etla

I hate getting bent over by UPS/FedEx with insane brokerage fees. So whenever possible I buy from Canadian companies or US companies that will ship USPS or handle their own brokerage. Which companies do you use that are like this?

To get us started here are some of the companies I like:
Lee Valley - Woodworking and Garden tools and supplies is a Canadian company who has a shipping point in the US but Canadian orders are shipped from thier Canadian stores and you can return things to the stores even if you bought them online.
Victoria's Secret handles their own brokerage for nominal fee.
Tiger Direct for electronics though their US site has a much bigger selection.

PS: not affiliated in any way just a happy customer.

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Janey

Future Shop is great in that they have free shipping for anything that you purchase online at futureshop.ca. Plus they ship to 3rd party addresses no problem.

Mango

mOST PLACES WILL SHIP USPS IF YOU ASK THEM TO. (Facking caps lock)

Janey

what does usps mean?

JustDisGuy

www.ncix.com is a pretty good place to buy computer parts, as is www.atic.ca. One is usually cheaper than the other on some parts, and vice versa for others.

USPS is the United States Postal Service. Not sure about what the relevance is though...

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TheNewMac

www.merconnet.com is good for gadgets and electronics.

samiam

I have found that stuff shipped USPS arrives without a pile of extra charges such as brokerage fees and a collection fee for collecting GST. In addition, if you're not home when the package arrives, the Post Office will take it to the nearest Postal Outlet for pickup, unlike the courier services.
The last parcel I got shipped from the USA via courier, the extra charges on a pre-paid shipment exceeded the cost of the item. Now, I always specify USPS as a means of delivery.

klo

I think futureshop is good. It's good enough for me, I don't shop for other things on the Internet... has anyone used Grocery Gateway before? I used to see their trucks on the street a lot but they seem to disappear...

Pheer

OMG I Facking HATE UPS!!!

Those brokerage and custom fees are BS.

- They've charged me $30 dollars for a piece of clothing that was $65. I was able to get my package on their third delivery
- Got a $27 fee for toys that were $25. They sent me a bill a month after i got my package
- My friend was sent a computer tower from a friend in the states. His friend payed for all shipping costs. The delivery woman rang the bell, left the freaking monitor on the ground and drove off, she didnt even wait for n e body to answer the door. Shows u they dont give a damn about your stuff unless u owe them money

canuckguy

ups/customs are shit, here is my little story to add in- bought a subwoofer crossover network from ebay, got it shipped from the states to canada. get the package which should have been about the size of a shoe box, it was about 3x3 ft box, just massive, so excited i rip it open, inside i fine hair wigs! almost gave me a stroke when i saw it. thought it was a human head.
Well i email the guy from ebay and ask him whats up, he said he mailed my electronics, and he never had a box that large..etc. so it did not come from him. well i call UPS, those idiots.....they tell me "oh yes there was a mix up at customs when they inspected your package, and labels ended up on the wrong boxes" they sent a dude over to pick up the wigs. damn they were freaky, anyway they never found my package, everything i asked them about it they said it went to a business and they don't know where they placed it. all they do is "tracing" on it if i call to inquire. that was about 4 years ago. still hurts deep
oh and the wigs, they were for a womans cancer clinic in toronto. as for me, well i got a sweet 75$ check (canadian) for a lost 200$ american part. yeah UPS and customs!

Janey

Umm, the relevance, JustDisGuy, is that it was used in Etla's post:

"I hate getting bent over by UPS/FedEx with insane brokerage fees. So whenever possible I buy from Canadian companies or US companies that will ship USPS or handle their own brokerage. Which companies do you use that are like this?"

And I had never heard the term before. I wanted to know what it meant.

Janey

grocery gateway is still around, it's expanded, and now owned by Longo's. I see their trucks all the time. They have excellent delivery windows ($6 charge) which are cheaper than Value mart.

JustDisGuy

<apparently I have to be verbose about saying "skip it">

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Scorps

amazon.ca

great for the music you can't find at the mall!

etla

If a US company will ship USPS the brokerage is handled by the Post Office and is a flat fee $5+GST.

Lots of business oriented companies will not ship USPS.

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feelgood

Why the hell use USPS?? It took me fucking 2 weeks just to get my damn birthday present from my mom in ohio!

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etla

So you don't pay $68 brokerage + GST to get a $20 book across the boarder. Even if no duty is owing UPS and FedEx will take a huge bite just to check.

I'd imagine after two weeks the equipment was getting a mite sore

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Mango

The relavance is that UPS bends you over for a quickie for "brokerage fees" whereas USPS drives it to the border cives it to Can Post and it cost almost nothing. UPS tried to charge me $38 for a $100 item Plus 7% tax on $138. I had specifically asked the shipper to ship it USPS so I refused delivery and it went back. Eventually I got it for the cost of taxes owed (7%).

To the original question one of my favorites it whichendisup.com (Sex toys).

Edit: twistmyrubberarm.com has rubber fetish stuff - based out of Canada

Scorps

I'm still waiting for UPS to get a package to me...it left the place on the 16th and I'm still waiting!

Good thing I ordered it early, because its a christmas gift and hope it gets here!