A Shipment to My Daughter

From: <michael@xxx.com>
Subject: UPS Joke
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:37:41 -0700

Hi,

This website is a joke right? Listen Bub. You are required to file a customs entry for your imported merchandise and pay duty — if applicable. This is common sense. How else would the government know what's coming in and out of its own border? Ninety nine percent of individuals that import anything hire a Customs Broker. The other 1% wishes they did. Filing an entry and is complex and hard work. You have to pay a broker to do it. And you build an entire internet site to complain about it? Wow. This is just amazing. Sounds like you're the kind of customer I would want to avoid.

Best Regards,

Michael

From: <michael@xxx.com>
Subject: RE: UPS Joke
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:04:40 -0700

Hmm…

Thank you for your review. It's a little one sided. But that's okay. However just so you know, your personal effects shipment did legally require a customs entry. And I do agree with you 100% that UPS should have notified you of the charge before-hand. There is absolutely no excuse for that. I notify my clients on every single charge. All costs are totally accounted for. They have to be. Any charge that's left out and I will (and have) take care of it.

Poor service from UPS, specifically on international shipments, is nothing new. If you are heavily involved in import/export you would have to be a fool to use them. It is the main reason there are so many smaller outfits that make up the bulk of the international shipping market. UPS dangles those dirt cheap rates to price us out on every level but overall to this day it still has not worked. I would say their prices are 15%-20% lower than mine. Imagine owning your own planes and space on ships and you still cannot get more control in International market? That's weird. Bad Service is the only reason I can think of.

And just so you know — The reason your other entries are so easy (as you said), is because they are considered "passenger entries". Those are really easy. You don't need a broker. However quite beneath me; as I only deal with large commercial cargo and complicated issues. So if you know of anyone shipping some cows from Canada please let me know.

Anyways — I do agree that UPS should have disclosed the Customs Broker charge. It is common sense from their part. And I'm sure your situation is not the first I'll bet.

Thanks.
Michael

From: "Sanish" <xxx@hotmail.com>
Subject: UPS fees
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:03:54 -0500

Hi, I recently bought a Jersey off eBay. Things were pretty smooth, the jersey and shipping cost me $35. I got my jersey, paid for shipping, life is good. Or not. About a week later, I recieve an invoice saying i have to pay brokerage fees, entry prep fees and what not, totalling $22. Now I have the item, so I was wondering if i still have to pay? Will they chase me, because i did NOT know about these fees, and I have the item, and an extra $22 out of my wallet is the last thing I need.

To: "Sanish" <xxx@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: UPS fees
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:32 -0800

I assume you are in Canada and the jersey was shipped from the U.S.

If you are in British Columbia, contact the law firm of Poyner Baxter LLP. They filed a class-action lawsuit against UPS over this issue.

If you are in any other province, is there a federal or provincial consumer-protection agency you can contact?

In the meantime, don't pay the brokerage. If UPS contacts you, tell them to collect from the seller or eBay since you purchased the item and already paid the seller for ALL shipping costs.

In the future, of course, demand that all items be shipped US Postal Service and Canada Post (after explaining why). If a seller insists on shipping UPS or FedEx from the US to Canada, ask the seller to prepay the customs brokerage fees.

From: "Dan" <xxx@insightbb.com>
Subject: UPS
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:14:38 -0500

I have two questions for you. Have you ever served in the U.S. Military and if you think Canada is so great, why don't you move there, thus making the U.S. just a little bit better for the rest of us.

Although I've never been in the military, I spent over 30 years of my career serving the military by working for defense contractors. That service provided the military with vital intelligence and communications capabilities. The U.S. invasion of Panama and the first Gulf War both made extensive use of my work. Although I've been retired for over four years, much of my work is still being used by the military.

I never said Canada is better than the U.S. Only the lack of disclosure of the additional fees for customs brokerage occurred in the U.S. The other problems I describe actually occurred within UPS's Canadian operations.

Telling someone to leave is a poor response. My service to my community and my patriotism are well documented elsewhere on my Web site.

As for your preference in being called David, don't you think it's time to grow up and act like a man?

You signed your message "Dan". You thereby expressed a preference for how you should be named. I respect that, and I don't refer to you as "Danny". I expect the same respect from you.

As for your concerns with the carriers and the other ridiculous things you have a problem with in the U.S. that Canada does so well, why don't you get a life and wake up and realize that there has always been a price for freedom.

What does this have to do with UPS holding my daughter's shipment for ransom? My daughter paid none of the brokerage fee to either Canada or the U.S. She paid it to UPS, which kept the fee for itself. Thus, none of it was paid to protect anyone's freedom. It was only paid to protect UPS's profits. Putting up with extortionate businesses is not part of the price for freedom.

Post my comments on your website.

I did, with my responses.

Dan — A proud Vietnam Veteran!!!!

From: <email_me@xxx.com>
Subject: Your webpage
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:30:56 -0500

Hello,

Why don't you post copies of the UPS shipping bills? You could black out your addresses, but it would prove your case that you didn't know about the brokerage fees.