Someone here has said that I appear angry. This is true. But if history teaches us anything it should teach us that it is only when people get a little pissed at a situation that they deem as unfair or unreasonable then nothing changes. I am mad as I am today still waiting for a dive computer that a well meaning person sent UPS standard after I specifically asked for it to be sent USPS or FedEX Expedited and now I have my checkbook out.
For the record In my OP I wrote 'The Rules' in hindsight I should have put a smiley beside it as I do not propose they are final but an operational starting point to make a point that will be clear and memorable to those (in the US) who may not remember otherwise. I believe I mentioned in my second post that there 'may be room for improvement'. So add your input -please- but by the same standard I would ask that you don't marginalize others contribution by adding passive aggressive prases like "Idon't know where you get your information from".
Apart from my experiences let me direct you to Wikipedia - United Parcel Services page...
Fees for Canadians
The normal procedure for residential customers in Canada to import goods from the U.S. by mail is relatively simple; they are required to pay 5% GST on the item, plus a $5 CAN handling fee collected by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on behalf of Canada Post. This applies for mailed items greater than $20 CAN and gifts less than $60 CAN in value[22]. However, this does not apply to items shipped by couriers such as UPS.
When delivering packages in Canada, UPS brokers or clears the item through the CBSA and transfers a cost to the buyer.[23] These fees are not disclosed at the time of purchase by the seller as many sellers from the U.S. are themselves unaware of this.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]
As a result, there have been two class-action lawsuits filed against UPS by Canadians. The first one filed in October, 2006 by Robert Macfarlane, a resident of British Columbia[31] alleges that the UPS brokerage is "so harsh and adverse as to constitute an unconscionable practice."[32]
The second filed by Ryan Wright and Julia Zislin in Ontario claims "that UPS failed to obtain consumers’ consent to act as a customs broker; to disclose the existence and/or amount of the brokerage fee; and to provide consumers with the opportunity or disclose to them how to arrange for customs clearance by themselves."[33]
It is possible for the recipient to avoid these brokerage fees if the parcel is being shipped by a UPS "express" (premium) service[23], that is, another service other than UPS Standard (Ground). Fees may also be avoided if the recipient clears the parcel themselves at a CBSA office.[34]...
...What makes this case unique is that UPS charges a substantial brokerage fee on ground shipments to Canada, when other Canadian small-package services apparently charge nothing (UPS "express" services) or a minimal fee (Canada Post).
ScubaSteve says... "Do you know what gets me upset? When somebody passes information off as fact and then costs somebody else a lot of money. That is potentially what you could have done if your post was left as is. What you posted is far from fact." he goes on... "I am not afraid to confront a person and will not back down from someone who is passing unsafe or incorrect information."
In my OP I suggested anyone interested should google 'ups canada class action'. If you had you would have found much to support my position and this as well,
From eBay Canada
UPS and Fedex Class action law suits have been filed in Canada. Sellers who ship via UPS or Fedex may not be aware that their customers are required to pay a 'brokerage fee' plus a C.O.D. fee to collect the brokerage fee (!) to United Parcel Service/Fedex. These fees are based on the declared value of the item and are steep, ranging from about $25 to $70 US. In comparison, there are usually no brokerage fees for items sent by mail (though Canada Post sometimes charges $5.00 for items over $20).
Unfortunately this is in ebay Canada and US citizens rarely visit ebay Canada for Shipping info or Guides - Hence This Thread.
To quote a bigger man than me, "Bottom line is" any one can say with absolute 100% accuracy that what I have presented is not 'entirely correct' - UPS for example, and for reasons unkowen to me, does not charge Broker Fee on every single standard shipment. But they almost always do in my experience. But ScubaSteve, to say that what I have presented is "not entirely true" - and that is what you said - you need not be an English major or a lawyer to see that you are questioning my veracity. I will assume that you simply chose your words poorly, and let it go. Sorry for getting hopped up on you.
But I am still mad at the Couriers and yes I need therapy but I'm off to Belize on the weekend so that should do me.
To close, I am not wanting to write Definitive Rules here - just trying to help International TRADE. If you have something to add, and back it up with some online data, I will edit to OP. with pleasure.
) and agree to move on. It is a good topic and if we can find a way to reduce the fees (no matter what they are) for whatever we buy from elsewhere, then we are the ones that benefit. 
