I have ordered my Sony PD170 from B&H and expected delivery tomorrow, but I just checked the UPS website and this is the status:


Status: Exception

Jan 17, 2005
10:52 P.M.


FREDERICTON, NB, CA


POWER OF ATTORNEY DOCUMENTATION IS MISSING AND IS REQUIRED FOR CLEARANCE

Anybody know what the heck this is about? Power of Attorney?? I have ordered stuff from the states before without any problems.

Can anybody help me out?

Thanks

Never heard that one!
I'd call them, sounds like somebody goofed
smitty

That's a WTF...

No idea.

Well it seemed to be OK, but I just checked again and now it says


Status: Exception
Jan 18, 2005
6:34 A.M.


MOUNT HOPE, ON, CA


RECEIVER REQUESTED CLEARANCE BY NON-UPS BROKER.



Now what?

This has happened to me before. It has to do with the broker that the shipping company uses. I have ordered items from California and they have been shipped to the east coast and held for a week while awaiting customs clearance. When I get an item shipped from the U.S.A. I always ask what the shipping and customs charges are. Usually they tell me the shipper but the broker seems to be a matter of luck. It makes a big difference because it seems that the brokers have a big difference in their fees. I have been trying to encourage the U.S. sponsors to make inquiries about the brokers they use for shipping and the fees charged so that we know in advance. It is very frustrating and that is why, if possible, I order from a Canadian supplier. I like the people at B&H, Zotz, etc. but the shippers and customs can be quite a hassle.

Apparently it has something to do with me using my Business name on the invoice.
They were looking for my GST # and my brokerage company!!!
WTF.
I think it is all straightened around.
In the future I will never use my business name if it causes this many problems.

Let me know if there are any additional charges from the broker.

For Canadian buyers, you should try hard to avoid UPS Ground. On top of tax (GST, PST, and/or HST) and handling fees ($5 or more), they charge brokerage fees on top of that. They're fairly high, so much so it may have been cheaper to ship UPS expedited/blue/red.
http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html (Scroll down! There are more fees...)

USPS and Fedex are good as they include brokerage fees, as do most other shipping companies.

It looks like it is all taken care of. I shipped UPS Express to avoid the brokerage fees. All I owe UPS is for the duty ($645 Canadian) to be expected.

Should have it tomorrow.

Can't wait :)