UPS vs USPS

[PPPP]

So I want to get Jiffy steamer and I was quoted about $30 to ship with UPS. If I want to ship with USPS it would cost $50.

Question is...how likely am I going to get dinked for brokerage fee/taxes with UPS comparing to USPS? I know the brokerage fee will be expensive (e.g. ~$25....). So am I better off with USPS?

[Crowbarfoot]

I wouldn't give UPS a penny.

I'm sure the made up fees they will charge you will be greater than the $20 bucks for USPS.

I hate UPS tho....

[zod]

UPS hits every package with brokerage. They charge high brokerage fees. Therefore they have a financial incentive to make sure they charge it on each and every package.

USPS goes to Canada Post, which charges 5 bux brokerage plus pst/gst. (UPS has a graduating scale of brokerage depending on the value of the order, but its generally around 30 dollars or more).

Canada Post also seems to miss alot of packages. I'm not even sure they charge me brokerage/tax on 50% on the stuff I order from the US.

so shipping USPS prevents high brokerage fees, and you even have a lottery like change of missing tax/brokerage all together.

2nd note. If you're not home during the day. UPS depots tend to be in inconvenient places, while Canada post has outlets all over the place for pickup. downside: you can't really track usps packages into canada.

[dmdsoftware2]

Question is...how likely am I going to get dinked for brokerage fee/taxes with UPS comparing to USPS? I know the brokerage fee will be expensive (e.g. ~$25....). So am I better off with USPS?

Forecast calls for 110% chance of brokerage fees...

[trellaine201]

UPS sucks! Don't do it and yes I am sure you will get these mysterious fees they charge.

[redpattison]

UPS Yuck.
If you use UPS,bend over.

[bylo]

UPS -- Unmitigated Pond Scum
USPS -- Uncle Sam's Personal Service

[Riffer]

So I want to get Jiffy steamer and I was quoted about $30 to ship with UPS. If I want to ship with USPS it would cost $50.

Question is...how likely am I going to get dinked for brokerage fee/taxes with UPS comparing to USPS? I know the brokerage fee will be expensive (e.g. ~$25....). So am I better off with USPS?

Now for some facts, not the nonsense from some of the posters above.

UPS only charges brokerage on Ground/Standard/and Standard to Canada serices. If you use any of the other services, there will be no brokerage, but you may get charged an amount for them paying the taxes on your behalf (unconfirmed, I never have). You will always pay tax with UPS.

USPS will charge a handling fee of $5 or $8, depending on service. You will almost always get charged with this fee and taxes, but some stuff does slip through.

Jiffy steamers are about $150US or so, so UPS fees on the Ground/Standard/and Standard to Canada would be $40-50CDN, so, assuming they quoted you for one of these services, I would pick the USPS.

[redpattison]

Now for some facts, not the nonsense from some of the posters above.

UPS only charges brokerage on Ground/Standard/and Standard to Canada serices. If you use any of the other services, there will be no brokerage, but you may get charged an amount for them paying the taxes on your behalf (unconfirmed, I never have). You will always pay tax with UPS.

USPS will charge a handling fee of $5 or $8, depending on service. You will almost always get charged with this fee and taxes, but some stuff does slip through.

Jiffy steamers are about $150US or so, so UPS fees on the Ground/Standard/and Standard to Canada would be $40-50CDN, so, assuming they quoted you for one of these services, I would pick the USPS.

UPS still sucks.
I once made the tragic mistake of using UPS.
Item cost me $20 usd,UPS charged me $30.
If that is not daylight roberry i don`t know what is.
That was about 5 years ago,never again.

Not sure what you mean by the,"The nonsense from some of the above posters.

They all seem to say the same thing.
I.e. stay away from UPS.

[aenation]

i would recommend USPS as they will miss most of the items.

i got charged customs/taxes for like 20-30% of my stuff shipping by USPS versus 95% by UPS.

[dmdsoftware2]

Selecting UPS for shipping is like a kid putting their hand on a hot stove - you'll need to experience the pain for yourself, and then you'll hopefully never do it again.

[richardvoyageur]

Shipping with UPS is like playing the lottery, you never know when you're going to "win". By win I mean pay more than the entire value of the item in question for brokerage. I believe UPS Expedited is one of their brokerage paid services, so you won't get nailed with fees but the shipping charge will be higher for sure.

USPS all the way.

[bylo]

Now for some facts, not the nonsense from some of the posters above.

Nonsense? Here are some facts.

I have no problem paying a $5 or $8 brokerage fee as CPC charges.

I have a lot of trouble paying UPS an unknown, rapacious fee that's often as much or more than the value of the item imported. I've had situations where UPS charged brokerage to clear a one-page letter. I've had situations where they charged more in GST/PST on their brokerage fee than the GST/PST on the item itself.

It's not without good reason that UPS*stands for Unmitigated Pond Scum in my dictionary.

[nosnoop]

Now for some facts, not the nonsense from some of the posters above.

+1
Just avoid UPS Standard/Ground, go with UPS expedited or express service, and there will be NO extra brokerage fee!

I have a lot of trouble paying UPS an unknown, rapacious fee that's often as much or more than the value of the item imported.

There is nothing mysterious or unknown about it. The brokerage fee that will be charged is clearly laid out in their web site, and it is related to the value of the imported goods. If your merchandise value is $1, you will pay no brokerage fee even when shipped as UPS ground or standard.

[thrifty1]

Use the post office. I have never had an item ship cheaper with the couriers. Yes an envelope may get to you faster via courier if needed but for cross-border shopping nothing beats the post office. $5 brokerage fee plus applicable tax on items up to $ 10,000 Canadian, items under $20 declared value no charge.I bought some specialty tires from the States a few years back and made the mistake of using the courier, $700 tires and several weeks after delivery get a bill from the courier for almost $400 for taxes and brokerage that I was surprised to find that I had to pay.
Happy steaming