"UPS Shipping Canada/USA" Topic

Whenever I receive a package from the USA from a manufacturer, and it is sent via UPS, I get hit with a brokerage fee, which is usually between $30 USD and $40. USD If the same package is sent via FedEX or the Post Office (USPS), there is not a brokerage fee.

Has anyone else noticed this? The reason I ask is because I just had a friend Cc me in on his email complaint to a US company for shipping him his order via UPS. He was asked to pay a $40 USD brokerage fee after he already paid $40 USD for shipping. So the total would have been $80 USD for shipping a pair of hiking boots to Canada. He refused the package and asked UPS to return it to sender with the instructions to resend the package via USPS.

I ship a number of packages to US customer each year and many of these are via FedEX Ground. From Canada to the USA. I choose FedEX Ground because they do not charge a brokerage fee, but will if one is applied to the package after it has been shipped. Despite being in business for over 4 years now, I have never been charged a brokerage fee, nor have any of my customers reported a brokerage fee being applied to their order.

I do not ship via UPS to the USA because UPS told me that they "automatically" charge a $43 USD brokerage fee to all commercial packages, egardless if a brokerage fee is charged or not. UPS' basic shipping fee is the same as FedEX, but with a whopping $43 USD brokerage fee applied, they end up being x3.5 more expensive. Since I have shipped packages with a value of $100 USD or more to the USA using FedEX, without ever hearing anything about a brokerage fee being applied, I can only assume that UPS is getting paid twice for shipping between Canada and the USA. If only I could charge fees like this and get away with it… I'd make more money this way than having to sell a product.

E.H.

UPS is infamous for this. I refuse to accept shipments via UPS, and inform the seller if there is no other option then the purchase will not be made.

Yep, avoid UPS like the plague. Never order from a place unless they confirm that they're shipping with someone else. You will get charged even if there are no customs fees to be paid.

Happens to me all the time Eric. Package from the U.S. via UPS, includes service charge, handling fee, pot of tea charge.
A book bought in the States cost $19.00, UPS Surcharge $20.00.

I try to avoid UPS (and FedEx) if at all possible because it is more expensive – at least where I live. Trying to FedEx a package to my sister-in-law in remote BC, I was told it would cost $120 USD because it had to go airmail from my location. I took it to the PO and sent it for $40 USD (admittedly it was a large, heavy package).

Avoid UPS like the plague. Very expensive and hard to deal with when they screw up. UPS lost a package of mine and then after about a month of wrangling they delivered it to my door and just left it there. I was not home and they would not/could not provide a proof of delivery (i.e. my signature). A month later they send me a bill for over $80 USD Canadian to pay their brokerage and duty I would not have had to pay if 1) they hadn't lost the first shipment,2) it had come US Postal Service. I finally made it go away by paying about $30. USD Funny thing is after about six months, UPS relents and sends me a refund for the full $80!!! After the debates with them on why I should not have to pay them money I did not owe them, I did not call call back to try to explain why I should return money they did not owe me. So, maybe UPS isn't so bad after all? I will not intentionally order anything that is shipped UPS from the US to Canada. Rob.

Agree with everyone.

Ditto in my experience, glad to hear I'm not alone. Every UPS shipment I've recieved from the US over the past 3 years has had the brokerage fee (again around $30.00 USD USD to $40.00 USD USD). None of USPS and Fedex shipments have ever had it, and I've got a tax bill on all of them so I know they must be going through customs just like the UPS shipments. They don't seem to be processed any faster either. I try and avoid UPS but you can't always so I just curse and budget for the brokerage fee. A shame really since it probably costs some US companies a bit of business.

The UPS fees are exceptionally onerous.

Postal service only faces fees if you are selected to pay HST, which is rarely, and the fee on top of that is $15. USD That is *On Top* – you still have to pay your taxes.

Kallista uses DHL – they only charged $10 USD for the service. Still payed them $27 USD because because they had parted with $17 USD for the taxes and quite reasonably expected it back.

I do resent paying a brokerage fee when the package is tax exempt and clearly so. That has happened to me with Fedex although that was back in the 90s so may have changed.

On more than one occasion, it has been cheaper for my Canadian friends to have an order (Old Glory, I'm looking at you) shipped to me and for me to then ship it USPS to them.

Wyatt

I have had the UPS brokerage fees applied and always request USPS from the US. Now the UPS guy that does my area is great and I have no problems receiving items sent within Canada.

Since we're talking couriers, now I have had problems with Purolator as they would only try one delivery and then i had to drive to another city to pick up the package myself.
So I request not to ship by Purolator also.

A couple of years back my son placed a $90.00us order with Old Glory. When it arrived (here in Canada) I had to pay $62.00Can. before the package was handed over. I emailed OG about this and in the reply they stated that they had no control over this..it must be something to do with a Goverment policy..we should question them!

try UPS to Mexico. I had a gal order an expensive toy for her son's christmas (which is later then ours like Jan 5th or something.) and she orders it on a friday and wants it there by Tuesday.

anyway long story short to get it there it has to go UPS or its not making it in time. product cost $100.00, postage $100.00, customs fees on toys $300.00????

Made absolutely no sense to me at all…

UPS is bad. I had a company send me a demo disk for a program they want me to try out. It was sent by UPS, they wanted to charge me a fee of 20 dollars. I refused and the guy got real snarky and demanded I accept the package.

"they had no control over this"

They have no control over GST/HST – depending on your province about $12-14. They do control who they ship with; they do not have to pick the service with the worst brokerage fees.

I don't buy from Old Glory because of their US of UPS. They lost probably a few thousand from me over the last decade because of that decision and their refusal to use anyone else even upon customer request.

My only experience with Purolator (which is the only service that delivers to where my mother-in-law lives) nearly resulted in the loss of a very valuable diamond ring. It was delivered to the wrong address on the other side of town. Fortunately, the gent was honest enough to return it.

Old Glory always ships to me via regular US mail.

I too have been stung by UPS fees and multiple layers of taxes on fees.

I will not order from a US source that ships via UPS. UPS are con artists. If I absolutely have to have it I'll get it shipped to a US friend who will bring it with him the next time I see him. The question I have is all these businesses in the US that use UPS for international shipments, they have to be losing business? Why do they keep doing it?

I've had a comparable brokerage fee applied by FedEX. Sucks big time… USPS, never. Ever.

I too have been stung by UPS charges and now refuse anything shipped that way, Old Glory were fine though (after I got stung the first time and got upset) and now ship USPS. You need to tell them and they will probably tell you that if it's lost or broken it's your problem but, touch wood, I've had no problem with USPS deliveries.