A: This is why we don’t generally ship to Canada using UPS, but if, for some reason, we did, and you’re encountering this issue, you DO NOT HAVE TO PAY these “brokerage fees.” They are generally viewed as a scam: undisclosed fees supposedly based on the value of the item despite the fact that the minimal amount of paperwork involved is exactly the same for a cheap item as for an expensive one.

The solution is that you can do the paperwork yourself to clear the package with customs. First off, don’t ever, at any point agree to let them be your broker. Tell them you’re clearing the package yourself. Then contact UPS and request the required paperwork and instructions. They are legally required to give you what you need. You do have to go in person to an inland CBSA office, which are usually located near airports, so they are not necessarily convenient.

Here is a Reddit post describing the process, which then also links to this blog post.