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Comment by slantyyz | Hacker News Reader

When I moved to the suburbs, I thought I would hate the community mailboxes, but they've actually turned out to be handy, because most small and mid sized packages can be securely delivered into the community mailbox.

Larger packages or those that require a signature are usually dropped off at the mail depot at a nearby drug store, which is open late.

When I buy online, especially from the US, I try to ship via USPS for this reason (also because they don't add exorbitant Canadian brokerage fees the way UPS and FedEx do).

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Yes, shipping to Canada from the US via USPS is generally the best option because they'll handle customs clearance. I've had FedEx abandon packages in the oddest places and had to go and pick them up and clear customs for them myself.

Yes, UPS (the courier) are thieves when it comes to outrageous "brokerage" fees. Unfortunately a lot of places won't ship USPS (the post office) because they can't get a signature as proof of delivery.

I just bought a $150 item, of which $20 was shipping and then had to pay $60 COD to UPS at the door, of which $40 was a brokerage fee to UPS (the rest was duty and tax).

Outrageous is an understatement.

Next time you get a package from UPS just don't answer the door.

1) Call/Email UPS and request a commercial invoice and the depot the parcel is being held at. If it's not being held at a depot tell them you want to self-clear and for them to hold it. You may have to argue with them for a while to convince them this is a possibility.

2) Go to a CBSA office with the original receipt, commercial invoice and depot location, and pay taxes to get your B15 form. You shouldn't pay taxes on shipping.

3) Call UPS and ask them where you can send the B15 form.

4) Send them the B15 form with your tracking number on it and ask them to release your package.

Yeah, that's totally convenient, fast and easy! I'll just spend several hours of my time (at $200/hour) on the phone and driving around town ($50 in gas) to clear that package and save $20.

It's the principal. I live close enough to an airport CBSA office that it just takes an hour of my time and a few emails.

Dumb question. Does the US have these tariffs on consumer products and I've just never noticed? As a canuck, I feel a bit oppressed dealing with all the paperwork around customs. Does this actually bring the govt a lot of revenue?

>> Next time you get a package from UPS just don't answer the door.

Well you actually have to do it way before that. My package was held at the border in Windsor/Detroit for a few days before it cleared. Once it's on a truck to your house, it's already too late to avoid brokerage fees.

What's sad is that UPS actually offers a slightly higher rate (only a few bucks more) that bypasses the brokerage fees, etc on shipments to Canada.

The problem is that most smaller online sellers don't know about it or care to research it.

You can decide to self clear at any point before accepting the package. It doesn't matter if they've made you an invoice or not.

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