Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!ubc-cs!van-bc! From: lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca (Larry Phillips) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: UPS Canada Problems Message-ID: <726@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca> Date: 29 Aug 89 00:53:23 GMT Lines: 53 Return-Path: To: van-bc!rnews In <234@van-bc.UUCP>, Ernie Gorrie writes: >Dennis Gorrie [no relation to Ernie Gorrie, that I know of :)]writes of > >ongoing problems with UPS in Canada. > > Part of the problem _may_ be due to UPS Canada's ongoing labour >relations disputes. Workers at UPS Canada in British Columbia has been on >strike for weeks now, is refusing to bargain, is hiring scabs, is being >called to hearings for unfair labour practices, etc. > > UPS in B.C. is expected to be shut down completely in a week or so. I >have had so many problems with UPS in B.C. that I have taken to starting to >ask shippers to send my stuff public post unless it is a package so large >that public post won't take it. That may be part or all of their problem now, but I can assure you that UPS in B.C. (and possibly the rest of Canada, is not worth the lumber to roof their building. They are slow, the people working there are unaware of the real requirements of customs, and unless you pick up and clear the parcel yourself, you are asking for a lot more trouble. Similarly, sending something to the US via UPS is an expensive proposition, since they want to charge you $35 or so 'brokerage fees', whether your parcel requires it or not. There are also numerous forms to fill out if the parcel happens to contain electronic equipment. I recently had occasion to help out a friend in dire need of a Wedge and DTC controller. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that I could send it '2 day delivery' for about $20. I was not pleased when I found out about the $35 extra for 'customs brokerage' and the extra paperwork. I ended up sending it 'Priority Post' for about $30, and it arrived in a hasty manner, saving the day, as it were. Canada Post may be slow for normal paorcel post, but they do have something going for them with their Priority Post service. Incoming parcels through the mail are a real joy. Instead of having to either clear the parcel yourself or wait another three days and incur more charges, the parcel's declaration is inspected (and the parcel contents too, if they see fit) by Canada Customs. They then assess a duty and tax amount, and affix an invoice to the parcel. Upon receiving it, you can pay it via cheque or call them with a credit card number, or if you disagree with the assessment, you can call and talk to them. I have had a couple of assessments downpriced so far. -larry -- The Mac? Oh, that's just like a computer, only slower. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | // Larry Phillips | | \X/ lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca -or- uunet!van-bc!lpami!lphillips | | COMPUSERVE: 76703,4322 -or- 76703.4322@compuserve.com | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+