Looking for your input on brokerage fees.

[littlesilvermax]

I like option #2 best.

[Delphinus]

Wow, is there really even a downside to option #2? Waiting a few extra days (if need be) is nothing. My vote is cast..

[Reefer Rob]

Is this a trick question? Shipments to Canada are delayed at customs anyway, so a few extra days to save some fees is no big deal. Two thumbs up for option 2.

[Karen Marlin]

option # 2 for sure....you just never know what the extra fees will be when receiving parcels from USA...

[muck]

#2 sounds like a great program. If you are short on patience and can't wait a few days extra you are in the wrong hobby anyways..

[mark]

Option 2.

[Chin_Lee]

I vote Option 2 but just wondering how do you calculate the taxes and duties due to prepay without knowing the total amount to be shipped on the Friday?

[snarkys]

Originally Posted by Chin_Lee

I vote Option 2 but just wondering how do you calculate the taxes and duties due to prepay without knowing the total amount to be shipped on the Friday?

taxes and duties are directly related to the products purchased, don't fluctuate and can be easily added in during checkout. We can then choose to have these fees paid by us rather than you so there are no surprises when the package arrives, if there are any surprises they will be for us and paid for by us : )

the brokerage fess change drastically with prices. With a $100 order the brokerage is $39.1 after brokerage , bond and COD fees. This is 40% of the purchase price.

if we take advantage of this program that consolidates all the orders into one $1500 shipment the brokerage would be $73.35 which is less than 5% of the value of the order. We are willing to pay that 5% out of pocket so you have zero brokerage fees. : )

Judging by the response here I would say there is a good chance this will be in place early next month. Special thanks to our customers who utilized the old system so we could do enough volume to utilize this new program : )

[snarkys]

all orders : )

I am working on fixing the taxes and such on our site and it should be ready .

[fortheloveofcrabs]

Option 2 is the way to go, but is there a way to NOT use UPS. I've have 10 or packaged delivered by them from the US and Canada and not ONCE (I'm not kidding here) NOT ONCE in those 10 delivers have things gone correctly.

-I've heard it all, no one was home (when I was all day).

-The address doesn't exist (WHAT?!)

-Oh, sorry, I know this was direct overnight, but we accidentally put it on a train to Winnipeg (this was on an order of live rock from BC… Yeah…)

-The driver couldn’t’ find your buzzer number (Umm, compare the last name on the package and the names on the buzzer list at the front door – I’m on the only one with my last name in the building).

-One time I knew UPS was supposed to come that day, so I literally sat and watched the front gate for a UPS guy – then he showed up and dialed something on the buzzer system. My phone didn’t ring so I ran down just as he was ending the conversation with whoever he was talking too. He asked my why I wouldn’t buzz him in… Ummm, because you didn’t buzz me!!!! How hard is it to push four buttons?

Anyways, the list goes one… Moral of the story, I simply don’t shop from anyone that only ships UPS. I’ll pay more to use someone else.

Please offer an alternative shipping option…

(Sorry, I know this is a little off topic, but…)