UPS Charges

[fencer]

I found this link about UPS charges...just interesting reading


http://www.rossde.com/UPS_sucks/

[Delphinus]

LOL I like how without even reading the article, you have a vague idea where the guy could be going with this. I mean, the URL pretty much kinda gives it away doesn't it ..

[fencer]

FYI...in my past dealings with UPS they HAVE asked me if I want to be represented by them to do the paperwork. If I had said no...then what do I do? So I usually say yes. Since port of entry is in Van. The link gave some answers. I have always thought they ( UPS and any other frieght service) just walk across to Canada customs in the next office or phone to get you customs clearance. Freight services might make it tough for you to do your own paperwork. I am too chicken to try.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Ship via USPS, not UPS.

[Delphinus]

I try to avoid UPS on any inbound-from-U.S. products I've purchased. It's not so bad if you, say, buy something for $500 and then get charged $50 as it's only 10% at that point, but I've been nailed by this brokerage fee when I've bought something for $20. Lesson learned. It's not like they're alone in this practise though. I've had something come by Fedex and I was charged $70 for brokerage. At least with UPS you know you have to pay this fee because you don't get your package if you don't pay. With Fedex the item arrived at my door and a month later an invoice was sent to me. I had no idea what the invoice was for so I threw it out thinking that someone was scamming me. Later I got a second letter with a slightly-less-friendly tone to it (but at least this time they explained better why they were sending Guido).

This brokerage fee is a scam, sure, (just like a service charge for banking or increasing premiums for insurance on a depreciating asset), but, what can you do. They're not going to stop charging it. The problem is that they probably DO tell the people who ship items "Hey this will have a brokerage fee at the other end" but that message never gets carried through to the buyer/receiving end, so it invariably comes as an unpleasant surprise.

What drives me crazy is the fact that if you're not home to receive the package, they try for 3 days to deliver and then say "Ok you have to come to the depot to pick it up on your own time. Oh BTW we're not open weekends, or evenings, haha." There have been times I've just gone to the depot close to closing time and wait for the truck to come in before the driver goes home, in the hopes of being able to get my package. And if you ever decide to have livestock shipped by UPS, for pity's sake take the day off from work - otherwise the livestock gets stuck in the delivery hell of 3 attempts @ 1 attempt per day, that package is gonna be rank at the end of that.

In fact it did happen that I was in a group order for livestock ... actually come to think of it now, it's happened to me a few times .. where the shipment was sent towards the end of the week and the shipper just thought "UPS will deliver this on Saturday." In one case the shipper even PAID extra to have Saturday delivery. I guess it was more of a "haha good luck with that" fee because naturally they did not deliver on Saturday. The packages were stuck in limbo over the weekends and in both cases the frags were complete writeoffs (ended up RTN'ing over the course of a few days). So .. that was another lesson learned, if the seller insists on using UPS - insist on a Monday to Wednesday shipment, otherwise it's just too close to the weekend. Or be prepared to lose the livestock.

[Samw]

Haha. I still remember the time that I bought some golden pearls from Brine Shrimp Direct and they shipped it to me by UPS (after I told them to use USPS) and I refused to accept the package and I had it shipped back. UPS tried to collect a brokerage fee from me (I think around $20) and sent a collection agency after me even though I didn't accept the package. I couldn't believe it.

[Chowder]

Had the same thing happen to me with the Kent salt problem . They sent me up a replacement bucket through UPS and it was delivered to me at the office. Got a letter 2 weeks later from a collecting agency wanting the brokerage fee of $42 . If I knew this in the first place I would of just went and bought a new bucket of salt. It would of cost me less.

[howdy20012002]

if you ship overnight, the brokerage fees are waived.(u still pay the GST)
In alot of cases, it actually works out to be the same costs as the normal shipping and you get the stuff the next day.
One time it was actually cheaper to have it overnighted than it would have been shipping at normal rates.
just something to think about if you use them again.
this is the case for both fedex and UPS I believe..FEDEX for sure..UPS Almost sure
HTH
Neal

[mark]

My last dealing with UPS was over some filters for the fridge. I confirmed from the supplier both by phone and e-mail they would ship via USPS (and not UPS). Ordered the $80 worth of filters prepaid and what happens, UPS delivered when I wasn't home and wife unknowingly accepted and signed the UPS bill for ~$36.00!

Since if I would have returned the product, UPS would still have my money (and I would have to pay for shipping back) I freaked on the supplier. They ended up putting $36.00 USD on my credit card.

Buddy I have is a e-Bay junkie and he gets Purolator to ship from the US. Last thing he bought was a reconditioned Olympus camera from the manufacturer for $150. Total cost included shipping was $165.00 from back east in the States to Edmonton.

[fencer]

Many suppliers are reluctant to use USPS. Bigger ones because of volume and smaller ones, sometimes I think some are too lazy to ship USPS...they would rather have UPS go door to door. I think I would not be doing business with them if they didn't offer that option.