went to the UPS Store. While there I was given quotes for UPS, USPS, and FedEx. UPS was the "least expensive", by about 3-4 dollars (it cost about $30 to ship), so I went with them. Now the package has arrived in Canada, and our friend tells me that UPS is charging $75 more over and above the shipping fee I paid on the shipping end! This to me is unconscionable. I know that we send a lot of packages back and forth across the border, but is this a standard practice for our Canadian friends (to get gouged on the "receiving end" (a bit of double entendre there, eh?))?

I'd like to hear from our friends north of the border, and see if this is standard, but for me, short term (and permanently if this is their normal business model) I won't be shipping anything to Canada using UPS. For the rest of us US Members, I'd advise using USPS to ship to Canada (if the package meets size and weight limitations). When I get back home I'll do a bit of investigation and keep you posted on their (UPS's) "justification" for this kind of bait and switch tactic.

For me (for now) it's "To hell with UPS"...

Do not ship anything to Canada from the US via UPS or Purolator or Fed Ex. Only ship USPS if possible, because USPS only charges a nominal $5 handling fee at the border to hand over to Canada Post (same as USPS), and then "sometimes" they (Canada Post) will also charge the taxes. The assholes at the others charge a brokerage and duty fee, and also taxes, on the declared value. This can easily be 50% of the declared value extra and above the initial shipping charge.

If I MUST ship larger items by UPS, I have it sent to a holding center at the border on the US side (40 mins from me) and then go get it myself .... that way no duty or brokerage.

Yep...

Jebby

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:28 pm

I recently bought a pair of shocks from a member in the US and had the same experience. It was roughly $70 for shipping and when UPS came to my door I was told I needed to pay an additional $76 charge. It was a brokerage fee that nobody was warned about prior to shipping that was absolutely non-negotiable.
A giant pain in the rear. I will make sure that I ask members to only use USPS in the future for anything I buy from the USA.

Cheers from Toronto.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:32 pm

I concur with everything petrat, rottenron, jebby and toronto78 said. DO NOT use UPS or FedEx for deliveries to Canada. We just get to bend over and take it.
Gabe

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:55 pm

I just shipped a 15 lb "care package" to my son at school in Barry's Bay, ONT. Shipping through USPS was $60, which seems ridiculous to me, but that was my cheapest choice. So when it gets there, he'll have to pay $5 to take the package? I shipped to a PO box at his school, so I wonder how that's going to fly. Confused

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 6:19 pm

tomk1960 wrote:

I just shipped a 15 lb "care package" to my son at school in Barry's Bay, ONT. Shipping through USPS was $60, which seems ridiculous to me, but that was my cheapest choice. So when it gets there, he'll have to pay $5 to take the package? I shipped to a PO box at his school, so I wonder how that's going to fly. Confused

There is no consistency .... it's hit or miss. If they decide to charge you tax on the shipment (declared value), then they will also have you pay the handling fee. I have received stuff that was valued at over $1000, and paid no handling fee or taxes, but, have had to pay the fee and taxes on something that is valued at less than $100.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 6:20 pm

rottenron wrote:

I completely agree with Petrat. For shipping to Canada from US, there are only really two good options. One, use USPS. Two, if that is not possible, ship to a US holding service of some type (I use the Ogdensberg UPS store) and then drive over from Canada to get it in person.

Using UPS from the US to Canada always results in the Canadian receiver getiing a$$ F'd at the delivery point.

Yep, that's what I do .... normally use The Corporate Center .....

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 6:22 pm

Watertown is right across the border, too. Hint. Hint. Free storage, too. Well, maybe a frosty beverage. Will even drink that frosty beverage while you install those new parts on your bike.

Steve

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:53 pm

Same experience for me. After being severely burned by UPS brokerage fees on a $30 item, I won't order anything from the US that isn't delivered via USPS. Even for stuff that's being delivered to a US mail drop I request USPS even if it costs more (although sometimes I have to reluctantly break that rule).

This is nothing new, it's been this way for many, many years although I think the bogus charges have gotten worse lately.

On a related note: recently many eBay'ers and other US based shippers seem to be taking advantage of some sort of standard box rate offered by various carriers- I guess the carrier provide the standard sized boxes - which are often way larger than they need to be be to contain the shipped item. I guess it's simpler for the shipper but often way more expensive for the receiver who typically pays the shipping charges. Contrary to conventional wisdom, shipping charges are based almost entirely on the volume of the box, rather than the weight.

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 9:07 pm

Standard box rates are a deal breaker for me....I will keep shopping.....
I almost won a nice set of CBX carbs last night.....$668...seller lowered the reserve....
but I was like "$40 for shipping?" screw that....I got out at $610......

Why screw that? I just shipped my CBX carbs to Mike Nixon in Cali for $23 w/$500 insurance.....Fed Ex....
Where was the auction? California.

I have eaten shipping many times here or helped out on it to sell a part.....especially here....it pays forward.

A big reason I gave up the valve seals was due to the international shipping rates and the amount of time it took to get them there.....
I think Customs has an algorithm database that tracks shipment from a certain place.....for 18months I could ship around the world in 5-7 days....after that 10-15.....everytime....

Gene has more time than I do to mess with it! Smile

Jebby

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:51 am

cliffiec wrote:

I recently shipped a package to a member in Canada, and went to the UPS Store. While there I was given quotes for UPS, USPS, and FedEx. UPS was the "least expensive", by about 3-4 dollars (it cost about $30 to ship), so I went with them. Now the package has arrived in Canada, and our friend tells me that UPS is charging $75 more over and above the shipping fee I paid on the shipping end! This to me is unconscionable. I know that we send a lot of packages back and forth across the border, but is this a standard practice for our Canadian friends (to get gouged on the "receiving end" (a bit of double entendre there, eh?))?

I'd like to hear from our friends north of the border, and see if this is standard, but for me, short term (and permanently if this is their normal business model) I won't be shipping anything to Canada using UPS. For the rest of us US Members, I'd advise using USPS to ship to Canada (if the package meets size and weight limitations). When I get back home I'll do a bit of investigation and keep you posted on their (UPS's) "justification" for this kind of bait and switch tactic.

For me (for now) it's "To hell with UPS"...

The $75 may be custom duty. Some items, if not classified properly, are charged a high duty rate. The declaration form that needed to be filled prior to shipment was most likely resulted in an erroneous classification.

Besides, there is a reason why UPS uniforms are brown! Very Happy

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:44 am

cliffiec wrote:

I recently shipped a package to a member in Canada, and went to the UPS Store. While there I was given quotes for UPS, USPS, and FedEx. UPS was the "least expensive", by about 3-4 dollars (it cost about $30 to ship), so I went with them. Now the package has arrived in Canada, and our friend tells me that UPS is charging $75 more over and above the shipping fee I paid on the shipping end! This to me is unconscionable. I know that we send a lot of packages back and forth across the border, but is this a standard practice for our Canadian friends (to get gouged on the "receiving end" (a bit of double entendre there, eh?))?

I'd like to hear from our friends north of the border, and see if this is standard, but for me, short term (and permanently if this is their normal business model) I won't be shipping anything to Canada using UPS. For the rest of us US Members, I'd advise using USPS to ship to Canada (if the package meets size and weight limitations). When I get back home I'll do a bit of investigation and keep you posted on their (UPS's) "justification" for this kind of bait and switch tactic.

For me (for now) it's "To hell with UPS"...

Hey everyone;

First off, I was the lucky guy that was fleeced by UPS. It was in no way Rick's fault. I knew about the UPS pirates and in my excitement to get Rick's cooler setup I completely forgot to warn Rick to use USPS for the package. (Rick was too damn efficient too!!)

Just so everyone understands what the UPS bill was about, here is an account right from the bill.

GST - $13.82 (for the cooler setup)
Brokerage Fee - $58.96
GST - $2.93 (on the brokerage fee)

Total - $75.40

Nothing on the bill is actually deemed to be "duty" as the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the US eliminates most duties.

Rick did all of the leg work on the cooler setup and ultimately saved me from incurring other shipping costs so at the end of the day I am probably not much worse than break even. If any good came from this, everyone will understand the cross border shipping nightmares. Freight costs in general have risen so much in the past few years, and the cross border rates have sky-rocketed. I do not know if the same problem exists going from Canada into the US. I know the freight is higher, but do not know how couriers like UPS handle the brokerage fees for you US guys.

Anyway, I have that gorgeous cooler set up and the pain from the UPS reaming will soon be gone. Lesson learned, move on.

Now I need some new gauges....

Later

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:53 am

free trade my ass. bought a $100 exhaust from the US. Duty + broker an additional $100 total $200 had to use ups because of size. didn't like it but didn't complain because @ 200 it was a steal. USPS is the only way to go but lately I have noticed there prices have skyrocketed for std package sizes. but still the most economical way and I have not paid tax once yet, even on non used parts. I think the key is in the package description "used parts"

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:49 pm

You bought ANOTHER exhaust, Ed? Jeez. How many do you have now?

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:59 pm

Thanks for the info. Just got a quote to Canada from ups, will reduce usps

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 4:30 pm

toronto78 wrote:

You bought ANOTHER exhaust, Ed? Jeez. How many do you have now?

pm in your box Jason

MB-5 Joined: Apr 02, 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Halifax

UPS is the worst way to send something to Canada from the US. There is a "Canadian" UPS and they act like a separate entity from the states version. As soon as anything hits the border, they peg, tarrif and excise coasts onto it, convert the value to Canadian and tax it plus add their own delivery, shipping and gas fees on top. In the past I have gotten $50 parts with $63 UPS bills on top of all the rest. This is consistant with them here. I haven't used them in 7 years and will do without rather than get something via UPS. USPS/Canada Post has improved drastically over the last years - use them.

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:57 pm

Quote:

In the past I have gotten $50 parts with $63 UPS bills on top of all the rest.

I think I'd just refuse the shipment, return to sender.

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 9:44 pm

genesound wrote:

Quote:

In the past I have gotten $50 parts with $63 UPS bills on top of all the rest.

I think I'd just refuse the shipment, return to sender.

UPS Ground does not give you the option. By that I mean, they will deliver the package and bill the recipient at a later time. If the recipient refused then the sender ends up paying for it. I'm fighting a charge where I sent a free part to someone in Nova Scotia.

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 1:13 am

Best policy is just say no and never use them if it's avoidable.

MB-5 Joined: Mar 09, 2012 Posts: 15 Location: ABQ, NM, USA

I have had board members from Canada freak out if I suggested another shipping method besides USPS. USPS it is and has been since. At that, it is still costly but the customers are not hit with the monetary burden as it would be with other carriers.

I wish it wasn't case in regards to shipping to Canada.