Was not debating or addressing that issue.

Was not debating or addressing the brokerage issue which is UPS corporate.

I feel your pain, Paul_C... I have experienced some excruciatingly high brokerage fees by UPS when ordering a 27$ pair of Ironclad gloves from the US. I won't mention it here since it's only going to add to the anger.

Not mentioning the fact that you cannot intercept a package being delivered by UPS until not one, not two, but all three delivery attempts have been made (at least that's how it is where I live). Gotta love unions... So assuming a package has arrived to your local facility on monday, you can't get a hold of it until wednesday at the end of the day.

United States Postal Service is the only way to go. My two cents. Sorry you had to learn the hard way, Paul_C.

UPS does their own brokerage. I used to have an account with them when I ran my own business...before I learned those lessons the hard way.

The straw that broke the camels back was when I canceled my account I had $2.75 outstanding on my account. They neglected to mention it...instead they sent a collections company after me.

I have an account with both UPS and FED-EX and the best way to ship (IMHO)is FED-EX, My Sister in Law lives outside Seattle and FED-EX only delivers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I use UPS for her and the rest of my shipments go FED-EX for LESS money. It cost $8.00 (Fed-Ex)to ship to my brother a 14 lb box of fruit juice,(he lives in Texas and I live in Utah)and $11.00 to ship via UPS.

Companies that sell on-line should make the customer aware of potential hidden costs when advertising on their websites. When a package arrives at your door and you are required to pay a number of additional charges that were not part of the original agreement...it reflects poorly on the on-line retailer.

Fortunately for me, Lifeview Outdoors were great and I have now learned my lesson without taking too much of a financial hit.

Cheers.

Paul

"...Brokerage is nothing more than a surcharge for UPS processing your package through customs without customs ever having to lay their hands on it..."

I wish I had known about this a couple of years ago, when we were stuck in a motel in Prince George, BC for 17 days. Needed hydraulic parts which were shipped UPS, they got to the border, where they sat in customs for a week or so. Three different times! No way the brokerage could have been more expensive than a motel, with kitchenette, for that length of time...

I had a recent order from Mike at Lifeview. I suggested that they drop UPS for cross border orders as I have had nothing but issues with this company (UPS that is). Instead he agreed to ship USPS ground and I got the package about 8-9 days later. I think I only paid 2 or 3 bucks more but got excellent service from both Mike and USPS/CPS as a result.

+1.

UPS has lost me as a customer (business and personal) for life.

And FWIW, U.S. sellers are losing Canadian business because of UPS' outrageous brokerage fees.

I have Hacksaw to thank for educating me on using the US Postal Service/Canada Post instead of UPS, to avoid the high brokerage fees.

Since then I have purchased many items from the States and have had them all delivered to my Post Office with no trouble (I do not think I have paid duty or taxes yet).

I recently placed an order with Smokey Mountain Knife Works for some more "toys", they ship UPS, so I asked them if they would ship USPS to me because it was International and they had no problem filling my request.

Thanks for the positive information on Lifeview Outdoors Paul_C and Welcome, Newguy.

Mike