Huge border fees

Sawbladz

Sawbladz

Supramania Contributor
Mar 14, 2006
1,727
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Oshawa, ON, CA
I just bought a set of traction arms off ebay for 250 CDN including shipping. After a week or so they show up and tell me I owe 82.79 in border fees and delivery. Is it just me or is that a little much?

I've paid border fees before but they have never exceeded $20 or so. Is there anyone I can contact to figure out why I'm getting raped so hard? I'm tempted just to send the bars back and get my money back. Any help is appreciated.
 
canadianbacon

canadianbacon

Extra Crispy
Dec 10, 2005
226
0
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54
Coquitlam, BC
When dealing south of our border always ask to send as a "gift" via US MAIL. There is no border brokerage fee this way.
I just got burnt for 65 bucks by UPS for a set of used trim...:3d_frown:
Oh well I needed it!! LOL


GO CANUCKS GO!
 
C

CFSapper

AKA Slient_sniper
Apr 24, 2006
796
0
0
Chilliwack
canadianbacon said:
When dealing south of our border always ask to send as a "gift" via US MAIL. There is no border brokerage fee this way.
I just got burnt for 65 bucks by UPS for a set of used trim...:3d_frown:
Oh well I needed it!! LOL


GO CANUCKS GO!
Click to expand...


what a game eh:aigo:
 
canadianbacon

canadianbacon

Extra Crispy
Dec 10, 2005
226
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Coquitlam, BC
Anomili said:
For the record the "gift" thing isn't perfect. I just hade my McCord Power Plate (e-cutout) sent back to the states because they included the receipt in the box marked "gift".
Click to expand...

Still works for me! Sooooo? Have the guy mail the receipt separate!:3d_frown:
 
B

BigTree

Targa JZA70 FTW
Jan 6, 2007
175
0
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Canada, BC
Gift is $75 value is it not? Thats what the nice post office lady told me today anyways.

Have used the warranty return/replacement before as well and it worked items valued up to $329.99 US, cleared with nothing to pay.
 
bigaaron

bigaaron

Supramania Contributor
Apr 12, 2005
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Pomona, CA
www.driftmotion.com
You guys are thinking very one sided about this though. If you ship something to Canada that is $500, and you mark gift on it, what happens when it gets lost of stolen? How are you going to make a claim for $500 when you put the value at $50 and signed that all the information is true and correct? Even though UPS costs more for brokerage fees, they are the only ones who make sure you get the package, will insure it for the full value, and they will bill you, not the shipper, for the border fees. It's part of buying international, I don't see why you guys think you are "getting screwed".
 
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GrimJack

GrimJack

Administrator
Dec 31, 1969
12,377
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Richmond, BC, Canada
idriders.com
Aaron, I'm sorry, but you just don't understand.

If you send me something via FedEx, I still have to pay the duties and taxes. It's usually about 12-15%, depending on the item. They insure it, they ship fast, and so on.

If you send me something via UPS, I have to pay the duties and taxes AND a brokerage fee. The total works out to 30-65%, depending on the item.

On a $1000 item, I'm paying UPS up to an extra $500 in 'processing' fees. If I - or anyone involved in the transaction, for that matter - was receiving any extra service for these fees, I wouldn't mind so much, but I'm not, they are price gouging, plain and simple.
 
Jayhall

Jayhall

WHIP THE PISS OUT OF THEM
May 7, 2005
1,167
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Surrey BC
were getting screwed becasue UPS is charging us more than the boarder fee's they are being charged by Canadian customs they are being charged 20 bucks, we are being charged 80
 
bigaaron

bigaaron

Supramania Contributor
Apr 12, 2005
4,692
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Pomona, CA
www.driftmotion.com
UPS told me that their brokerage fees include the duties and taxes, so maybe I do have it wrong. FedEx sends the customer a bill for their fees, but if they don't pay then the shipper gets the bill.
 
Raptor Racing

Raptor Racing

Supramania Contributor
Nov 5, 2005
534
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Toronto
Jamie Jamie Jamie...i'm so disappointed in you. I'm a phone call/msn conversation away; you know I have an account with a UPS Store in Buffalo; you know I always go down and still you decided to ship something across to boarder to your place.

FYI...marking as a gift only saves $60 of the total of the shipment.

BigAaron you are correct; with cross boarder shipping if the end customer does not pay the 'boarder fees' the senders account is billed. This is the main reason why a lot of companies will not ship fedex across the boarder.

Jamie; returning the package also costs you money as it's not the sellers responsibility to pay for return shipping. It's generally not worth it; I'm sure I've mentioned it to you many times: if you ship UPS just get ready to bend over and take it dry...NO LUBE!!
 
B

BigTree

Targa JZA70 FTW
Jan 6, 2007
175
0
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Canada, BC
Anyone find a way to get something across the boarder with lower/no duties without declaring the value much lower?

Maybe a commericial sample would do it? Warranty return?

Hrm....
 
Raptor Racing

Raptor Racing

Supramania Contributor
Nov 5, 2005
534
0
0
Toronto
BigTree said:
Anyone find a way to get something across the boarder with lower/no duties without declaring the value much lower?
Click to expand...
BigTree said:

Maybe a commericial sample would do it? Warranty return?

Hrm....
Click to expand...


There is not clear cut way to avoid boarder fees. Declaring the value lower than it actually is works great when your item makes; I'd hate to be the guy who ordered $1200 Coilovers valued at $200 if they got lost.

If the part is made in the US there are no duties; I'm sure there are a couple other countries out there where we are not charged duties but if it's not made in Canada/US assume you'll get charged 6%. Now even if there are no duties this doesn't mean that the carrier does not have to determine the value...if any. Companies like UPS will bone you large for this brokerage fee; attached is their 2006 Brokerage Fees Schedule.

Warranty Replacement park works sometimes; but if they call your bluff (been there done that) and you don't have the required paperwork you're going to pay anyway and chances are your future shipments will be targeted. Commercial Samples going to a residential address throw up flags too and declaring it as a gift only saves your $60 off the total value.

In my 10+ years of buying and 5 years selling parts I've learned the best way to avoid the fees is to avoid the middle man. Clear the parts yourself by shipping them to the US and running them through customs on your own. You are still going to pay taxes and duties...these fees are unavoidable and you will generally pay duties (6%) for most items made outside of Canada/US.

What I do for my customers is ship all their items to the US; every so often I go down and pick up all the orders. I then clear them through commercial customs myself and either deliver the parts (for local peeps) or ship to the end customer if they are in the Toronto Area.

Not only do you save brokerage fees this way but many times you save shipping. It cost $10 to ship a MHG within the USA; but $30-$50 to ship it from the USA to Canada. It's obviously not the way to go if you need parts sent ASAP.

I am by no means an expert on this subject and can appreciate that a lot of peeps have used 'alternative methods' for getting parts here. I'm simply saying that sooner or later that's going to burn you. Perfect example; I ordered a Greddy Bumper for a local customer. This bumper made it from Japan; to California to the warehouse in Toronto...but somehow when it was scheduled to go on the delivery truck the warehouse 'lost it'. Had I marked the value of $200 the customer would have lost BIG TIME on that purchase.
 

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