USPS vs UPS [What's the opposite of Gloat]

Jack Fearnley · 2005-02-23T19:20:15+00:00

Perhaps Canadian readers will be interested in my recent experience.I ordered some stuff from Woodsmith costing $42.90US and they were about tocharge me $21.49US for handling and shipping via UPS. I felt this wasexcessive (50% of the value of the order) so I asked them to ship it USPSinstead. They agreed and said the charge would be $16.25US. I found thisstill to be expensive but I agreed to the price.I received the package today with a charge of $12.94CAN. This is $3.70Federal Sales Tax plus $4.24 Provincial Sales Tax plus --- wait for it ---$5.00 service charge!!So now I have paid $16.25US plus $12.94CAN via the postal service versus$21.49US for UPS. I don't know if there would have been additional chargesby UPS (taxes etc). Perhaps someone can enlighten me on that point.Even without tax considerations, it cost me $16.25US plus $5.00CAN insteadof $21.49US. Not much of a saving considering the current exchange ratesand a big loss if UPS does not collect tax.Best Regards, Jack Fearnley

Feb 23, 2005 42 Replies

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Doug Brown 21 years ago

I agree completely with the comments made so far re: USPS v UPS.

I used to mail order thins from he US fairly regularly and I learned the hard way about the infamous UPS "brokerage fee". After that though, when I ensured that the shipper used USPS, I had no trouble and Canada Post only charged the applicable taxes and teh $5 fee as they are supposed to.

But - and it's a big but, Last week I ordered something from ebay and the shipper wanted to ship UPS. I did a bit of an email discussion with him and he assured me that eh could ship via UPS and there woudl be NO fees.

Well, since I had not discussed this prior to winning the auction, and since I like to think you can trust people, I agreed to him shipping via UPS.

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tim124c41 21 years ago

There could be two other factors at play here:

1) UPS expedited shipping includes brokerage; UPS Ground to Canada doesn't. 2) You will likely be getting an invoice in the mail in the next week or two from a customs broker closely associated with UPS. Unlike the post office that seems to let most small packages through, UPS has to collect tax on everything. Wouldn't surprise me if they add a "disbursement fee" too.

Last week I got a $45 circuit breaker off eBay. The seller said he'd use USPS, but apparently that message didn't get through to his shipper who used UPS. Package arrived COD with a $29+ brokerage charge (and $2 GST on that to add insult to injury). So UPS Ground is definitely still collecting outrageous brokerage fees.

Let us know if you do get invoiced.

Tim

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jrs 21 years ago

Same Here,

Won an 18 ga brad nailer on Ebay .. Seller sends by UPS .. surprise ... a $38.40 plus GST Brokerage Fee .. a real surprise for a $69.00 tool. (The total bill was $53.08 CAD)

I will not use UPS for anything shipped from the US !!! ( In fact now with even domestic parcels I state no UPS !!! ) ... USPS to Canada Post ... at max they only charge a $5 CAD handling fee plus taxes.

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