CBC's Marketplace did a story on these infamous brokerage fees a short while
ago.

Said they can be avoided if you instruct the shipper to clearly mark the
package "Customer will clear customs".

It does involve some back and forth between the customs and  UPS offices
which may be time consuming depending on your location, etc.

Phil
'89 Westy

----- Original Message -----
From: <gary2a@TELUSPLANET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: January 7, 2001 2:00 AM
Subject: re. UPS shipping

> There is one thing all Canadians should watch with UPS when getting stuff
> from the states and that is the famous UPS brokerage fees.  A $500 US
order
> costs about another $45 US in brokerage fees, plus gst on the value.  The
> post office charges a flat $5 CDN for all shipments.  There is at least
one
> list vendor who will only use UPS.
> I regularly ship used items from Canada to the states.  UPS will not
insure
> used items going in that direction, that may suggest something.......
>
> Gary Lee