Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 08:43:32 -0500
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Canadian shipping was: shipping a Vanagon tow hitch-a saga
In-Reply-To: <148.3cea5dc0.2f28ddf3@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I have found that most Canadian customers want two things at the same
time. Cheapness, and really great service (who doesn't). While these
may happily co-exist here at Van-Again (pat self on back, try not to
break arm), the same cannot be said for shipping services. While the
cheapest way to ship to Canada remains via the USPS and parcel post, the
delays associated with this service will drive both the customer and the
vendor insane. There is no way to track a package via USPS except when
it is delivered (who cares at that point?). So what you wind up having
happen is the Canadian customer ordering something, you shipping it out
in a timely manner and then a three-four week game of phone/email tag
about "where is the package", "I don't know, should be arriving soon."
ensues. I have even tried calling the USPS for customers to ask them
where a package is (hey I really try, OK) and they have no idea.
Recently the Canadian postal system customs was backed up over 6 weeks
on inspecting items coming in from the US.
So cheaper is not always the way to go. UPS offers a much quicker
shipping method that is trackable by the customer. That way there is no
game of tag going on because when I ship you get a delivery confirmation
email that has a link to a page where you can track the package yourself.
However with great power comes great responsibility, um I mean with
better service comes higher price (I keep having flashbacks of Uncle Ben).
Here are some ways for Canadian customers to help themselves and vendors
have better service/lower prices (sound of hundreds of Canadians
slobbering on keyboards is now heard).
1. Plan ahead- If you want slow boat that is great but please plan ahead
for it. Say you want to restore your Westy in March. Now would be the
time to buy the parts you are going to need (hint, hint). That way if
you insist on going the slow-boat/cheaper shipping you won't worry about
when the parts are going to show up. Most of the time I get folks
calling me who have planned a vacation trip somewhere for the last six
months, only to actually think about getting the van ready for the trip
the week before so they order overnight shipping and now they are mad at
you because the parts haven't shown up yet (yeah this whole scenerio is
my fault).
2. Buy larger orders at a time- If you are going to want the quicker
shipping of UPS then the best way to get the most bang for your buck is
to buy at least a $200 order. That way you can spread out the $30 UPS
customs brokering charge and it is not so bad. Again this calls for
planning and maybe buying some spare parts that you might not need for a
while. Or you could hook up with some other VW owners in your area and
put together a group buy that comes to one address so that you can split
the shipping and duty/fees amongst yourselves. Don't cry when you need
a $30 part only to get hit with a $30 brokering charge. This is not
good planning and you are smarter than this.
3. If you need a small order, have it shipped fast. In case you didn't
know if you have the item shipped via UPS Express or Expedited service
to Canada the UPS brokering fees are built in to the shipping price.
That way there is no gotcha when you get the part other than the actual
duty on the item and you will get it faster. This is really a good idea
since you are going to wind up paying more anyway, why not use this
money toward faster service rather than just giving it to UPS.
If you do these things even Canadian customers (no racial slur intended)
will be happy and feel like they got a good deal (what a concept!).
Have a great day!
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Frank Condelli wrote:
>In a message dated 26/01/2005 12:09:12 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
>Beware! It may seem so, until the CDN recipient gets an invoice in the mail
>10 days
>later for $30-40 brokerage fees, and GST+duty!
>
>
>This is the reason you should never have anything shipped into Canada by a
>courier service. Use the normal Postal system ! If the shipper refuses to
>send the item by the Postal system then you gotta bite the bullet or look for
>another supplier who is willing to take the item to the Post Office. They all
>like using the courier services 'cauze the items are picked up at their
>location. All shippers want paid for doing the Customs Declarations, AKA
>brokerage fees, Canada Post included, BUT charges way, WAY, less, $5 or maybe it's
>just gone up a few bucks, I don't remember right now ! You still have to pay
>the taxes either way. One good side note of using Canada Post is that some
>shipments every now and then slip by without any charges for some unknown
>reason. This will never ever happen with any of the courier services.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Frank Condelli
>Almonte, Ontario, Canada
>_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
>camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
>'87 Westy, '90 Carat & Lionel Trains
>Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
>(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/) & _CCVWC_
>(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
>Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
>_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers_
>(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
>_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
>or http://frankcondelli.com
>
>
>
|