importing from the US using FEDEX
- Thread starter nottyboi
- Start date
Don't do it.
They will RAPE you, as will UPS and any other parcel service. They will bill you what seems like 50% of the cost of your parcel in brokerage fees.
Have them send it US post.
The package will arrive at your home, you pay the PST, GST, and a minimal handling fee.
Unless you are in an extreme hurry, go the US post route. Trust me, I sometimes buy car parts in the US and this is the only way to go.
They will RAPE you, as will UPS and any other parcel service. They will bill you what seems like 50% of the cost of your parcel in brokerage fees.
Have them send it US post.
The package will arrive at your home, you pay the PST, GST, and a minimal handling fee.
Unless you are in an extreme hurry, go the US post route. Trust me, I sometimes buy car parts in the US and this is the only way to go.
in this case I don't have much of an option. I am buying a kitchen sink... too bulky for USPS, I heard you can self broker.... so I will call UPS about that before I buy. The cost of the damn sink is sooooo much cheaper that rip off Canada.... it is quite comical.
If you purchase from some companies that regularly ship to Canada, Amazon.ca and Digikey are examples, then you will get your package on-time with no surprise charges.
Conversely, if you deal with the smaller players, and this includes many US companies that say "they ship to Canada", the following usually happens:
a) FedEx will get you the package, pretty much the next day. You may wind up paying a small brokerage fee ($50), and GST and/or PST.
b) UPS will get you the package eventually (2 to 3 days), and you will almost always pay a fee. Pretty much the same fees as FedEx.
c) Packages less than $50 are exempt from some of the fees.
Conversely, if you deal with the smaller players, and this includes many US companies that say "they ship to Canada", the following usually happens:
a) FedEx will get you the package, pretty much the next day. You may wind up paying a small brokerage fee ($50), and GST and/or PST.
b) UPS will get you the package eventually (2 to 3 days), and you will almost always pay a fee. Pretty much the same fees as FedEx.
c) Packages less than $50 are exempt from some of the fees.
Fedex doesn't charge brokerage fees for their express service and you will get it the next day. The only thing you may pay is duties depending on what the shipper puts for a customs value.
UPS is the worst for brokerage fees if value is over $20.00, just check their website, don't bother with them.
UPS is the worst for brokerage fees if value is over $20.00, just check their website, don't bother with them.
Ship it to the UPS store in Niagara Falls, New York and then go pick it up there yourself. You will only pay the US shippng rate ( many times companies will ship for free within the US). The UPS Store will only charge you $5 $10 or $15 dollars depending on the size to receive the package. They will then charge you $1 per day that you leave it there. It is only 10 minutes from the border and clearing customs is pretty easy. PM me if you need any more info!
Any sort of "Express Service" will cost you an arm and a leg.
So they GET YOU coming or going. You can't beat them.
I recently ordered 4 brake rotors and 2 sets of pads for my car from a US site called "Everything Nissan". Including Shipping, via US post, the total damage was $457.00 vs. $900.00 from 401 Dixie. I had them ship via US post and picked them up at the local post office. They shipped 2 boxes due to the weight.
Paid the tax and some minimal handling fee.
If I had of had them shipped by UPS, or the like, the brokderage fees would have been around $200.00 I bet.
So they GET YOU coming or going. You can't beat them.
I recently ordered 4 brake rotors and 2 sets of pads for my car from a US site called "Everything Nissan". Including Shipping, via US post, the total damage was $457.00 vs. $900.00 from 401 Dixie. I had them ship via US post and picked them up at the local post office. They shipped 2 boxes due to the weight.
Paid the tax and some minimal handling fee.
If I had of had them shipped by UPS, or the like, the brokderage fees would have been around $200.00 I bet.
Actually I've had things shipped FedEx in the past and gotten hit with brokerage. Someone was saying in a previous thread on this subject that you have to ship international air or something like that to avoid brokerage fees. it is more expensive up front so maybe that's why they give you a break on the brokerage.
As for a sink being too heavy, have you verified that? I know someone who shipped a microwave oven in a drawer from FLA via USPS and it was pretty big and heavy.
As for a sink being too heavy, have you verified that? I know someone who shipped a microwave oven in a drawer from FLA via USPS and it was pretty big and heavy.
Hey RUB!! where does it say where the OP lives?? If he is close to me, he can be at the border in 10 minutes!!! Also, if you do a little research, you know when to cross the border and when to avoid it. I can be over and back from home within an hour. You can also fill up on gas and save even more. And the biggest advantage of all is that you don't have to wait for your package to sit at customs for days.... DUH!!
Cheapskate???? NO...does it make sense to you now????
Cheapskate???? NO...does it make sense to you now????
....but then again..... going with the normal terb negative mentality... what do I know....I only have 3700 less posts!!!
...I humbly bow....
...I humbly bow....
I have imported items from the US using various courier services in the past couple years. About a month after receiving the product, I have received a bill from a brokerage firm, normally priced at about 50% of the cost of the item. So, the brokerage fees did not hold up the border crossing.
I have never paid such a bill. If the fees were reasonable administrative costs I would have, but screw them for trying to gouge me with such exorbitant charges. To date, there have been no consequences for my not paying the bills, and some of these transactions happened 3 years ago. I did not even receive a nasty follow up letter, and my credit rating remains 850. Take that experience as you wish, but I have not been negatively impacted by the brokerage fees.
I have never paid such a bill. If the fees were reasonable administrative costs I would have, but screw them for trying to gouge me with such exorbitant charges. To date, there have been no consequences for my not paying the bills, and some of these transactions happened 3 years ago. I did not even receive a nasty follow up letter, and my credit rating remains 850. Take that experience as you wish, but I have not been negatively impacted by the brokerage fees.
