Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Eastern Canada VERY UPSET! CAN SOMEONE HELPOUT...

OK, so i bought a Contour Digital clock from someone is Michigan for $30 CDN, last week.

UPS left a note on my door today for a DUTY fee of $35.00, when i pay the fee i can pick up the clock.
WTF?? I thought their was no duty on AUTO parts. Do I have a case at all? Are they ripping me off??

Thanks, any info would help.

Tip #1: Never use UPS.
Tip #2: We need more info. Is it taxes owed or brokerage fees. Brokerage fees you can't do anything about. That's UPS just screwing you. If it's taxes maybe the person that you bought the clock from filled out the declaration forms out incorrectly and the item was rated incorrectly as a result (or correclty based on incorrect info provided). If that's the case you have to get the package re-rated (good luck). The easiest thing to do is refuse the package, have it sent back and do it again with the right info.

I say all this with experience. Yes they are entitled to charge taxes (which ones depends on where the product was made), but atleast yours isnt a $175 mistake made on UPS' part that they wouln't admit to (or atleast reluctantly admitted to). Either way we need more info on the breakdown of the charges before I can say anymore

Wow, i just phoned UPS asked for details, and they started breaking down the $35,
It is a brokerage Fee...

$3 GST, $4 PST, $5.50 for something, $17 for something else, $6.25 for other crap. I was quite upset i wasnt paying much attention
to what they were sayin.

Man UPS sucks big time!!

Why not do what Evan said have it sent back and have the guy mail it. If it is packaged right, it should be okay. It isnt that big so mail should be pretty cheap.

Yup....if it's a small item you're better off sending it by good 'ol USPS (sanil mail). SOmetimes you don't even get charged for anything even when you're supposed to.

Once I got an item I sold on eBay returned to me through UPS (guy said it wasn't working...I got it back and it worked fine. oh well...) and they charged me $40 in brokerage fees. I refused to pay it, (I mean, it's a RETURN!) and they got a collection agency after me!! So after maybe a 6 months and 6 calls later I caved and paid it. Man, I've never used UPS since.

Yeah, lesson learned, no more UPS.

ditto

Re the Duty Part!!! I believe unless unless the part is identified as made in Canada, USA, or Mexico ( probably in 4 inch letters and three languages) it attracts duty going across a border. This is one reason (and the returns) that many (most) Rod Shops don't want 'Canadian business'. Someone like JC Whitney is properly set up with its 'own' border office.

I just order over the phone and specifically ask them to send it US Mail. Small charge at the post office, and no $50 brokerage fee from UPS. Saves me money and I have never had a problem.