How to bypass brokerage fees when shipping via UPS from the US

[Apollo11]

Greetings,

If you have ever ordered any grow equipment from the US and it was shipped via UPS you were charged some brokerage fee that they collected COD. (rude awakening for most people, myself included)

Here is how to avoid that (keep in mind that I am in the GTA):

1. Refuse the delivery and tell the driver that you are going to dispute the brokerage fees.

2. Call UPS to request a commercial invoice and confirm where your shipment is being stored. (For me this is at Concord) At this point the UPS agent may tell you all sorts of crazy stories, tell the agent your intent to self clear and end the conversation.

3. Drive to your local Canadian Border Service Agency(CBSA) [for me: 5425 Dixie Rd.] and present them with your commercial invoice. They may also ask where your shipment is being stored, for me this was Concord.

4. Pay any duties+taxes and CBSA will give you a B15 (your proof that duties+taxes are paid for your shipment).

5. Call UPS to inquire how to submit your B15. (For me this was by fax: 1-770-990-1724)


Here is the link where I sourced all this info from and I can confirm this works, I recently bought a Steinel heatgun from New Jersey and avoided 70$ in brokerage fees on a $200 order: http://trueler.com/2010/09/13/ups-brokerage-fees-total-scam-fraud-cheating-avoid-it/

Plantlightinghydroponics has an awesome selection at great prices that we now have access to without being raped by brokerage fees.

Cheers!

 

[Guest 150314]

thats good to know but straight up i would rather shop local or pay the fees instead of heckling border service to save money on my dope growing gear, kind of like poking at a hornets nest.

 

[Apollo11]

Local shops for you may be more convenient but here in the GTA good growshops are few and far between. The status quo here is to gouge and if you are actually looking for brand named gear expect to pay a hefty premium. Just so you know, these brokerage fees scale with the total amount on your invoice. In my example for instance, my invoice was $209USD, they wanted $70 in brokerage fees, thats 1/3 of my invoice. Also, to add insult to injury, they charge HST on the brokerage fee.

If paying 1/3 more is ok with you then by all means go ahead. I hope everyone is using a safe addy when ordering grow equipment, this way you dont have worry about CBSA "watching" you.

I forgot to mention that this only works for shipments totaling under $1600, anything more will be classified as a commercial shipment rather than personal.

 

[sirbudsalot]

Greetings,

If you have ever ordered any grow equipment from the US and it was shipped via UPS you were charged some brokerage fee that they collected COD. (rude awakening for most people, myself included)
[...]

Thanks for the great info, Apollo11. I can't stand forking over the brokerage fees that UPS charges. Had a brokerage fee on a trailer hitch that added another 45% to the order.

Now I feel like ordering something just to try this out

 

[Buddler]

Another option .Ask they ship using USPS no brokerage fees period.UPS rapes enough un suspecting people with that BS...

 

[Hashmasta-Kut]

just ship ups air, and there is no fees. its just on ups ground they hike up the fee.

 

[Apollo11]

Another option .Ask they ship using USPS no brokerage fees period.UPS rapes enough un suspecting people with that BS...

Thats usually my first question for online vendors in the US, unfortunately not many of them offer this service as UPS is easier for them and usually cheaper.

www.plantlightinghydroponics.com is a prime example of a quality retailer that does not do USPS.