Canadian dealing with UPS

[Alan]

well, i just bought a Canonet QL17 GIII 2 weeks ago from a seller in the United States. It arrived today but I was not avaible so the delivery guy left me a notice. I have to pay approximately 17 dollars customs and a 41 dollars service charge! Is it just UPS or just the same with every delivery company?
and am I suppose to pay customs for a second hand camera?
Having to pay so much just for a QL17 GIII is rediculous!

[Alan]

This is absolutely the last time I'm going to use UPS. It's non sense for charging me 41 dollars for nothing. It's even more expensive than the shipping fees.

[Fedzilla_Bob]

41 seems way out of line. Is there anyway you can contest this? Sounds like you won't be able to negotiate with the delivery man.

The customs fee is probably non negotiable.

I am surprised that the seller didn't disclose the delivery fees fully.

[TPPhotog]

......I'm surprised at how many birthdays and weddings some folks have. :)You can't have too much of a good thing ;)

Alan Jeesh a total of $48 - you could get another Canonet for that :bang:

[Alan]

well, i called in and the guy on the phone gave me an list of the fees they are charging me. It actually took a minute for him to finish listing all the service charge. basically it's just UPS paid the custom for me first, then, charge me 4 times more. All without my agreement.
but If I don't pay the fee, I lose the 150 dollars camera.

[Alan]

is there anyways I can get the fees waived? I didn't expect to have to pay a service charge myself.

[back alley]

use the usps if at all possible.

or if you use ups pay for the higher/faster shipping and all these extra charges are included.

it is cheaper in the long run to pay the initial higher price.

if you use the usps, lower the value and mark as gift as g'man already pointed out.

this is what happens cause canada burnt the while house down, oh so many many years ago!!;)

joe

[back alley]

is there anyways I can get the fees waived? I didn't expect to have to pay a service charge myself.

kiss the cash goodbye as it's all legal.

buying out of country from anyone but a cooperating individual is a pita.

this is one of the reasons i get so pissed off at people that wont sell to canadaians, like it's a hardship for them to fill out a friggin form.
we get shafted on a regular basis and then our customs gorillas store the damn parcels and charge us to boot!!!


ok, calm down joe....oooomm..

joe

[Fedzilla_Bob]

this is what happens cause canada burnt the while house down, oh so many many years ago!!;)

joe
We forgave that little mishap so long ago. It took a lot of cases of Molson's to set it right though :)

If I recall correctly, it wasn't a "white" house until after that incident.


On the Charges- It's a shame because I have purchased a couple of items from Canada and it isn't nearly as bad coming this way. When I have sold an item there I only send by USPS. It's a lot less hassle.

[Alan]

I'm really upset about the unexpected fees also. I would start a boycott UPS campaign if it would do any help.
Having no money to pay for the service charge, I'll have to go put my electronics on a loan so I can pay for the 200 dollars Canonet QL17 GIII. The most expensive chrome canonet ever.

[Alan]

well.... time to head to the pawn shop now.

[Nikon Bob]

UPS is acting, I believe, as your broker at the border and they charge for the service. It has been more than 15 years since I have used UPS for that very reason. I had to pay them almost as much a gun stock I ordered in was worth in fees, never mind customs.

Bob

[back alley]

that's it exactly!

brokerage fees, ha! the *******s...

joe

[Dean]

It used to be that UPS Ground charges brokerage fees and sucks.While UPS Expedited and UPS Express charge no handling fees whatsoever.

Most cameras and acces. can be shipped USPS Airmail Letter Post - it's cheap but no insurance or tracking. Depending on the mood of Canada Post you will be charged $5.00 handling plus GST and PST.


Dean

[Grumblepunk]

It's been said by everyuone else, but I'll pipe in here, too. You've been burned. Never use UPS for anything. They are truly an American only shipping company, in that they always screw the guy on the delivery end if they have to deal with any sort of customs.

I won't even use them to send a package in my own country, as a result. USPS. Fast, reliable and run by weird chubby men in blue bermuda shorts. What is not to love?

[VictorM.]

I too have been burned by UPS and have never hesitated to post warnings here and at photonet. NEVER use UPS for anything!

[Alan]

If I decide not to pay for the fees, will the original sender have to pay the service charge when they return the package? I'd rather pay the original sender the shipping fees for USPS to send it to me again. that way I can leave the payment after my payroll.

[Jan Brittenson]

I never ship anything I sell outside the U.S. It's not just a matter of forms and having to research shipping options, but also of insuring packages, VAT, and the difficulty of returning an item if the buyer isn't happy with it. The last time I sent something there (a Canon 24/1.4L lens), the buyer insisted I don't ship UPS ground but FedEx Expedites, or UPS Expedited, or some such. It cost $100 insured! Then he whined because I had insured and marked it to the full value, and he had to shell out duties and VAT and whatnot for that amount. Then he complained about dust! If it were the U.S. I would have just told him to stick it in a box and send it back, and refunded him, I'd then have had it cleaned if necessary and relisted. But because he was out all these ridiculous expenses and fees he insisted I pay him to have it cleaned. And this was despite refusing to ship there in the first place, he was the one who persuaded me it was nonproblematic (despite my past endless problems shipping there), and he does it all the time, and whatnot. In the end I still don't know if the dust thing was just a rip-off for him to recover his expenses. But I will absolutely never ever ship anything to Canada ever again! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[ddutchison]

Call Canada customs. I am pretty sure there are no customs duties payable on used cameras.

If that's the case. Call UPS and explain (in nicer words) that it is their own ignorance which accounts for $17 of your bill, and the remainder is a charge for an unnecesary service. If who ever you are talking to can't refund the "mistaken" charges, get the name of their supervisor, ask to speak to them immediatly, and work it on up the line until someone can.

[wierdcollector]

Easy Jan, there are ladies present and language like that goes a wee bit too far. Any chance of George editing this a bit? Personally, I buy most camera equipment from the U.S., and I buy a LOT of equipment weekly. Having been burnt twice by UPS I never use their services. I ship all my U.S. purchases to a U.S. mailing address at a border store supplying that service at $2 U.S. per item. On Ebay's Canada Town Square there have been two threads on this exact subject in the last few months. Both basically say, refuse UPS brokerage and if possible, obtain the Customs forms yourself, fill out properly, pay Customs fees at the border or Customs office near you, then take the receipt and copies of all forms to the UPS office to pick up your item. They may not like it, but too bad for them. And please guys/gals let's keep this civil not make it into a US/Canada bashing swearfest OK?

[back alley]

jan, noone here appreciates that language, edit your post or i will.

especially as it seems directed at me...

watch yourself, please.
see, we canadians are very polite.
joe

[Nikon Bob]

Joe

Thanks

Hey Curt nice to see you up early on days off. It is not only the ladies on this site who should be offended. I understand Jan's anger over that transaction but some of the comments were way far over the top. I think the postal services in both Canada and the USA do a good job in shipping trans border. They deserve more praise than they get IMHO. Anyway, another vote for an edit.

Bob

[GeneW]

I've been clobbered by those UPS fees as well. It doesn't lessen the sting, but one thing to clarify: it's not custom fees -- there's no duty on camera equipment. It's taxes and brokerage fees (the nice little cut UPS gives to itself for 'handling' the border passage). I prefer USPS for all small packages. UPS Expedited is good for major purchases (e.g. when I purchased a Hasselblad and lenses from New Jersey). The insurance, quick delivery and tracking are worth paying for when you're into big bucks.

Gene

[akitadog]

Yup, UPS is a rip off with their fees. I for one refuse to have anything shipped that could end up being delivered by UPS.

Helmut K.

[BJ Bignell]

UPS is a ripoff. I just won't buy if that's my only shipping option. The best way to receive goods is with some sort of expedited parcel service (with guaranteed delivery times) via USPS (Post Office).

FYI: When 'importing' cameras, as you are, the fees are like this:
Duties = $0.00 (no duties on photographic equipment)
GST = 7% ($10.50 on your $150 camera)
Customs "handling" Fee = $5.00
Total: $15.50

Basically, if it has to go through Customs, you get charged for something. Receiving gifts is cheaper:
Duties = $0.00 for camera gear
GST = 7% of the declared value over $60, or $6.30 (under $60 there is no GST)
Customs "handling" Fee = $5.00
Total: $11.30

[Bill K.]

I suppose that I was lucky when I purchsed my Besse from CAMERAQUEST. Mr. Gandy sent by US Air Mail and I got it within a week. The shipping was free, but the actual cost (Postage) was less than $9.00 US.

Similarly, a couple of small shipments from Fedka came by mail with no problem.

I suspect that the Canadian Post Office will sometimes charge the GST (7% Federal Sales Tax) if one has to go to the Post Office to claim the parcel. All of my recent purchases were sent to my Business address, no additional charges or duties.

I have to assume that the US & Canadian Postal Sevices are quite good, in spite of some horror stories and/or urban myths.

I have never used UPS and thanks to all the warnings on this thread, probably never will.

Regards to all,

Bill K.

[BJ Bignell]

BTW, for future reference, tariff information can be found here: Consolidation of the Customs Tariff (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/publications/tariff2003/table-e.html) from the Canada Border Services Agency. Look for item #90 Optical, photographic, ... etc. It'll link you to a PDF that very clearly identifies the tariffs for every type of photographic equipment being imported to Canada.

Make sure when receiving parcels that they are clearly marked "used (or new) photographic equipment" or something else equally unambiguous. And don't use UPS! They are STEALING from you.

[pshinkaw]

Many years ago UPS was a highly preferred shipper here in the US. Over the past 10-15 years they have gradually spiralled down while the US Postal Service and Fed-Ex Ground have gotten better. It will be awhile before UPS regains any confidence from me.

A word of caution on Canadian Post and the US Postal Service. In Canada there is a service called "Express Post" which is similar to US Priority Mail. Some of the more provincial US Post Offices confuse Express Post with the similar sounding "US Express Mail" which is an overnight premium service in the US. If that happens, they will not release your "Express Post" packages without a signature and identification. This could mean a drive across the city or into town to pick-up a package of nominal value.

I once spent a week trying to retrieve a parts camera sent from Henry's in Toronto because the mailman thought it required a signature and insisted on attempting delivery on three separate days. The lady at the window where I eventually got the package thought that the mailman was an idiot. I agreed.

-Paul

[back alley]

send an empty box to bj and let's see which gets delivered first.


;)joe

[Trius]

FWIW, I am willing to tranship for anyone on RFF as long as it can fit our mutual schedules. Here's the deal: I am a Canadian, but currently live in the city of the Great Yellow Father, i.e, Rochester. Not that any of that matters, but, I am close to the border, my kids and friends are in Southern Ontario, and I make frequent trips across the border. For example, I go to Niagara on the Lake and wine country pretty frequently to feed the habit that keeps me from buying more rangefinders! I belong to the wine club at Hillebrand Estates, but since they can't ship into the Excited States, I go and pick up every month or two.

So, if you have something coming from the US, we could arrange to have your purchase shipped here, I will transport it across the border as it suits my schedule and you reimburse me for actual Canada Post charges, I won't charge you any handling, gas money, etc.

This offer null and void when the Leafs win the Cup, cuz then it will be time to just die and go to heaven.

Trius