Shipping Costs

[David Z]

When I arranged the shipping, Vans said it would be shipped Fedex International Economy.
I'm not talking about the brokerage fee, when I talked to them yesterday, they said that wasn't the problem. They just needed written legal permission, from me, to represent me with customs.

My issue is that it should have been assumed, for international shipping, I wanted Fedex to deal with customs on my behalf. Also they made it really quite difficult for an individual person [as opposed to a business] to submit the paperwork they wanted.

This morning, I took the paperwork to a Fedex office in London, and they had no problem faxing the paperwork to Toronto for me. So, if everything goes smoothly from now on, it should be here in the next day or two

[GOEZ]

I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding here that you could quickly clear up with a call to FedEx. Up to a certain value (I believe around $1500 at this time), FedEx will automatically pre-clear the shipment through Customs and deliver it to your door with an invoice for the GST (i.e. Tax) and a flat fee for their brokerage service ($10 on my last shipment). Once you go above that fixed value, you either have to get a Customs Broker involved (possibly yourself) or sign a special power of attorney. Once you know the restriction you'll also find that it's no big deal and they are very consistent in the application of it ... I assume there is some legal liability on their part if they don't have an outside signature or power of attorney on the Customs clearance. I'd suggest that you just fax them a one-time power of attorney and they'll deliver the parcel the next day ... note that if you sent it to a business address then they'll also require the federal BN (Business Number).

I've used them a lot on cross-border shipments and still think they're the best carrier that I've dealt with. The only difference between "overnight" and "international economy" is typically one (max two) days and a reduced cost for the slower service. I always choose that option.

If you want to get heated at "brokerage charges" then I'd suggest you try using UPS cross-border. Typical charges are $25 or more and a friend just got dinged nearly $100 "brokerage" on a $500 shipment. That's over and above the transportation cost and you only get to learn about this surcharge when they deliver the parcel. They used to delay invoice it for a couple of weeks till long after you'd accepted the parcel and had no options. FedEx and Canada Post both have fixed fees for this same service.

Edit: Sounds like FedEx basically said the same thing to you and now everything is okay ... they really are very easy to deal with once you understand the process.

[David Z]

Yes, it sounds like that is what's happening to me.
Now I have to fill out a "1xpoa" and send it back to them. I have no idea what a "1xpoa" is, and can't find any reference to it on the Fedex website. Their customer service is pitiful at best.

[terrye]

Originally Posted by David Z

I have no idea what a "1xpoa" is, and can't find any reference to it on the Fedex website.

How about One(1) time(x) power(p) of(o) attorney(A)?

[David Z]

That's the form that I faxed them this morning, and I got the email about the 1xpoa mid-afternoon.

[RickWoodall]

ABF has a trucking terminal near Detroit Metro Airport. I had all the big stuff shipped there. Took a truck and trailer and it was easy to get loaded with a forklift and no issue clearing the border if paperwork is complete. Good luck on your new project.

[java]

Go Fedex over UPS to avoid the exorbitant brokerage fees of the latter.

When it came to my QB wings and fuse, I arranged with Partain to meet him in a Home Depot lot in Buffalo (I used to live in Mississauga), trans loaded it into a rental U-Haul, drove it back (paying tax at the border) and returned the truck. I can't remember the details, but between Partain (no crating) and clearing it myself, I saved several hundred. Best to have a helper along! I don't think it would be worth it for the emp though.

[RV-4]

Hi All
For everyone leaving in Quebec close to the border, you could used Freeport Forwarding in Champlain ( Lacolle ) as a shipping depot in the States if you need one
It's only 1 mile from the border, easy to work with and cheap ( they charge $2 US to keep your packages) and are known to Customs officers at the border.

Here's the address:Freeport Forwarding
1320 state route 9
Champlain, NY 12919
(518) 298-8582
-----------------------------
Phillippe
Where about are you, I'm in St-Jerome, 10 km from Mirabel Airport?

Bruno Dionne
rv4@videotron.ca

[Don Patrick]

Hey Dave,

For any future shipping of kits, you may want to consider a drop location in Port Huron or even the one I use in Lewiston. The place in Lewiston charges me a flat rate of $35 for anything on a skid, and $5 for anything in a package, and it sits there until I pick it up. I just picked up two packages last weekend (VSI, gascolator, throtle quad) and all it cost me was $10 (2 boxes) to have it stored there until I picked it up. The drop location wants our business!

I cross the border, pay my $5 or $35 fee (my wing kit in 2 weeks), hit the border and pay the taxes...that easy. No brokerage, No BS. Just the cost of my time to pick it up with a trailer.

For me, the 3 hour drive there and back is worth it. A friend of mine is building a -7 and I called Barb at Van's and had both his fuse kit and my wing kit be sent together by ABF to the drop. It will cost each of us $325 for shipping. When he had his wing kit delivered to his door, it cost him well over a $1000.

If you want the info, let me know. I do fly the T-6 Harvard out of Tillsonburg, so if you have any small packages coming across, we could set something up. Not too far off from ya!

Cheers,

Don

[Pop Alexandra]

You should also consider W2C for future shipments. You'll be surprised. Feel free to check out their rates at https://w2c.ca/