In a message dated 20/08/2010 12:05:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

        Paul, almost got it  right.  The BROKERAGE FEE is the fee charged
by the carrier to do the  paperwork at customs of the receiver on the
receiver's behalf, it  is variable depending on the carrier.  You can always opt to
do your on  brokerage although it is generally a PITA.   Postal BROKERAGE
FEES are  ALWAYS lower that any other carrier.  FedEx is next on the scale.
DUTIES are duties and do not vary from one carrier to another.  Duties are
fees levied by the country of the receiver of the goods.  Then there  are
TAXES levied by the Country and State or Province of your  residence.  This
information is all coming from someone who imports and  exports on a daily
basis - ME !

BTW, just received the Dennis Haynes, USED hitch, from Ryan in Cali.   Came
by UPS and the total due for Brokerage, Duty & Taxes was $22.92.   I WAS
surprised as I expected a lot more !

>>>>>>>If you request foreign sellers to send  items via postal mail, your
duties/brokerage fees will be  minimized.<<<<<<<

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html)  -
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://www.busfusion.com/)  a VW Camper  camping event,
Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13,  2010