Kitty Litter Boxes and Brokerage Fees...

[makellen]

Hi, I posted in another thread that came up when I did a search on brokerage fees... Probably should've created my own post.

Here goes:

I've recently switched my cat over to the wood pellets for kitty litter, which I've seen recommended before on forums. It works well, little tracking, natural, etc. but cleaning it out can be a pain. I know there's a special sifting box that's made specifically for pellets. It's available in the US, but I haven't been able to find anything similar in Canada. Has anyone any recommendations, that have used wood pellet litter before?

Feline Pine sells this box online, they will ship to Toronto for $20 via UPS Ground. When I asked what the total would be, it was just the cost of the box plus shipping only, no taxes were added, and they had no idea if there'd be a charge for customs/duty/brokerage fees.

Anyone with more experience with brokerage fees know what I should expect? I can probably swing the $20 shipping if there are no alternatives, but if it will be much more I'd like to know.

Thanks! Sorry for double posting.

[cheaper_than_cheap]

OK you made me go look it up

According to UPS.com, for your package from $20-$40 the brokerage charge would be $7. So it's pretty well the same as Canada Post for that price range. It goes WAY up from there as the value increases though, so I still stick to my guns and refuse to ship UPS, ever, unless there's no choice.

Somewhat on topic... what's wrong with clay?

[cyder]

OK you made me go look it up

According to UPS.com, for your package from $20-$40 the brokerage charge would be $7. So it's pretty well the same as Canada Post for that price range. It goes WAY up from there as the value increases though, so I still stick to my guns and refuse to ship UPS, ever, unless there's no choice.

Somewhat on topic... what's wrong with clay?

the kitty pine stuff is great, seems to really work for any cat smells, I use the pine dust not the pellets though, costs a bit more though : /

[makellen]

hey thanks! should've figured UPS would have some info on it. Not sure what the "Rates do not include applicable duties or taxes." might entail, or if I'd have to pay those Bond fees... but I guess I should probably call UPS to ask them about it.

As for what's wrong with clay, nothing much I guess, except my sister seems to be allergic to it. Some might object to the strip mining process too for environmental reasons... I tried the clumping pine product but at least the kind I tried didn't always clump so well, and it was so light, my cat tracked sawdust everywhere. The pellets seem to work better, but it works the opposite way from clumping litters. You start out with solid pellets that turn to sawdust when the cat pees on it, and absorbs it right up. Good with odour if you scoop the poop regularly. But you either have to dump out the whole thing every few days, or sift the pellets in to a new pan if you want to remove the sawdust to prevent tracking. Hence the need for the box, which is supposed to make it much easier.

I hear you can buy stove pellets at a hardware store for much cheaper and it's the same thing, but I haven't found a place that actually sells it. Seems like all the pet stores are selling some kind of pine litter now though. Wonder why no one's selling the box?

[Jimboski]

You most likely won't be charged.. For orders that are valued of $20 and up they MIGHT care but since your on the mark of $20 they won't bother to process the papers for It..

I had an item shipped from the US recently not marked as gift and a value of $35.. Didn't get hit by anything.. I know your shipping by UPS so It might be different..

USPS Is the most lenient when It comes to customs/brokerage fees.. They don't ever ding people for hidden fees and what not.. At least from what I've heard. If you can get It shipped from them then go for It!

$7-$8 would be the customs/brokerage fees If you were to get hit by them..

[woof]

You most likely won't be charged.. For orders that are valued of $20 and up they MIGHT care but since your on the mark of $20 they won't bother to process the papers for It...

UPS makes sure that ALL packages C$ 20.00+ get nailed by customs for taxes and the like so that they can add on their own customs clearance fee$. Below C$ 20 there are no taxes and duties and therefore no UPS clearance fee can be charged. UPS is hungry for the revenue their fees bring so they're very rigid with the customs thing once you hit that $20 limit.

For USPS/Canada Post shipments it's pretty hit and miss above $20 and most of the lower value stuff (say $30-50 and sometimes higher) is allowed through without charges.