posted on February 24, 2004 04:17:18 AM new
I understand that UPS is a disaster for international bidders, as UPS charges an outrageous "broker" fee to cross a border (??30.00??)
My question is: does FEDEX INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS also charge these so-called "broker" fees?
If so, anybody know: HOW MUCH??
THANK YOU!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CNBC: "Unless the economy adds at least 2.3 million jobs by the end of the year, Bush will go down as the first president since Hoover to preside over a four-year term in which total employment fell."
posted on February 24, 2004 05:23:09 AM new
FedEx also charges a brokerage and duty or customs fees. I'm not sure how they set their rates, but I just got nailed unknowingly and received an invoice from FedEx from an eBay transaction from last July. I sent a $45.00 item to Canada that the buyer apparently never paid the fees on. Therefore, I got the FedEx invoice for $20.00 because the buyer refused to pay or wouldn't respond to FedEx. I called FedEx and asked why a person could receive a package if additional fees were due, and they said they had several months to pay it, but if they didn't, then the sender is responsible. Sounds like a messed up system to me.
posted on February 24, 2004 05:49:26 AM new
best is to call fede xp or lookup at their website.
usps is the cheapest,5 dollars.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 24, 2004 07:36:18 AM new
$5 for WHAT???
CNBC: "Unless the economy adds at least 2.3 million jobs by the end of the year, Bush will go down as the first president since Hoover to preside over a four-year term in which total employment fell."
posted on February 24, 2004 08:34:24 AM new
I have shipped about a dozen packages to Canada by Fedex ground. Each time I warned them that there might be a brokerage fee but they wanted it anyway. I never had a package held in customs and it is faster than airmail and has tracking.
I called Fedex trying to find out what the brokerage fees would be and all they could tell me is that they don't have their own brokers (at least for ground), they use a third part broker. (UPS has their own)
I also shipped a 95 Lb box to Northern Ireland and a 135 Lb box to China. (USPS won't even take them)
I think the brokerage fees might only apply to ground shipments.
posted on February 24, 2004 08:46:41 AM new
Brokerage fees apply with Fedex and UPS regardless of air or ground. And yes, if the receiving party doesn't pay, the charges revert to you, the sender.
This is why for any international shipments, I use USPS. No brokerage fees and no duty / brokerage reversals...The Postal Service in the respective buyer's country collects.
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people and I require the same from them."- John Wayne/The Shootist"(from the novel by Glendon Swarthout)
posted on February 24, 2004 09:23:26 AM new
Last Sept. I bought an item from a seller, $650.00 weight was 60 lbs. The seller asked twice how I wanted it shipped and I stressed USPS and not UPS or Fedex because of the brokerage fees. They said no problem will ship USPS. I was fully aware of taxes and duty and prepared to pay. What a surprise when it arrived UPS with a brokerage fee of $232.00 due to UPS. I did pay the taxes, duty plus the UPS brokerage fee. I guess I'm old fashion but I pay all of my bills. I did not refuse the shipment as I had been searching for months for this particular thing. I did contact the seller and asked WT*
and stated that I had specifically asked it not to be sent this way for this exact reason, high brokerage fees. Sellers reply,"I do what is most convenient for me, and UPS was willing to come and pick it up for free." I then stated that I had asked before bidding if you would ship it USPS and not UPS or Fedex and was told yes. Seller again replied that he did what was most convenient for him.
I really try not to buy on ebay anymore, just too many problems. Out of 6 purchases, 4 all the same problem. On the declared value form many put $100.00 and this is what I have to pay duty on. Many state they will not lie and mark it as a gift, I agree 100% but why lie aout the declared value? On one I paid the seller $9.99 yet declared value $100.00, that one cost me $27.00 duty, thank you seller. In my frustration I have contacted customs and duty, explained the situation and have been told how to correct it and been given the appropriate forms, but the easiest way is not to buy on ebay unless it is my only option. Please sellers, if you choose to ship internationally, know how to ship internationally "correctly". Knowing your product is just as important as knowing your shipping, both are part of the complete transaction.
posted on February 24, 2004 09:43:16 AM new
osusieque
I can certainly understand your frustration because unfortunately you're dealing with nimrods. If you ask beforehand and they tell you they will ship it USPS and then turn around and ship it UPS just because its convenient for them they deserve a neg.
They should at least have the balls to tell you up front when you ask and not turn around and screw you over.
But as far as when people overmark the value, just take a look at that Customs thread here a couple days ago to see the mentality of those who think its great fun to punish their buyers.
Unfortunately there are a lot of unprofessional sellers who have no business sense or ethics whatsoever.
posted on February 24, 2004 10:12:38 AM new
Brokerage fee?? what the hell kind of scam is that??
I never heard of that,but I dont sell large items international.
Brokerage fee...umm I wonder if I can use that scam? S/H $4.00- brokerage fee $40.00
wonder if it fly by ebay?
osusieque-this guy definitely screwed you over because this lazy jackass wouldnt do as you asked-if this guy cost me $272.00 you damn well believe I would neg him and state this nitwit cost you $272.00
posted on February 24, 2004 10:15:35 AM newI guess I'm old fashion but I pay all of my bills.
osusieque,
I would suggest that this became the seller’s bill when they shipped with a carrier other than the one the two of you agreed upon. I would have refused to pay and when notified by the seller that UPS was coming after them, I would have informed them that it was “not convenient” for you to pay.
posted on February 24, 2004 10:18:43 AM newBrokerage fee?? what the hell kind of scam is that??
Brokers do not work for free. This is why its better to use U.S.P.S. If its oversized or the weight is something the postal system will not take then you might have to use a trucking outfit or U.P.S.
osusieque, your experiences are a perfect example of what erodes ebay. Many times the customer does everything in their power to make things easier for the seller and then the seller turns out to be a complete moron.
trai mentioned a Customs topic here from a few days ago and it was a perfect example of the "hobby" sellers that help to ruin ebay. Some of them also complain about not getting any bids and are the ones that pizz and moan about how hard it is to sell on ebay. These are the same ones that are driving away bidders. Go figure.
posted on February 24, 2004 12:19:27 PM newstopwhining:
WTF are you talking about with yer $5 USPS "brokerage" fee??
I've shipped over 100 items internationally via the USPS (either AIRMAIL LETTER POST or AIRMAIL PARCEL POST) and there has never been any such $5 fee???
CNBC: "Unless the economy adds at least 2.3 million jobs by the end of the year, Bush will go down as the first president since Hoover to preside over a four-year term in which total employment fell."
posted on February 24, 2004 12:25:05 PM new
stopwhining: yes they do but it is a flat rate of $5.00 period. Whereas UPS and Fedex charge brokerage fee depending on size, weight, declared value, destination to and from on top of their starting fee. This is why USPS at $5.00 is the prefered choice. Would you have choosen USPS at $5.00 or UPS for $232.00, with all criteria being the same? Note, $5.00/$232.00 is the brokerage fee only.
On the other hand, people (buyers) that complain about customs/duty/taxes, I have no patience for or sympathy. It is plain common sense, you purchase from another country expect to pay the extra taxes etc. It is the law, nothing to do with the seller. But it is the sellers responcibility to fill out the declared value form correctly.
posted on February 24, 2004 12:34:33 PM new
tomwiii: it is only if customs decides to charge duty/taxes that the brokerage fee applies. Kind of complicated, yes everything does go through customs. Eg. Huby received 6 packages this week from USA, non had brokerage fee as non were charged duty taxes. All dif. sellers, all dif. states but all had declared value under $20.00 (for Canada/USA that is the "magic" number)
If declared value is $21.00 and up a much better chance of getting hit with the fees. I have had many that the duty/taxes are $2.00 + $5.00 brokerage fee. Again, both the buyer and seller need to know the ins and outs of international shipping to remain happy.
posted on February 24, 2004 12:53:33 PM new
tom,
usps will charge a 5.00 if there is customs duty to collect,i dont think they call it brokerage fee,but it is a fee .
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 24, 2004 01:03:43 PM new
osusieque
is the 232 ?? or 262 dollars all inclusive-ups brokerage fee,us customs duty??
if the item weighs 60 lbs,how big is the package??
most customs office is close to the arriving dock,but there are some cities where there is a good distance between the two,which means the packages arrived at dock will have to be taken to the customs office and then brought to place for further routing/handling.a package with a 60 lb item is not something anyone can carry and walk back and forth.
if the item is not label or label incorrectly,the customs will open and examine and decide what code to assign and what customs fee to levy.
what country is it coming from,the local post office may have restriction on size and weight,i sure do not want to haul a 60 lb item to post office,stand in line and then find out it exceeds the wt or size requirement.
i would say you learn an expensive lesson,buying a heavy item from overseas.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 24, 2004 01:12:22 PM new
Here is the link to the USPS site page that has the Customs info and a chart for administrative charges to international customers.
posted on February 24, 2004 01:20:55 PM new
Tom, this site has some info on how they handle Fedex to Canada and other places so you may find something here. Scroll down to "Sipping Internationally"
posted on February 24, 2004 01:51:23 PM new
stopwhining: the $232.00 (CDN funds) was for UPS only the taxes/duty was under $100.00. It was shipped ground (I had also specified air) from Los Angeles CA to Toronto Canada.
The size and weight would have been fine with USPS. Point being: I inquired before bidding if the seller would ship USPS, which he replied yes, after the auction all correspondence was with USPS shipping. My surprise when I went to pick it up with the UPS bill attached. I know most of the in's and out's regarding shipping which is why I made a point of asking before bidding. Had he then stated no, I will only ship UPS or Fedex, I would not have bid. The seller also knew what they were selling, weight, size etc. so the "it wasn't convenient for me" reason is not acceptable. The weight and size did not change after the auction ended.I also gave him my shipping address before placing my bid, so when he replied that he would ship USPS he also knew were he would be shipping to. I have learned my lesson, even with asking before bidding, this transaction plus 6 other consecutive ones, with 4 out of six being not the correct value declared, I "window shop" on ebay. Hubby still buys every week..... too many "I must have for him" And yes, he does run into some problems sometimes but not so much as to turn him off.
I know that there are very good, honest sellers on ebay. The people on this board seem to be seasoned, conscienceous and here for the good and bad, I'm not putting any of you down. I just ran into a stream of bad luck and still have an off taste for buying on ebay. We do sell and I try to keep the motto: treat my buyers as I want to be treated as a buyer and it seems to work well
posted on February 25, 2004 09:31:35 PM new
I found out NOT to use a $ sign ever on any USPS form.
Before I started using Endicia, I had someone take some packages to the post office for me. One was insured they mistook the $ sign for a 4 (must have needed glasses) and charged $4 extra for insurance.
I think that a lot of the complaints about too high of value on the customs form is because of this.
