iMatch bushing set from Northern Tool $12.99

Yup, and $23.60 via UPS to Canada for postage (you can check shipping on their website), and you can count on a "brokerage" fee of up to 30% of the cost of the item in addition for Customs handling. You can get Speeco ones at Princess Auto for $22. Course it is a killer price for Americans, just not so great for us Canucks...

dmay said:

I just noticed Northern Tool is carrying a bushing set for quick hitches at $12.99.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...26?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top Sellers-_-Product Page

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I've ordered three times from Northern Tool. I have never paid brokerage fees yet on their deliveries to Winnipeg. To offset freight costs I simply wait until I have a few items I'm interested in.

Could be that they factor brokerage into the shipping cost, some companies do. Also, they may have an agreement whereby Northern pays UPS a flat rate per some volume formula to cover it off. No matter how they do it is being paid in the end, and probably by you, it's just not apparent because it's included in shipping costs. Even USPS/Canada Post bills for it, but it's a flat $5 fee when they are the brokers. Good idea on waiting, provided one isn't in a hurry.

Here's one explanation on brokerage fees, there are many more.

http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/customs/a/shopshipcanada_2.htm

dmay said:

I've ordered three times from Northern Tool. I have never paid brokerage fees yet on their deliveries to Winnipeg. To offset freight costs I simply wait until I have a few items I'm interested in.

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Thanks for the tip on the Northern Tool bushings as they're only a buck or so more than the ones I bought at Ace in town.

I think you Canadians need to make your politicians' lives miserable as it's ridiculous that you guys get screwed so bad if you have to buy something from the USA. So much for NAFTA helping the little guy.

I don't see it as a problem with the politicians or NAFTA. This is a brokerage fee, which existed prior to NAFTA. The problem lies with couriers who got so gawdam greedy. They charge up to 30% of the cost of an item for it, and it literally only requires your signature twice. In actuality one can act as their own broker, providede you are bonded, or can post one, and there is no fee if you do it yoursef. USPS/Canada Post charge $5. There are actually two class action suits against UPS, Purolator, and Fedex in Canada:

http://www.merchantlaw.com/classactions/courier.php

http://www.classaction.ca/actions/consumer-protection/current-actions/united-parcel-service-canada-ltd-%28-ups-%29.aspx

Here is what UPS charges for brokerage:

http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

mjncad said:

Thanks for the tip on the Northern Tool bushings as they're only a buck or so more than the ones I bought at Ace in town.

I think you Canadians need to make your politicians' lives miserable as it's ridiculous that you guys get screwed so bad if you have to buy something from the USA. So much for NAFTA helping the little guy.

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AgSupply is a little cheaper and their shipping is lower as well. I just ordered a bunch of bushings from them last night and received notice that UPS has got them now with delivery scheduled for Aug 1.

As far as border issues are concerned, I maintain a PO Box in a town just across the border (about 50 miles from me) and ship there. I am usually in the area every second week or so and just pop over and pick up whatever I have waiting. Anything $40 or less (total) gets by tax free. Works for me.

BTW I only have been stung by the brokerage fees once..... years ago. Since then the box has worked fine.

Hey Ron, I'd do the same thing if I was that close to the border. Unfortunatly, my nearest border entry is around 600 miles away...

RonS said:

AgSupply is a little cheaper and their shipping is lower as well. I just ordered a bunch of bushings from them last night and received notice that UPS has got them now with delivery scheduled for Aug 1.

As far as border issues are concerned, I maintain a PO Box in a town just across the border (about 50 miles from me) and ship there. I am usually in the area every second week or so and just pop over and pick up whatever I have waiting. Anything $40 or less (total) gets by tax free. Works for me.

BTW I only have been stung by the brokerage fees once..... years ago. Since then the box has worked fine.

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dellwas said:

I don't see it as a problem with the politicians or NAFTA. This is a brokerage fee, which existed prior to NAFTA. The problem lies with couriers who got so gawdam greedy. They charge up to 30% of the cost of an item for it, and it literally only requires your signature twice. In actuality one can act as their own broker, providede you are bonded, or can post one, and there is no fee if you do it yoursef. USPS/Canada Post charge $5.

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OK, who or what established this brokerage fee in the first place? It still sounds like somewhere along the way the government is giving its blessing to screwing our good friends to the north who want or need to buy goods from the USA.

CBSA, and Canada Customs in the old days. Brokerage fee form is free, all it requires is two signatures, and one can act as their own broker if they are bonded, or can be. Gov't is not giving their blessing to anything, gawdam courier companies are the problem due to their greed, they saw a way to slam it to us, and they did/do. Free enterprise at it's finest, and it's really no different than any other service that one pays for, except that it amounts to being actionable in civil courts in the eyes of some very, very, large Cdn. law firms in Canada, hence the class action suits. I know what you are thinking, the gov't is giving it's blessing. Bear in mind this is a civil proceeding, not a criminal action. Gov't does not get involved in civil, only criminal actions, at least here in Canada.

mjncad said:

OK, who or what established this brokerage fee in the first place? It still sounds like somewhere along the way the government is giving its blessing to screwing our good friends to the north who want or need to buy goods from the USA.

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Thanks for the Reader's Digest history lesson on why Canadians get screwed by brokerage companies.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

Okay, got the hint. Rant off ;-)

mjncad said:

Thanks for the Reader's Digest history lesson on why Canadians get screwed by brokerage companies.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread.

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dellwas said:

Okay, got the hint. Rant off ;-)

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I don't mind you ranting as I do myself; I just didn't want to hijack the thread.

Hey, no prob, it was getting off course!

mjncad said:

I don't mind you ranting as I do myself; I just didn't want to hijack the thread.

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