I am now in Stunt Heaven!!

Thanks to Dave Shrum, who graciously shipped me four years worth of Stunt News back-issues... 1998 thru 2001, plus most of 1996, and one from 1995. All for the cost of shipping. I have done some thumbing-through, and I am delighted to say the least. Much, much reading here!

A cautionary tale, though, for anyone shipping something like this to Canada...

The package was shipped through a familiar company, whose corporate color can be compared to earth tone... All seemed well until the first attempt at delivery. There was a knock at the door, and I was asked to sign, and to pay almost $50 (Canadian), in duty and taxes. Seems the declared value of the package was $100. Well... needless to say, I wasn't quite ready to ante up such a sum, having already paid for the shipping. Not that the mags aren't worth that much, but the fellow let me know there was another option. Long story short, we had to have the box held at the depot, while Dave had to jump through a couple of hoops to get it re-rated... seems the girl at the counter when he shipped it just put the $100 value on it as a matter of policy.

Anyway, all's well that ends well. The first thing I did after sorting through the mags was to find and read Bob Reeves' Twistmaster article. I have now decided to start with the most recent issue and work my way backwards through them. Happy times ahead!

Tim

I suppose they called it "brokerage fees"? More like ransom to me.... They have to pay for that NASCAR sponsorship somehow....Maybe they should race the truck......

Duck,

Nah, it was that million dollars for Conan O'Brien's show. That's what? $650,000 US? (or more like 1.4 these days). We could be talking about real money soon.

Are you refering to "Uninsured Package Smashers" Inc?

Yup, that's the one...

Never ceases to amaze me how unintelligent some people can be, to not bother to know or care about any special requirements that may attend such a shipment. The whole ordeal would have been avoided if the package had a declared value of less than $20, which was Dave's instinct and desire to begin with. Oh, well, a happy ending nonetheless.

Tim

It seems to me that the real problem lies with Canada's beaurocrats imposing a 50% Import Duty on stuff from "down South"! Whatever happened to NAFTA, or was that only to shift jobs to Mexico ? ? ?

Hyuk! Hyuk! Hyuk!

Well, when you consider that the $100 value was in U.S. dollars, and the $50 duty/taxes is in Canadian dollars, it's really not 50%... more like 20%, but you're right, it does seem to fly in the face of NAFTA. Really, at least part of it is GST (Goods and Services tax), which still rankles, even if this was something purchased from the U.S. (instead of a gift), since the goods weren't purchased here, but are being taxed here. Just a cash grab by a greedy government, of course you folks south of here never have any trouble with those, now do you??

Tim

LAST EDITED ON Feb-17-04 AT 10:49 PM (CDT)
 
>It seems to me that the real problem lies with Canada's
>beaurocrats imposing a 50% Import Duty on stuff from "down
>South"! Whatever happened to NAFTA, or was that only to
>shift jobs to Mexico ? ? ?
>
>Hyuk! Hyuk! Hyuk!

Just to be clear, the total for GST and PST would be 15% of the declared value. US$100 is approx. CDN$131, so the taxes would be about CDN$20 to keep the taxman happy, roads paved , bad guys in jail, etc. There is no duty, just taxes.
UPS is the only cross-border shipper that routinely adds huge brokerage fees, in this case CDN$30. Their fee usually exceeds the taxes owing. Canada Post would have charged 5 or 6 bucks, no matter what the value of the package. UPS is a rip off. And their trucks are ugly too
Pat MacKenzie

Well, at least there was an option to get the package for no charge. Dave had to fill out and fax a new "Commercial Invoice" to a specific number, which had to include "ATTN: RE-RATES", the tracking number, the words "GIFT SHIPMENT", and other particulars. Once this was done, I had the package within 3 days. When my wife signed for it, she asked "Do you need anything other than a signature? No money?" and the fellow said "No, just the signature." I just think it would be good if the UPS people in the U.S. who take packages for shipment to Canada would study up on what the effect will be of the various choices available (such as declared value) so they can properly question and/or advise their customers...

Tim

LAST EDITED ON Feb-19-04 AT 02:45 PM (CDT)
 
Tim,

I believe you and Dave have encountered the dreaded "Trainee" badge.

I have made numerous shipments around the world, most via UPS, and there have never been any mysteries as to how the paper work is best handled in order to not incur extra costs and/or duties.

It seems worth noting that in addition to UPS, a lot of my shipping information has come from residents of the various countries. In other words, part of the blame for this problem is yours to bear.

>...In other words, part of the blame for this
>problem is yours to bear.
>

Duly noted, and bear it I shall... but I feel no obligation to grin while doing so...

Tim

You can save the grin for while you are reading those great back issues of SN.

> You can save the grin for while you are reading those great
>back issues of SN.
>
> George

... from ear to ear!

Tim