This page will explain the brokerage fees, bond fees and C.O.D. fees charged by UPS and what you can do to avoid them.
Just recently we received this tip from one of our Canadian customers. Go to TheFinalCost to compare fees via UPS and USPS.
Brokerage Fees consist of numerous fees, but the fees listed below (Entry Prep Fees and Bond Fees) are the ones most likely to be applied to your disc golf order over and above our shipping charges. (Note that US Postal Service does not have to charge you Brokerage Fees.)
Entry Preparation Fees: fees charged by UPS to take your package(s) through customs. These fees are on packages shipped STANDARD (Ground) to Canada. If you use UPS Express or Expedited, there are no entry prep fees. These fees are charged by UPS to take your package(s) through Customs. If you can take the package through Customs yourself, you can avoid this fee.
To avoid the Entry Preparation Fees, you can take your package(s) through Customs yourself. You will have to go to the port's UPS Customs Warehouse nearest you, pick up the paperwork on the box, take it through Customs, then return to the warehouse to get your package(s). Call UPS at 1-800- PICK-UPS after you receive a Quantum View email from UPS with your tracking number. Tell them you would like to clear the package(s) through Customs yourself. Have the tracking number handy. They will give you further instructions.
Location of UPS Customs Warehouses: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Fort Erie, Windsor and Hamilton.
Rates for Entry Preparation Fees are based on the value of the shipment and do not include applicable duties or taxes which are also your responsibility. All rates are in Canadian funds.
Value of Shipment | UPS Standard (Ground) Entry Preparation Fees | UPS Express and Expedited Entry Preparation Fees |
$0 - $20 | FREE | FREE |
$20.01 - $40 | $7.00 | FREE |
$40.01 - 100 | $19.45 | FREE |
$100.01 - $200 | $29.00 | FREE |
$200.01 - $350 | $42.95 | FREE |
$350.01 - $500 | $48.25 | FREE |
Bond Fees: fees charged by UPS to collect the duty and taxes which are the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for payment of duties (fees imposed by Customs based on the value of your shipment) and taxes (imposed by the Canadian government).
UPS must post a bond to allow shipments to be released in advance of payment of duties and taxes to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
If UPS has to pay the duties and taxes for you, a fee of 2.7% of the total of these or a minimum of $5.85 will be charged. If you pre-pay the duty and taxes, there are no bond fees.You can pay duty and taxes before your shipment arrives to avoid the bond fees and/or C.O.D. fees.
To avoid bond fees, pre-pay the duties and taxes owed on your shipment. To do this, call 1-800-PICK-UPS as soon as you receive a Quantum View email from UPS that your shipment is on its way, give them the tracking number and tell them you want to pay the duties and taxes ahead of delivery by credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) plans.
C.O.D.: fees charged by UPS to collect the duties and taxes from you at the time of delivery.
If UPS delivers your order to you and if you have not prepaid the duties and taxes, you will be charged a $4.25 C.O.D. charge on top of the duty and taxes and brokerage fees.
To avoid C.O.D. charges, pre-pay the duties and taxes owed on your shipment. To do this, call 1-800-PICK-UPS as soon as you receive a Quantum View email from UPS that your shipment is on its way, give them the tracking number and tell them you want to pay the brokerage fees, duties and taxes ahead of delivery with your credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) plans.