Can someone explain UPS's ridiculous fees?

[titan136]

I got a packaged delivered from a trade today from UPS. The package contained around $120 worth of Warmachine Miniatures.

I wasn't home to recieve the package. I called UPS and they toldme they had the package....and I could come pick it up, as long as I paid $65.11 in fees.....

WTF????

Ok canadian customs, you have to pay taxes, that I can accept. But like 50% of the total value??? I'm thinking it might just be easier to return the package to the sender and have them ship via USPS

Can anyone shed some light on this? And should I return to sender? Because I'm sure as hell not paying half the price of the package in fees when I've already paid for the items inside.

[Sgt_Centurious]

I had the same thing happen on a $1700.00 USD trade. $5.00 + 14% of declared value to Canadian customs PLUS an $87.00 USD "brokerage fee" to UPS. The other trader gave UPS hell for not telling him about the extra fees & got refunded. I always ask my trade partners to ship via USPS rather than a courier for this reason.

[Daktion]

same thing here.... a package valued at $80 canadian and I paid $30 in brokerages. I try my very best to have people ship via USPS (a flat $5 fee).

UPS may be good for shipping within a country but then again Canada post has never failed me either.

[AJCarrington]

UPS can be good when you have an oddball package with low value. I believe that for declared values under $25, there is no brokerage fee.

AJC

[titan136]

So I just got off the phone with the most amazing customer service lady at UPS. Here are the developements:

1) If you don't want to pay the fees, Customs form needs to be ammended to adjust the worth of the items and faxed in by the other party. (ask UPS by phone for the fax number)

2) If you just list the all the items on the customs form and each item is under $60 CAD and also list thje package as a Gift, everything is ok. Fees are not paid on gift packages.

3) It takes 1-2 days for the form to process. If you need the package urgently, you can pay the fees and there will be a 2 week window where they other party can still fax in the ammended customs forms. UPS will then refund your money when the customs forms have been ammended. However his might take a few weeks.

but basically, list all your items under $60 CAD, doesn't matter wat the total is, list them as a gift and the other party won't have to pay customs or brokerage fees.

hope that helps someone in the future.

[Daktion]

interesting... but if you list the item as $60 ... then if your package is lost or broken... they at most will reimburse you for $60.

it's always a risk I know... I do this with usps ... but for higher value stuff like laptops etc... I dont mind paying taxes for it + a flat $5 brokerage fee

[Brian Khazad]

I think I see part of the point - list EACH item in the package as $60 CDN or less, not the total value of the package. Still akward, and part of the reason I avoid International trades.

-Dwarf

[titan136]

ist EACH item in the package as $60 CDN or less, not the total value of the package.

precisely!

[AJCarrington]

Thanks for this info - good to know!!

AJC

[Warmonger]

Yup. Be bluntly honest on the items, mark them as "pewter toy soldiers" with accurate but low individual prices. Then mark it as a gift. I've done this with UPS a few times now, and they have never charged on the other end.

[bassfreq]

As others have mentioned, I simply refuse to do any trades through any carrier other than USPS/Canada Post. International trades make no difference to me, and in fact - it's usually cheaper for an American counterpart to ship to a Canadian address. But the whole brokerage thing with Fedex/UPS is just ridiculous.

If you're near a border location, you can also have your item shipped to a warehouse to receive your item, drive to the customs office and fill out the forms yourself, and be done with it. (In my case, Pt. Roberts). This is more commonly done with automotive things like car parts, tires & rims, etc.

[Morlock-Bloodletter]

Canada scares me.

[Enigma Nostra]

Only thing I have to say, is that I dont mind listing things individually, however I will *not* personally list items as a gift if they are in a trade. To me, thats Fraud, and thus I wont do it, and wouldnt suggest to others that they do it either.


Sorry if this comes accross as holier than thou, just wanted to point out that its not exactly on the level.

-E

[kturock]

Only thing I have to say, is that I dont mind listing things individually, however I will *not* personally list items as a gift if they are in a trade. To me, thats Fraud, and thus I wont do it, and wouldnt suggest to others that they do it either.


Sorry if this comes accross as holier than thou, just wanted to point out that its not exactly on the level.

-E

thats exactly the case, EM. i work for usps and if i do that, not only do i go to a federal jail for mail fraud, i lose my job for falsefing documentation.

and if it's lost or damaged, you have no proof of worth to file insurance. 'i sent him $X worth of minis' or 'i paid him $X" isn't proof and then will cancel the 'gift' and therefore reopen it to customs duies and fines.

[titan136]

Only thing I have to say, is that I dont mind listing things individually, however I will *not* personally list items as a gift if they are in a trade. To me, thats Fraud, and thus I wont do it, and wouldnt suggest to others that they do it either.


Sorry if this comes accross as holier than thou, just wanted to point out that its not exactly on the level.

-E

No it doesn't sound holier than though, and I agree, its not exactly 100% on the level...but then again neither is having ot pay $65 in fees on a $100 package.

I look at it this way: Trades are not the same thing as puchasing, which is what customs fees are for. Customs fees are meant as a tarif against purchasing foreign goods and protect and stimulate the domestic economy. So if i'm buying something, then sure customs fees make sense.

I feel that bartering falls in that grey area between buying and gifting. You can't really say "I paid for these items with x number of plastic and pewter toys."

and if it's lost or damaged, you have no proof of worth to file insurance. 'i sent him $X worth of minis' or 'i paid him $X" isn't proof and then will cancel the 'gift' and therefore reopen it to customs duies and fines.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't listing the values of each item in the gift box and buying insurance add the proof of worth we need? You probably better understand the system as a USPS employee, but if I send some one a $30 gift, with tracking and insurance, listed as a $30 gift....and UPS loses it...don't they have to pay for it?

I just need some clarification on this as your wording was a bit confusing.