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 $200 order: http://trueler.com/2010/09/13/ups-brokerage-fees-total-scam-fraud-cheating-avoid-it/
Plantlightinghydroponics has an awesome selection at great prices that we now have access to without being raped by brokerage fees.
Cheers!
If you have ever ordered any grow equipment from the US and it was shipped via UPS you were charged some brokerage fee that they collected COD. (rude awakening for most people, myself included)
Here is how to avoid that (keep in mind that I am in the GTA):
1. Refuse the delivery and tell the driver that you are going to dispute the brokerage fees.
2. Call UPS to request a commercial invoice and confirm where your shipment is being stored. (For me this is at Concord) At this point the UPS agent may tell you all sorts of crazy stories, tell the agent your intent to self clear and end the conversation.
3. Drive to your local Canadian Border Service Agency(CBSA) [for me: 5425 Dixie Rd.] and present them with your commercial invoice. They may also ask where your shipment is being stored, for me this was Concord.
4. Pay any duties+taxes and CBSA will give you a B15 (your proof that duties+taxes are paid for your shipment).
5. Call UPS to inquire how to submit your B15. (For me this was by fax: 1-770-990-1724)
Here is the link where I sourced all this info from and I can confirm this works, I recently bought a Steinel heatgun from New Jersey and avoided 70$ 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!