How to avoid UPS Brokerage Fees

[MajesticBlueNTO]

According to this site (http://trueler.com/2010/09/13/ups-brokerage-fees-total-scam-fraud-cheating-avoid-it/), you can refuse UPS's brokerage fees and self-declare your item (below $1600 in value) at a local CBSA office.

Cliff's Notes:




After you order
* Print out your commercial invoice (PayPal invoice, or e-mail receipt from the store). You may want to make sure that shipper will put the correct price on the package for customs (just send them a note about it)
* Wait for item to be shipped and get your tracking number
* Call UPS, give them tracking number and tell that you want to clear your items by yourself in your local CBSA office. They should instruct you what you will need to do


Source: UPS Brokerage Fees – Total Scam, Fraud, Cheating. How to avoid it (http://trueler.com/2010/09/13/ups-brokerage-fees-total-scam-fraud-cheating-avoid-it/)

[MistaChin]

Good read. Thanks!

[prinsesa]

Hmmm..so where are the local CBSAs located?
I am expecting a delivery and when I check the tracking page, this is what it says:

WINDSOR, ON, CA 15/11/2010 4:11 PACKAGE DATA PROCESSED BY BROKERAGE. WAITING FOR CLEARANCE
LOS ANGELES, CA, US 13/11/2010 7:10 DEPARTURE SCAN
LOS ANGELES, CA, US 12/11/2010 22:38 ARRIVAL SCAN
BALDWIN PARK, CA, US 12/11/2010 22:10 DEPARTURE SCAN
12/11/2010 21:30 ORIGIN SCAN
US 12/11/2010 20:49 BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED


Sooo, do I still have a chance to have the fees waived? I can contact UPS and tell them that I will self-clear the shipments, but then how do I actually do that? I go to a local CBSA office and do what? lol

Btw, this website amicblubwear has really cheap stuff lol (for your girlfriends, sisters, etc). But the shipping is crazy.
I bought 6 things, it came up to $75-$85 minus 35% off, but the shipping was $60 for all of it. (The whole thing cost me $115)
I'm not sure if it was because I purchase two pairs of boots & 1 pair of heels..but its still crazy.

[Trueler]

MajesticBlueNTO, please shorten your cut from trueler.com! Otherwise torontomazda3 forum will be penalized for duplicate content very soon (it is automatic process).

Appropriate link to the source is:

UPS Brokerage Fees – Total Scam, Fraud, Cheating. How to avoid it (http://trueler.com/2010/09/13/ups-brokerage-fees-total-scam-fraud-cheating-avoid-it/)

Guys, if you have any specific question regarding self clearing process with UPS and local CBSA, I can answer.

Thanks,
Sergey

[Trueler]

prinsesa, you may find list of CBSA offices here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/index-e.html

[Trueler]

Sooo, do I still have a chance to have the fees waived? I can contact UPS and tell them that I will self-clear the shipments, but then how do I actually do that? I go to a local CBSA office and do what? lol


Definitely you may still do self clearance. I've described the procedure in details (see my post). There are experience of other people who did self clearance.

[S.F.W.]

I have previously read about this process. However, it really depends where the goods are going to cross the border. Last year I had some ski gear shipped in, and the only options was UPS. I wanted to self clear myself, however when I called UPS, I was told the package would clear customs in Windsor. Unless I wanted to drive to Windsor, I had to allow UPS to complete the process.
After reading the information posted, it certainly is interesting. I will wait for other TM3 members to have successful experience before I try UPS again for cross border shipments.

[Trueler]

Thanks MajesticBlueNTO for quick reaction!

[Trueler]

S.F.W., there is no need to go port of entry. UPS lies that importers have to do it. I've confirmed the process with CBSA already. Everyone may clear the shipment in ANY local customs office, not port of entry.

[prinsesa]

I'm going to call UPS to inform them that I want to self declare and go to the CBSA office on County Court.

[Trueler]

FYI. From latest experience and one more reply from CBSA, commercial invoice is not enough for self clearance. It should be:
- Shipment's invoice (UPS should provide by e-mail or fax)
- Unique shipment identifier number (UPS should provide as well)
- Address where goods are located (your local warehouse)
Then it needs to be present to local CBSA office along with money to pay HST. However they will keep money... but not the outrageous brokerage fee :)

[Trueler]

I'm going to call UPS to inform them that I want to self declare and go to the CBSA office on County Court.

prinsesa, UPS will definitely try to tell you that you can not do that. Ask for the name and ID of the customer service rep, and ask for official refusal if they try to do so. Tell that CBSA allows self clearance in any local Canada customs office.

Good Luck!

[taz4432]

Saw a site that detailed this process ages ago - this one seems to say exactly the same thing.

Would like to know if anyone does it succesfully and how much trouble it took to get done.

[Olestra]

Great post. I have done this with Fedex and the CBSA office was located beside the airport in Edmonton.
It was a hassle to drive there but it saved me around 40 bucks in brokerage fees.
Fedex was very helpful in helping me obtain the proper forms and information for self declaration.

[Trueler]

Saw a site that detailed this process ages ago - this one seems to say exactly the same thing.

Would like to know if anyone does it succesfully and how much trouble it took to get done.

Yes, several people shared their successful experience with self clearing. Now it can be a hassle, but when most of the importers will try to do this, UPS will have to follow the procedure in order to save their own time. I hope it will become straightforward soon.

[ZeroChalk]

An easier method is to opt for the more expensive shipping method.. Express instead of ground. You pay $10-15 more but avoid the hefty brokerage fees since it already includes it in the shipping fee. The only thing is you have to pay is taxes.

I bought a couple of things from FedEx and opted for the faster method.

[blackspeed3]

I know how to avoid UPS brokerage fees.....USPS!

[Trueler]

I know how to avoid UPS brokerage fees.....USPS!

Last time I ordered brakes from US, delivery quote by USPS was ~$80, by UPS it was ~$45. UPS delivered in 7 days (from California to Toronto), USPS usually delivers in three weeks without any tracking available. See the difference? :)

If you have local CBSA office in reasonable distance from you, I think it is worth to use UPS. If not, probably USPS is better since it was only $5 of brokerage fee some time ago.

[m_bisson]

USPS is ftw.
The "air mail" option was $7 from the middle of the states and I paid zero for custom fees. Trueler if you're going the ground route then you made a mistake. The air option is almost always the same price ;)

[bman13]

I know how to avoid UPS brokerage fees.....USPS!


USPS is ftw.
The "air mail" option was $7 from the middle of the states and I paid zero for custom fees. Trueler if you're going the ground route then you made a mistake. The air option is almost always the same price ;)

Bingo :thumbsup.

[prinsesa]

The website I order from only has UPS Canada as an option

[Trueler]

USPS is ftw.
The "air mail" option was $7 from the middle of the states and I paid zero for custom fees. Trueler if you're going the ground route then you made a mistake. The air option is almost always the same price ;)

"air mail" option for 25LBs package was over $200, comparing to $45 ground.

If air delivery costs the same as ground, should we have any questions? I think answer is obvious. But usually it is more expensive.