Brokerage fees &^%&#@

[NUXJR]

Finally found some aftermarket lights that I like for the Rango but can't seem to find a Canadian distributor so ordering from US.  Looks like the shipping(ground UPS) will be about $60 but the bloody brokerage fee could as much or more.  Anyone got any ideas how to minimize the damage?

Thanks in advance!

Cell # is 403-870-5718 if ya wanna call me.

[morerpmfred]

Get them to send it usps and then there is NO brokerge fees. No tracking either. Explain to the shipper you will only purchase the product if they sent it usps. You still have to pay gst when the post man drops it of. Shipping should be half of what ups charges as well.

[slimbeam]

ups does there own brokerage and should be included in the shipping unless the shipping is prepaid in which you will pay for broker when you get the item, there is no way around the brokers unless you go to US and get piece yourself. maybe check with FedEx and US postal on there rates Rob so you have a comparison

[JackstandJohnny]

what happened to free trade?  i remember this big ole' document signed in 88' that said canada and US have 'porous' borders? 
i guess thats just for illegal aliens?

[WhiteOut]

You know better Johnny   UPS says its a brokerage fee when its just an extra handling fee.

[slimbeam]

what happened to free trade?  i remember this big ole' document signed in 88' that said canada and US have 'porous' borders?  
i guess thats just for illegal aliens?

Thats rite Johnny, although a lot of duties were lifted and reduced on different items they still have to go through a broker unless you bring them across yourself for your own use and even then you may have to visit a broker at customs to get it cleared to enter Canada. I no it has caused me as a international freight hauler more grief and paperwork since "free trade' came about than it did before

[JackstandJohnny]

I guess no matter what Slim, the canadaian american gov'ts just don't want mexican truckers haulin arse on our highways and vice versa eh?
i studied it a lot in school,  (which doesn't mean much  ) and theres so much BS in there is ridiculous.  don't get me started LMAO haha

Rob, x2 for USPS....... last things i ordered from them through the states have ended up on my door, no extra costs. go ebay!

[JohnB]

See here: http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

and to really squirt you off....compare the cost in the other direction....http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/select/receiving/customs/fees.html

[w squared]

Long story short...UPS won't even buy you dinner before they get down to business. The total of brokerage and shipping fees when dealing with UPS can be as much as the value of the item...or it may be as low as 10% if it's a big ticket item. Bottom line is that it's going to sting if you get something from the US shipped via UPS.

USPS isn't magical and isn't fast...but they don't ding you anywhere near as badly. I no longer do purchase ANYTHING from places in that states that insist on shipping UPS. If they won't ship USPS, they won't see my money.

[FiEND]

i'll use ups if it is below $20 US then there is no brokerage.  ie lots of ebay junk up to $100 if they value it at $20 or less for me

usps only for anything else.  if they wont ship it i will pay the extra for someone who does.  usps charges flat $5 on items valued $20 or more.

[h0tr0d18]

UPS are a bunch of crooks and I only deal with them when absolutly necessary.

[hamrtime]

gotta tell my spring storey again - one of my first cross border transactions - needed an extra throttle spring cause its touchy in 4lo , got a part# for one from summit, it was about $7, they shipped it UPS and now its over $20 US but premium service it must be, well the canadian UPS guy shows up wanting another +20$ ...

it would have fit in an envelope for .50 cents

if I ever sell my jeep I am taking that spring off , its priceless ...

use US post whenever you can ... use UPS only if its a body organ and if their late you dont have to pay the bill anyway

[wrenchead99]

I buy stuff from the states all the time.  Like I mean every week!!!  not cheap stuff either, I'm talkin like high end OTC tools, car dvd systems and stuff like that.  With usps/canada post, I rarely pay any brokerage and taxes on anything that comes up, and if i do the cost is minimal.  I just Had a pair of 9-inch headrest DVD players/monitors shipped to my door (cost was like 300 or so) and total owed for brokerage was like 20 bucks.  UPS charges a flat "brokerage" fee of 39.95 just for the pleasure of charging you ADDITIONAL brokerage and GST on everything!!!!!

[esi]

What brand of lights are they?

[parabs]

here is a link to another thread for a calgary based forum, it may have info relevant to what you want to do.

http://www.performance-shop.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=61287.0