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For Canadians Receiving Goods Via UPS

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  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, September 30, 2022 1:35 AM

"But why would CBSA rebate you on fees the they never assessed?"

I never thought they should, or to ask them. The text I quoted in the original post is what UPS sent to me before they'd deliver it. This is not information from Factory Direct.

 My point all along has been that UPS (not CBSA) charges at least double what they have to pay for 'brokerage' at the border, but the list I posted also shows a 'government fee' of approximately the same tonnage.  Why should I have to pay that when Factory Direct already ponied up $50 to have UPS carry the parcel to me, across border or not?  

Suddenly all my text is grey-highlighted.  I don't see a way to activate that feature or to get rid of it. Angry

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 1,047 posts
Posted by betamax on Thursday, September 29, 2022 4:02 PM

selector

 

 
betamax

Look for Self Account on the CBSA website. You can do the paper work yourself in many cases, and just pay any taxes owing.

 

 

 

Thanks, but CBSA won't refund UPS' 'brokerage' fees, or that 'government fee'.  It's just an egregious money grab, and I am not pleased.  I will have to look at my Factory Direct Hobbies account to see what I selected, but I'm sure I was careful about doing so.  Who knows....

 

 

AS the CBSA site explains, you can do the paperwork yourself and not pay the extortionate fees UPS demands. But why would CBSA rebate you on fees the they never assessed?

Write your MP and complain. The current regulations allow UPS to charge whatever they want. How does Canada Post manage on the small fee they charge, while Purolator (owned 100% by the post office) can't?

(Remember: Canada Post is a Crown Corporation, so it can't lose money.)

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, September 29, 2022 2:45 PM

Crandell, I have been buying stuff from here. He is in Maple Ridge and gives good discounts and brings in whatever I want. I have ordered my Rapido D-10s from him.

https://www.britanniamodels.com/ 

It never hurts to Email them and ask, how much? It is the bottom line that counts. 

Not paying shipping or any other fees can make a local purchase a bargain sometimes. Postage from Maple Ridge to Comox can't be that much.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Thursday, September 29, 2022 2:29 PM

betamax

Look for Self Account on the CBSA website. You can do the paper work yourself in many cases, and just pay any taxes owing.

 

Thanks, but CBSA won't refund UPS' 'brokerage' fees, or that 'government fee'.  It's just an egregious money grab, and I am not pleased.  I will have to look at my Factory Direct Hobbies account to see what I selected, but I'm sure I was careful about doing so.  Who knows....

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 8:28 PM

hon30critter
If Walthers has it they can get it, and for far less than the usual shipping fees from the US. Sometimes I have to wait for a bit while they accumulate a large enough bulk order, but that has never been a problem.

I have PWRS close enough and their order goes in on Friday to Walthers, so if I get an order in Friday I can pick it up Wednesday. I don't pay shipping so I have to factor that into the price.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 8:01 PM

selector
0.00 UPS Customs Brokerage Charges: 112.72 Brokerage GST/HST: 5.37 Brokerage QST:

I thinkith thee clicketh the incorrect box. :(

  • Member since
    October 2005
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Posted by betamax on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 7:48 PM

Look for Self Account on the CBSA website. You can do the paper work yourself in many cases, and just pay any taxes owing.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 7:24 PM

I have been ripped off by UPS too. The last major purchase that I made from the US was shipped via UPS, and they managed to lose it. However, they would not refund the brokerage fee that they had charged me.

I asked the supplier to ship the replacement unit via USPS and it arrived just fine in a few days with no additional fees. The supplier stated on their website that they only shipped via UPS but they had no problem with using the Post Office. In fact they were happy to do it, and they sent a note to UPS asking them to refund the brokerage fee, alas to no avail.

I avoid all of the hastles of ordering things from south of the border by ordering most items from Cedar Creek Hobbies in Canada. If Walthers has it they can get it, and for far less than the usual shipping fees from the US. Sometimes I have to wait for a bit while they accumulate a large enough bulk order, but that has never been a problem. They will also monitor back ordered items so as soon as they become available they add the item to their next order. They also buy direct from other suppliers like Digitrax.

Cheers!!

Dave

 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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    March 2011
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Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 6:57 PM

could. alot of those be the tarrifs impossed a few years ago?

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 6:04 PM

I am sure I selected USPS as the shipping option, maybe I made a mistake.  I'll never again deal with a company that only ships with couriers.  I thought I had learned my lesson 12 years ago, and have managed to avoid them until now.  This is a costly reminder of why I made my personal vow all those years ago.  I guess lessons wane over time. Grumpy

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 3:11 PM

I think the only legit charge on there is the GST/PST.

What are Government charges, and other Government charges? Showed this to the wife who is the expert in such things and she has never seen that on anything she has brought in. 

I would pin them down on those. 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 3:00 PM

OUCH!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 1:47 PM

Crandell, my wife does a tremendous amount of shipping all over the world in both directions. She tells people as firmly as she can that if they ship her anything UPS we will not accept it.

We have had fees of over $100.00 on a $30.00 item. All those brokerage fees are a scam. I worked in logistics for 36 years and we never went anywhere near UPS.

Canada Post is your best bet every time.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
For Canadians Receiving Goods Via UPS
Posted by selector on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 1:39 PM

The following is self-explanatory, and this was for a USD$764.99 Blue Goose Hudson, plus Factory Direct's shipping costs to me. You might find this offensive.  I do:

 

NOTE: the total value used for calculation of all Duty-based fees is 0.00.

Freight Charges:
0.00
HST or GST + PST:
51.24
Brokerage Fee:
107.35
Government Charges:
122.98
Duty:
0.00
Excise:
0.00
UPS Customs Brokerage Charges:
112.72
Brokerage GST/HST:
5.37
Brokerage QST:
0.00
Permit:
0.00
Other Government Charges:
71.74

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