The seller may not have even known about the brokerage fees. That is strictly UPS. The seller doesn't get a penny.

Besides, it's your responsibility as the importer to know the rules. Unfortunately, how you found out is how a lot of us find out.

But $54 on a $99 item does sound a bit high. Did you check the UPS invoice to see if the item was valued at $99?

From now on, if at all possible, have items from outside Canada shipped by postal service. Some sellers insist on using couriers, however, so make sure you find this out before you bid.

Oh jeeze, marnie sniped me , while I was diggin up the link !


marnie, you little ole snipper you

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possibly $38 brokerage and $16 gst/pst (if you are in ontario) - you'd pay the taxes anyway on the item (its charged on the converted value of the item from US funds to CDN funds) - and the brokerage you will pay when it is shipped by a courier service, as mentioned

brokerage will be a nominal $5 or $8 when you receive it by mail - plus of course the applicable taxes

so yes, you paid about $30 more to have it come by courier

It sucks, doesn't it? I once bought a computer case online for $100 US, shipped via UPS (keep in mind this was before I knew the horrors of brokerage fees). Well, the UPS brokerage guy opened the package and re-assessed it for about $550 (assuming it was a complete computer), and charged me an insane brokerage fee plus about $120 in taxes and duty. It was so bad that I had to refuse the package, and ended up losing everything I paid. A pretty big loss, but it was still better than paying $200 in fees. Even if they'd assessed the proper amount I'd still have lost my shirt.

That was before I knew there was a way to dispute those types of charges. If you ever get ripped, remember that you can plead your case. I believe I downloaded a dispute form from Canada Customs, and it did work.

Preferred ship method from the USA is USPS Air ..unless of course the item is too heavy or too large






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I received a package from UPS once on behalf of a friend. She had bought perfume for $50-US and I paid on her behalf another $35.00 UPS brokerage fee. The UPS guy told me that many people refuse them, they are sent back to the seller and other arrangements made.
This particular seller did not indicate UPS.
I myself will not bid on an item when the seller only uses UPS and when I email for shipping cost, I always ask if they use UPS, then when I have won the auction I will remind them that if my item is sent UPS I will refuse delivery and explain why. US sellers don't know or care what UPS charges. They probably lose alot of business dealing only with UPS. Always ask, even if it isn't mentioned