Hi all, I want to share an experience I had with Fedex. Crazyhawk sent me a set of plans using Fedex and they sent me a bill. I was talking to them a few minutes ago and what she said was this. Since there was a 'duty value' there was tax applied at the border. Fedex charged me a flat fee of $10 or 2.5% which ever is greater called an advancement fee and then that was taxed as well!! The amount is only $14.36 but it is the principle of the thing. There was NO DUTY CHARGED, but they still tacked on their fee. A friend of mine who had a store told me once that he won't use Fedex because of the fees they add. A word of advice, use the post office!! J
Yeah, like UPS charging me a "brokerage fee" of $35 for wargaming supplies that cost much less because they crossed the border from the US. I haven't heard of anyone I shipped hulls to in the US paying a brokerage fee for UPS going in the opposite direction across the border. I'm about to contact FedEx to get a price on shipping molds to Strike Models. I'd rather deal with them and there isn't a third option. Bob P.
I wish I'd have known about all that before I sent the plans that way. Cost me a fortune to send via Fed Ex too. When I get the Tone hull from you, tack the 14.36 onto the price I pay, and I'll reimburse it. Those fees are simply ridiculous, and you shouldnt have to pay them imo. I guarantee I wont be shipping anything else to Canada via FedEx.
After my Return shipping from the MWC nats this year. I will not use FedEx again. They said there was not shipping tag with an address and when I finally got the package guess what was on the box. Yes the address tag. Never ever using RipoffEx again.
We've seen UPS take a large, heavy box clearly marked FRAGILE and roll it end-over-end up to our front door. Doesn't want to make us use UPS, either. For the hulls, we're looking at using telescoping boxes so we can get a nice fit and minimize shipping costs. For the ammo and other parts, we're probably using USPS flat rate within the states. I actually saw that FedEx had an ad about shipping stuff easily to Canada with a minimum of fees and fuss -- will take a close look at that. Stokamoto, drop a note to stephen@strikemodels.com and let him know he shouldn't use FedEx to ship to you. Keri Morgret Strike Models http://www.strikemodels.com
Got to love the shipping companies. I am a driver and don't use Lakeville Motor Express. I have seen a heavy pallet put on top of a pallet of light bulbs. As for UPS well I have had a radiator for a race car look like a pretzel. As for fedex, they love to leave my packages out in weather.
Well, I am glad and sad too that it isn't just me having trouble with these guys. I personally just use the Post Office for shipping, both ways and have never had a problem. I sold a bunch of stuff on Ebay a couple years ago, some went to France, the UK, the States, Austrailia and New Zealand. It almost all went without a hitch. The only issue was the package to New Zealand took 4 months to get there. Buddy didn't want to pay for air shipping so it went via ground service, yeah GROUND service tom New Zealand! I guess it took so long because the delivery guy had to take a step, come up for air, take a step, come up for air, take a step, come up for air... J
I sent the PE via Purolator here and it bypassed the Maritimes which was it's destination and ended up in Quebec where it stayed for a while then ended up back in NS where upon opening the crate the PE was damaged. I used UPS here to ship Warspite to the Maritimes and it arrived intact. That being said I had Yamato shipped in a sleeved Carboard box and shipped where the box had large puncture holes and minor damage to the model. Other times using the same method I had no issue. Depends on the shippers. Bismarck was shipped here using Purolator but it arrived intact. At this point I am not sure what carrier is the better. Both work good and bad at times for me.
I ordered a custom electric bass from F Bass in Ontario early this year. In June it was shipped by UPS and from the tracking I knew it had arrived at the depot only 4-5 minutes from work. UPS refused to allow me to pick it up "because the shipper paid for delivery". They insisted on trying to deliver it to my home, even when told no one would be home to receive it during regular working hours. The UPS person said that after they made the attempt to deliver and failed I'd be allowed to come to the depot and pick up the package. I told him that plan didn't make any sense, but he said it was "policy". The next day my wife arrived home to find a 5' tall box standing in front of our door unattended. At some time earlier that day UPS had simply left a $4800 instrument next to a busy sidewalk. To UPS staff that was apparently a more reasonable plan than allowing me to pick it up directly from the depot. Duuh!!
All the carriers suck supremely. Canada Post is in someways more galling. They place a fuel surcharge on your bill but they dont even mention it.
I just had a package delivered vie UPS from Kentucky. UPS is worse than FEDEX, they charged $22.25!!!!!! I will only deal with the Post Office now. They may tack on a fuel surcharge but so does everyone else, but at least there is no unknown costs from the border. J
Jay the Canada post will not ship large hulls. Without packing materials the cheapest I ould find to ship Vanguard to BC was 60.00 and they will not insure it unless they pack it and that is around 40.00 and then about 6.00 for insurence. I am looking at shipping the hull to the hull to the US this week to see what the cost will be.
