ups brokerage fee?!?!?

[emraphoto]

i just recieved a notice from ups that the package i was expecting was in town and i can pick it up. it also said there was a $91.14 cod brokerage fee?!?!? it was a 75mm voigtlander f2.5 that i had purchased here on rff for 275 US. that's more than 1/3 of the actual cost of the lens?!?! anyone know how one can avoid this?!? i was hoping i could send it back and have it to me sent via ole snail mail. i mean jeez, i can wait a few days and save 91 bucks!!!! it was mailed from michigan (US) to just outside of toronto (CND).
i have mailed NUMEROUS items to the us and recieved international deliveries before without having to pay a brokerage fee.
any advice/hints much appreciated
john
:bang: :bang: :bang:

 

[VictorM.]

You should have done some research here...my advice is NEVER USE UPS FOR ANYTHING AT ANYTIME!!

 

[dcsang]

Errrgh..
sorry to hear John.

UPS is THE DEVIL when it comes to shipping - but only with UPS Ground shipping - it's the worst out of the "big 3" shipping companies.

It totally sucks but in the future ask that things be sent by nothing else but USPS Global Express (if you need it fast) or just USPS if time (or tracking number) is not an issue.

Dave

 

[flashover]

if the item has to cross a boarder never never never never NEVER have items shipped to you by UPS They arer the king of over charging. The fees sometimes are more then the item.

 

[StuartR]

DHL and FedEx...UPS is a nightmare internationally. I waited six months for some packages I sent from Russia express...it cost me 500 dollars and they could not tell me where the packages were for 5 and a half months. It was scheduled to take 5 days. Then they finally showed up and they refused to credit me anything more than 100 dollars on the grounds that "UPS Russia is a separate entity". I speak Russian, and when I called UPS Russia they said they had nothing to do with it and that the responsibility was with UPS US. It was a nightmare. UPS can be great if you know your local guy and the shipments are within the US, but for international services DHL or FedEx are almost manditory, with DHL being the best because they do not charge you such crazy brokerage fees.

 

[emraphoto]

ups

ups

well i certainly appreciate the reply's....
question. i never asked for it to be shipped ups. it was the choice of the sender though i don't think he had any idea this was going to happen and this is probably a suprise to both of us. i also wasn't aware it was being sent ups until after the package was en route. what's the protocol here? am i just basically s.o.l? do i have a point of contention with the seller/sender?
how about the refusal to pay it? can i have it returned to the sender and have him mail it regular post?
91 dollars... man. i could have just bought a new one here in toronto for what i'll now end up paying.
grrrr!
john

 

[flashover]

I always ask first. Some sellers will only ship UPS so I don't buy from them. It causes to many problems.

 

[emraphoto]

now i'm really pissed...

now i'm really pissed...

i just printed a document that clearly states the "brokerage fee" for an item shipped into canada from the us with a value of between 200-350 is $37.60!!!
what the hell is going on here!?!?
hey jorge... what about an open letter to ups?
there is currently a class action law suit being filed by a man in vancouver regarding the exact same thing. as soon as the courts decide it fit's the requirements for a "class action lawsuit" it will be official. they are asking in part for all fee's in question to be refunded!!!! wow! sign me up!

 

[w3rk5]

I know how you feel John. I've never deal with anyone who ships UPS only. I'm with Dave on this one "USPS Global Express (if you need it fast) or just USPS if time (or tracking number) is not an issue".

I hope you will be able to send it back and have the seller ship it by USPS Global Express instead without any issues. Keep us updated on this one please.

 

[ikiru]

I feel the pain. But if you didn't ask the seller to ship USPS it is sort of your fault!

I was first burned many years ago by ups....I haven't delt with them since. Recently I bought a scanner on Ebay...I paid EXTRA to get it sent usps....and gave them very specific instructions...The seller sent me the wrong scanner (the Version II minolta 5400 rather than the I) and sent it ups....and I got nailed for the fees. I wouldn't have accepted it, but I wasn't home when it arrived.
So I was pretty screwed..

 

[emraphoto]

the devil...

the devil...

http://www.poynerbaxter.com/UPS.htm
Poyner Baxter LLP

UPS

October 25, 2006

Poyner Baxter has filed a class action lawsuit against UPS.

The lawsuit claims that on the purchase of goods from the US, UPS fails to obtain consumers’ consent to act as customs broker; or to disclose the existence or amount of the brokerage fee which they charge; or to provide consumers with the opportunity to arrange for customs clearance by themselves. It also claims that the amount of the brokerage fee charged is grossly excessive.

To view the Statement of Claim, click here.

To read media coverage, click here for CBC News, CKNW News, and Canoe Network News, and to read the press release, click here.

If you would like to be included in our database of people in British Columbia who have paid UPS brokerage fees, click here.

For further information email classaction@poynerbaxter.com or phone 604 988-6321.

If you have paid UPS brokerage fees in another province and would like more information, email vicky.theodos@siskinds.com or phone Siskind, Cromarty, Ivey & Dowler LLP at (519) 672-2251 ext 385.



This Web site is offered for information only and is not legal advice. Use of the site and sending or receiving information through it does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Links to and from from this Web site do not state or imply a relationship between Poyner Baxter LLP and the linked entity.

 

[David Murphy]

The problems with UPS go way beyond the brokerage fees. I could write an essay on the subject, but I won't. I simply refuse to use them. Unfortunately they do have great marketing -- so much so that the average person thinks they are superior to USPS.

 

[emraphoto]

the essay...

the essay...

please david, do write the essay. i will take great pleasure in sending it to ups canada customer service. i have spent the better part of the evening pasting internet comments about the matter into emails i am forwarding them. it seems they have a bit of a reputation all over the net.

 

[Alan]

I had this happened to me once. I bought a used canonet used for 120 dollars. The canadian government charged me 14%, and UPS charged me 50% brokerage fee. I will never ever consider using UPS again.

 

[Leica Ron]

You might have to chalk this one up to experience, just think it is less than 100 bucks.

UPS Ground is brutal, but I haven't recently (last two-years) had any problems when shipping from B&H up to Ontario using UPS Expedited services.

BTW, my company hq is in Montreal, my branch is near Hamiltion, we use DHL because UPS keep losing packages between here and Montreal, can you believe it ?

 

[Leica Ron]

btw, on getting stuck in customs ...

"Camera Lens" doesn't usually cause confusion, but add the words "and filter" ... and customs don't know what to do with it !

 

[flashover]

it's not just camera equipment. I recived a small package of automotive parts for a 55 T-Bird. There is no duty on these only taxes. 14% for federal and prov sales taxes. The cost of the parts $122 USD shipping paid to sender. UPS shows up at the door with it COD for taxes and fees. 86.30 CND. The taxes were 19.33 so that's 66.97 for fees alone as the shipping was paid at the senders end.

 

[VictorM.]

well, just a thought --- from a customs perspective...
1) What is the hs number for the lens? (the hs number varies for the same product between any 2 countries)
2) Is an export license required for the product (technology, weapons, other suprising stuff depending what the item is and where it's shipped)
3) Duties and Taxes (varies with value and hs number of said item)
4) Are you on the us doj denied party list? (all international packages have to address this - this predates 9/11 and the list is lengthy, used to prevent overseas commerce weith drug dealers, terrorists, bad guys... This list has been around a long time)


There are many other factors, plus a lot of paperwork that ups and fedex and others fill out for you behind the scenes... Of course, being that it's business, they cahrge for this service...

I used to work here:
http://www.ftn.fedex.com/

This is always interesting to know...BUT ups charges far more for their services than any other courier. Canada Post charges as little as $5.00 (CDN) for the same brokerage service.

 

[FrankS]

Standard mailing procedure/best practices for items over $100:

shipping from Canada to other countries, use XpressPost

shipping from US to other countries, use Global Priority Mail (up to 4 lbs)

these methods provide tracking numbers and insurance

I'm a little unsure of the US side, is there something called EMS?

 

[emraphoto]

update

update

here's some "interesting" info taken from the canada customs act (directly from their website). it seems to me, and i am no lawyer, that what ups is doing may be illegal. thoughts?

Written Authority to Act as Agent
3. Any person who proposes to transact business with customs as the agent of another person is responsible for ensuring that the proper authority has been granted.

4. The CBSA accepts any form of written authority that indicates the agent has been authorized to transact business on behalf of another person (usually the importer or owner). Form E639, Agency Agreement, may be used for this purpose. You will find the form in the appendix or on our Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca/.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cm/d1-6-1/d1-6-1-e.html