> Today I got some parts from Velocity Sport Tuning for my 1980 Rabbit
> Pickup.  They (Velocity) insisted that I ship the parcel via UPS and not
> the postoffice.  Well it took 2 WEEKS to get here and I had to pay $67 to
> get my parcel from the driver!
> - The goods I bought came to $242US this was paid on my Visa card.
> - At the boarder the Canadian Government wanted $25.40 for GST
> - UPS charged me $39 for "brokerage fees" plus about $3 in GST on top of
that.
> Wait a freekin' minute here!  $39 to pay $25.40 in tax!? Canada post
charges > $5 for the same thing
> DO NOT USE UPS FOR FREIGHT BETWEEN USA AND CANADA.

This is why I generally use US Air Mail for shipments to Canada.  The
price, compared to UPS ground service, is typically just slightly higher,
but there are no brokerage fees at the border, so no surprises other than
the GST and the Canadian postal system's $5.00 flat fee.  Furthermore, the
post office charges strictly by weight, whereas UPS adds a surcharge for
bulkier packages. It is worth noting, though, that UPS does not charge
brokerage fees if you use their more expensive (faster) Expedited service.

- Ron Salmon
 The Bus Depot
 http://www.busdepot.com