BRS Shipping Fees Excessive

[Myka]

I won't order anything from the US unless the vendor will ship via USPS as well. I was burned with a $64 UPS brokerage bill 3 months after receiving a $110 used skimmer. HOWEVER, Bulk Reef Supply is the exception! I have received many orders from BRS that are shipped via UPS, and BRS has always taken care of the UPS brokerage fees. I find their shipping is rather reasonable in comparison to other companies in the US, and their prices are often lower than Canadian companies as long as I order several items at a time. Keep in mind our dollar it pretty much on the par right now, so that helps BRS look even better.

Originally Posted by Spiny

personally before I order anything from the US, I compare the prices with canadian businesses. When and only when it's less expensive in the US do I order there. Most of the time I go local, except with BRS... for some reason their prices are stilll competitive after brokerage and shipping. Keep it up BRS!

That's exactly what I do. I also don't order any electrical products from the US because it is too costly to ship back for warranty issues. If you buy a US product it is warrantied in the US.

Originally Posted by fencer

I am not sure why BRS does not want to use USPS. They don't say why either...correct me if I am wrong

Page 1, post #9. It was you in fact that asked why no USPS, and snarkys (BRS) replied to you.

[StirCrazy]

Everything I order from the US is shipped USPS. I ordered 12 bucks of trial LEDs from one company who shipeed them UPS and when they got to my door they wanted 35 bucks in brokerage fees. I simplily refused the shipment and called the company and explained the problem and that it was requested to be sent USPS. they got the item back and turned around and shiped USPS and it cost me 5 bucks.

as for tracking I just recived two parcles from UPS and there tracking system is no better. one said it was out fro delivery and I got it that day. the other one was still in onterio and I got it at 10 am. I have actualy found the tracking with USPS very good and consistant but I imagin there are just as many problems as any other company.

USPS/Canada post do charge brokerage fees but they it is a 5 buck processing fee, and as for the actual freight charge they are generly 1/2 the price of UPS for equivalent weight. time wise, USPS is longer than UPS but not by much.. two day UPS to canada doesnt happen as it is held up at the boarder for up to a week. USPS is generaly 5 to 8 working days, so if your not in a hurry you can save a lot of money over UPS. 30 buck minimum per shipment in brokerage fees alone.

I don't like it when companies automaticly charge duty and taxes also, as most of the stuff we buy there is no duty on, and we only pay provincial taxes over a specific amount. so there most of the time colecting this money which you don't need to pay. so do they return it to you?? I doubt it. for example, there is no duty on products that are "Made in the USA".
a good example is I ordered 2500.00 worth of parts for my truck from the US. when I got here I had to pay 25 buck in taxes/duty on it. if a company automaticly took 15% for "taxes and duty" that would be 375.00 so now that company just put 350.00 in there pocket. now even if all the stuff was from signapor in BC you would pay 12% plus duty, but only cuz we have the HST. last year it would have been 6% alberta will pay no taxes and only duty, ect....

Steve

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

I don't like it when companies automaticly charge duty and taxes also, as most of the stuff we buy there is no duty on, and we only pay provincial taxes over a specific amount. so there most of the time colecting this money which you don't need to pay. so do they return it to you?? I doubt it. for example, there is no duty on products that are "Made in the USA".
a good example is I ordered 2500.00 worth of parts for my truck from the US. when I got here I had to pay 25 buck in taxes/duty on it. if a company automaticly took 15% for "taxes and duty" that would be 375.00 so now that company just put 350.00 in there pocket. now even if all the stuff was from signapor in BC you would pay 12% plus duty, but only cuz we have the HST. last year it would have been 6% alberta will pay no taxes and only duty, ect....

Steve

+1 - USPS brokerage is the most reasonable. UPS automatically bills a ridiculous brokerage fee no matter what the item. As for duty - I always check the rules before ordering anything and deal with the brokerage myself and request usps delivery. If UPS is the only option I don't bother unless the savings are too good to let up (this is usually the cases with watches).

As for BRS, I live by the border so I pay a small continental US shipping charge, then drive 45 minutes to pick up the items. Most of the stuff i order is duty free.

If you guys and girls are just looking for their bulk stuff (ie. gfo, carbon, calc, etc.) there is a place in guelph, ontario that re-sells their stuff. Its about the same price as BRS's preferred rate and they have a flat shipping charge for all of Canada.