Thread: Global Shipping, for your amusement.

I just don't know how to take this. The final price is near the same but what do they base the costs on, a roll of the dice?

Don't torture yourself with the GSP, just find a local source at a welding supply shop, possibly.

Bob

How about this product http://www.besseytools.com/en/produc...23&ASIMOID_MC= and scroll down to Pickering on this page http://www.besseytools.com/en/bessey_distributors.php .

Bob

GSP is a percentage based system, based on the the sale price. They know when there are actually costs involved on their end and then the percentage goes up. So if you examine the percentage after $200 for example, it is higher, because that is when the GST comes into play. They pay it on our behalf and charge us extra for that. Most of the cost is a brokerage fee. If they just send it through and customs catches an applicable tax, they assess a fee and add the tax as well. The penalties from customs is about 1/3 of GSP brokerage fees. GSP's brokerage fees are about 1/2 of what UPS charges. They are all bandits for what charge, some are worse than others. It is a sad racket. Most shippers think all that money goes to pay the Canadian Government. It goes almost exclusively into the pockets of the shipping company.

If possible try to AVOID UPS international shipping. The brokerage fees can be expensive. I work for a courier company and we have to sometimes collect brokerage fees. Some people think they are getting a good deal on an item until the brokerage fees raises it's ugly head. Not such a great afterwards. Taxes on an item are pretty small usually..... Then tack on a nice sized brokerage fee (not a fair practice IMO)

IF possible....use your post office for shipping..... You'll save a lot of money.....Trust me on that!

Originally Posted by Willisf

IF possible....use your post office for shipping..... You'll save a lot of money.....Trust me on that!

Yup, I do but everyone just knows how bad the postal systems are, supposedly.

Bob

Most of the time Canada Post is predictable, but a little slow. I do not completely understand how an international package lands in Montreal and is delivered by CP in five days, but one mailed from Toronto takes twelve days. Now here is the predictable part, they always take more or less that time frame. I have no idea why the international mail moves faster in the same system. They must load all the international mail into the same bags as priority post. But at the same time postage from London UK is less than Postage from Calgary to me. There are aspects that make me wonder how and where logic could apply.

I can answer that.... Controlled chaos.
Why is it a package from Florida can arrive faster to me in Saskatchewan than from Ohio?
Controlled chaos......lol

Yea, it may be controlled chaos but it somehow usually works and about as reliably as couriers.

Bob

Sooner or later you get your stuff.
Unless it gets lost....... Yikes!

Tracking numbers are so useful....and requirement so your goodies don't get lost.