Update! I finally got my package!
Basically what I had to do was go to the UPS office, wait in line for like half an hour (even though there were only 3 people in front of me) then wait another half an hour for my paperwork to be prepared. And then I went to Canada customs and they just looked at the papers for about two seconds, said I didn't have to pay any taxes/duties/fees and sent me on my way. When I got back to UPS I had to wait another 15 minutes in line to hand them the papers and pick up the package.
So basically their $43 brokerage fee was 100% crap. No wonder they're being sued for it right now.
The Customs Act in Canada says that for a broker to import an item on a customer's behalf, they must have written permission to give the broker power of attorney. UPS certainly did not have that from me. I'm not sure how they were able to clear the package initially, before they somehow undid the stuff so that I could go do it myself. The legality is really questionable to me. But I don't think I'll pursue it further. Suffice it to say I won't ship with UPS again unless absolutely necessary.
Basically what I had to do was go to the UPS office, wait in line for like half an hour (even though there were only 3 people in front of me) then wait another half an hour for my paperwork to be prepared. And then I went to Canada customs and they just looked at the papers for about two seconds, said I didn't have to pay any taxes/duties/fees and sent me on my way. When I got back to UPS I had to wait another 15 minutes in line to hand them the papers and pick up the package.
So basically their $43 brokerage fee was 100% crap. No wonder they're being sued for it right now.
The Customs Act in Canada says that for a broker to import an item on a customer's behalf, they must have written permission to give the broker power of attorney. UPS certainly did not have that from me. I'm not sure how they were able to clear the package initially, before they somehow undid the stuff so that I could go do it myself. The legality is really questionable to me. But I don't think I'll pursue it further. Suffice it to say I won't ship with UPS again unless absolutely necessary.
I'm always looking for a good excuse to go to Canada 
