Canadians: Vault #10 shipping - Be Careful:
I was ordering Vault 10 and noticed 2 shipping options. UPS Standard and Standard International Shipping. UPS charges an assload to handle the brokerage (the fee they charge to determine how much tax you owe). It's the cheaper option this year, so I know lots of people are going to choose it, only to get a large nasty bill when the record gets delivered.
You can self clear packages from UPS (pick them up somewhere and run them through customs yourself). That always felt like a pain to me.
I noticed that by adding the deaf charlie vinyl to the order for some reason the international shipping option dropped from 62.99 to 44.75. That's how I'm going to check it out. Quite often when it's USPS to Canada Post packages under $100 fly through without customs charges. Even if they get dinged it's about $15+gst/hst/pst. A lot better than UPS's $30 or $40 plus tax.
short version: Fuck UPS (when it comes to international mail).
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https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-avoid-broker-fees-just-in-time-for-online-xmas-shopping/#pencil
Doesn't work for me. I have to email them or call them once the item is here in the city so they will send me the UPS forms, so I can take to the local customs department who complete the B15 form. They won't send me the forms of the item is still in the USA or in another province.
A poster I just picked up shipped via UPS wanted $60 CDN for customs / fees from the USA. Poster was $100. So I self cleared it and only paid $19 dollars at the customs department.
For me I have to wait all the time. Once the UPS package is in the city I need to email them for the paper work. Then take it to the customs to complete . Pay the B15 form. Take a snapshot photo of it. Email them it's done. Then get the reply back my package is ready to pick up.
Order placed!
2003-05-30 - Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
2005-09-04 - Calgary, AB, Pengrowth Saddledome
2005-09-05 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2009-08-08 - Calgary, AB, Canada Olympic Park
2009-09-21 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2009-09-22 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2011-09-23 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2013-11-30 - Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
2003-05-30 - Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
2005-09-04 - Calgary, AB, Pengrowth Saddledome
2005-09-05 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2009-08-08 - Calgary, AB, Canada Olympic Park
2009-09-21 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2009-09-22 - Seattle, WA, Key Arena
2011-09-23 - Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
2013-11-30 - Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
We will lump it and pay UPS. Last vault cost me 147 CDN. It’s a lot... but far from the most Ive paid for a record. These vaults hold their value.