International Shipping with UPS

[81 vw pu]

I have made a few purchases from Canadian members here on the form and received the packages via USPS without issue.
However the last purchase was sent UPS. A week after I received the parts via ups they sent me a bill for some type of brokerage/customs fee.
When I called to inquire about the bill I told them I did not have a contract with them on shipping and fee's and they needed to contact the seller/shipper,
that I do have a written contract with via e-mail. So my question is who is responsible for the fee's buyer or shipper.
I wouldn't have a problem paying this had I know about this up front.

[Wayland]

Don't use UPS to ship across the border if you can possibly avoid it. The buyer almost always gets stuck with a brokerage fee, and it's usually pretty high. USPS is the best way to go IMO.

[Dakotakid]

Ya, ya...postal!

But, don't "GO postal."

[blackbird82]

UPS is a scam!

I always insist on USPS for American purchases.

One time, I let my guard down. Bought a guitar, paid shipping, taxes yaddda yadda

BAM! UPS sends me "brokerage" fee bill (AKA STUPID TAX)

I call them, make a big stink about how the shipping off Ebay shows all fees upfront yadda yadda yadda. Tell them they could keep the guitar, I can get my money back anyhow.

Right on the spot they drop the brokerage fees. and i get my guitar.

IF the fee's can be dropped. They aren't real to begin with.

[catlin_cava]

I got nailed with brokerage fees a few times with UPS, never using them again, the seller probably didn't know there would be a few,

[81 vw pu]

Thanks guys I appreciate the help. Looks like its a common thing then. In one e-mail the seller sent me, he stated the shipping was going to be about $100 more than he had first quoted in the ad (due to being overweight)and was actually going to cross the border and ship out of Buffalo NY. I sent him this link (http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/languageswitcher.jsf0) and asked him to give them a try. According to the tracking numbers he sent, the parts did leave Canada via UPS. OH Well I'll wait for UPS to contact me again and probably end up paying it.

[RadoTD]

It is possible to get around UPS's brokerage fees, but you have to clear the package through customs yourself, which means driving to whichever city they hold it at the border crossing.
If that's a possibility, google "clearing UPS brokerage fees" or something like that and you should get all the details needed

[clbanman]

Always expect brokerage fees on crossborder shipments with any courier company.   That way any disappointment is to your benefit.  In my experience, brokerage and customs fees are always the responsibility of the buyer. 

Anyone who frequently deals with crossborder shipments from eBay purchases will have run into this.   Some sellers insist on UPS as USPS does not provide tracking numbers for U.S. to Canada shipments (well, actually they provide a number, they just don't actually track it).   Because eBay insists that sellers who are going to have seller protection have tracking numbers to be able to prove delivery, the USPS is not always an option.   

[bajacalal]

DHL.

Is my preferred option for international shipping. Expensive but worth it IMO if you want something in Timbuktu tomorrow, with no hassles, they can do it.

Otherwise I prefer the U.S. post office and the publications on their website are actually pretty informative for international shipping regarding duty exemptions and such.

[1outof5]

I just bought a "box" for my caddy, not available in Europe, and had it sent to Canada to my sisters because she's coming back to Europe and would bring it back in the container. Comes out that the seller used UPS, quite expensive (twice the price of the box)  , completly forgot about brokerage fees ... can't wait to see what they come up with. The box would have been cheaper to buy direct from Canadian Tyres (even though it's more than twice the US price). Kinda feel rotten about the whole thing ...