nath981

does canada have a postal service delivering door to door? If so, reasonable shipping seems only a matter of expanding a service already in place and something that all canadians should be advocating for. I wonder why they aren't?

Universal health care as well as retirement income should only be something available to those in need, not to those who already have way more than they need. IMO, it should be more of a safety net thing.

mikstr

Yes, we have Canada Post (we are not a third-world country BTW), same as your USPS and the cost of shipping within Canada is very reasonable. The problem lies in shipping anything across an international border (whether out of or into Canada, or any other country for that matter; I can ship something to Vancouver, at the other end of the continent, for less than the same item to Vermont, one hour away). It is NOT a uniquely Canadian problem. The only reaosn it's an issue in this context is that we have very few big aftermarket vendors and ordering from one in the US almost invaruably means getting ripped off on shiiping (in my experience, the shipping is seldom as high as the amount quoted, meaning the vendor is taking advantage of it and filling his pockets, eBay sellers being particularly good at this).

nath981

yeah, yeah. If you ask someone in an insane asylum if they're crazy, they'll give you a similar answer.

seriously, sounds counterproductive , isolationist, and archaic. How about shipping out of Canada, is that as expensive?

sounds like something that need changed asap/

mikstr

Any time a good has to cross an international border it gets expensive, and it has nothing to do with Canada, the US or any other country. That's just the way it is (having orered numerous goods from outside Canada I have become fairly well versed in the robbery that is postage fees). Want to talk real robbery, have something sent you from another country by UPS. JUst brace yourself when you see the brokerage fees.......

nuhawk

It gets deeper. Calitoz has shipped me exhaust cans. Micky sent my velocity stacks. Some ***** sent me calipers - charged my $55 and the ******* label on the box said $18. All from Canada.

I've spent a lot of time up there and these guys know I'm solid. Their taxes suck and because the CA postal service works for the CA gov't - they get their share too.

Like I said it gets deeper.

Currency exchange rates are pretty equal between us and our Canadian brothers. Few cents at best - BFD!

I did it, squids do it every year, contrast the purchase of Mario Nava fairings. The actual money that Mario takes to the bank is not unreasonable in the slightest. Add the exchange rate for the monetary exchange rates and shipping from Italy - I'm talking sticker shock especiale'. This is where government goes wrong for its people and their business.

When the "fees" from goverment for doing business are greater than the fees from the service provider - you figure it out. Force figures into the solution because they obviously can't respect the wishes of the people they govern. Companies all around me are laying off people - is government?

nath981

this really sucks! Looks like the growing international community built up by the evolution of the internet is being seriously stifled by archaic habits of the last century. Standardized, reasonable, and predictable intra country cooperation seems to be a no-brainer for the benefit of all.

nuhawk

OK this is prob going to get moved - but it's this way for me. When government fees/taxes/penalties exceed the dollar value of business model - it is not the fault of the business - it is a failure of budget responsibily of governance.

mikstr

If I had a dollar for every time I have had the same thing happen to me (from sellers in the US, not that it matters) I could retire right now. It`s all about parasitic opportunists taking advantage of someone living out of country. I am much more selective in where I buy now and have walked away from many purchases when I see the seller wants to take me for a ride. A small markup I can understand but I have no intention of bending over for anyone and would rather do without than be played for a fool.

Puff998

I have a mint set of OEM pipes i want to unload. Since i live in Canada and most of the traffic on this forum is US menbers,I'm pretty buggered as no one want to pay 80-100$ for shipping .Canada Post charges WAY to much compared to US mail.

Puff998

When I make E-Bay buys I have the items shipping to a UPS store right on the US side of the border.drive down and pick it up there.Save a bundle and no *&%$# brokerage fees ...lol. Last time i used UPS to ship to Canada they charged me 20$ brokerage on a 80$ windsheild !!!! +plus shipping and taxes.....

mikstr

If they only charged you $20 you got off very easy!!!! The last time I dealt with those crooks they tried to charge me $55 in brokerage for a $20 part (the seller has sent the part UPS despite my CLEAR instructions to use USPS), so I returned it (refuse to support scumbags like that).

When I am shopping for parts, I inevitably spend more time looking at the shipping component than anything else as MANY eBay sellers and established businesses (including Ron Ayers) are either parasites and opportunists, or they think that we Canadians are all blind and stupid. When I finally do find a business that charges reasonable rates, I gladly give them my business. Perhaps we should start a thread for Canucks to list those sellers and businesses that do not try to rape us on shippng.....

nath981

cool! Is that legal? If so, seems like a business opportunity. collect packages to be shipped out, take them to the UPS US location. Then pick up shipments into Canada, return, and disseminate.

mikstr

It`s not legal but given what other goods get smuggled across the border it is relatively minor. The other aspect is that it`s practical only if you live a short distance from the border (not the case for many people).....

nath981

yeah Mik. That suggestion was directed to Puff who lives proximate to the border. That's a real PIA----------need some regulations that could make international business transactions more cost effective.

uchi

Its fucked. I tried to buy a lower from a member here and it was gonna be about 100 to ship. That's outrageous. Its because of how big it was. I sent a complete 4 cylinder top end to a guy with cams and cam towers and complete valvetrain to the middle of the u.s and it was 45 bucks. Personally I think we get fuked more by ups and fed ex then anyone else. So far dhl are in my good books. I've had stuff shipped from japan and its cost me penuts while ups and fed ex, who's worse than ups, charge you duty and brokerage fees. Usually about 25 bucks. Usps on the other hand is great to deal with. It ends up coming canada post and unless its a real big item they won't charge me for it. So anytime I make an ebay purchase I make sure its shipped usps.

mikstr

yep, if they are not willing to ship USPS they can keep it.......

nath981

that's cool. and now USPS has upgraded to anything that fits in their boxes, to compete with fed ex. ups, dhl.

NCDave