I live in Canada just across the boarder from detroit. I ordered some items for my G from the US. The first shippment arrived today. It was a K&N filter and Z-tube. Payed $140 US.

The UPS guy comes to the door and asks my mom to pay an additional $62 CDN. ($1 US = $1.20 CDN)

$20 for taxes which is normal (15% tax in ontario)
$42 Brokerage Fees

WTF are brokerage fees! how can they justify $42. Does anyone know any thing about these so called brokerage fees? Can I do anything about this?

I have purchased from the US many times before (but not auto parts) and never had any problems. You just have to pay the tax.

Now I'm afraid as the other items come in, they are just going to rap me w/ these brokerage fees.

If anyone has any experience w/ this please let me know.

PieroG35

 

i don't understand how UPS can ask you for money. they just deliver. i would figure the fee's would be charged prior to shipping. seems fishy to me

 

That's what happened when I bought my clear corners. You need to count on paying about 1.5 times what you thought.

 

You said the DIRTY WORD = 'UPS'

You want ALL ITEMS sent by USPS at all costs. That way you avoid or get low flat rate brokerage. UPS gouges us for brokerage, so do anything to avoid them.

Brokerage is the paper-handling that must be performed whenever anything over a certain value passes through customs. In essence, you are paying them to do the paperwork and virtually 'carry your item through customs,' though the broker may not actual touch your item physically.

AVOID THOSE UPS ARSEWHOLES!!!! (I'm mad for the many, many times that I ended up paying more to UPS than for the actual product!)

 

Thanks. That's the info. I was looking for! I'm going to give them a call tomorrow. I might not accomplish anything. But I'm going to complain anyways.

 

Every other shipping company charges less than UPS.

 

For me, from US to Canada, if seller cannot ship via USPS (united state postal services) I just dont buy because I know I am gona get raped.

I THINK if seller indicate the item as a gift you MIGHT me ok....(with ups)

Solution:

If you use USPS, most of the time you pay NO taxes or duties fee, your package is tranfered to Canada post at the border. In the worst case if they inspect your package you will pay both taxe and a dutie fee of 6$ (can.) It only happen to me once on MANY transactions.

Keep in mind that with USPS you dont have a tracking number for across the border like UPS, might be a good thing to insure your goodies...

 

It can be a real shocker when it happens the first time.

Wait 'till you get into big ticket items

For small items I really try to take advantage of the personal exemption when I go to the US