[PerfectSaiyan]

to answer all the replies:

I spent $700 on a fully built cylinder head:


Cylinder Head was built by focaljet member: Sprout877
1mm valves oversized on intake and exhaust,
crower titanium retainers/springs,
valves are made by esslinger and are Stainless Steel,
ported, polished by a Motorsports shop out of.. I dont know, but the guys username who did the porting is named Winkty (I think he works at a shop in Pittsburgh)

very heavy duty components, I think I got a really good deal considering this is rated at higher durability than the FR head, and the FR head is over $1000 (but with core charge, is still $150 more expensive). he decalred it at $100USD for a sale (I hope).. But ive been getting screwed for the past 4 week from UPS:

1. FC Spark Plug Cover: Paid $40 for the part = $21.05 in brokerage
2. Built Cylinder Head: Paid $700 for the part (declared at $100) = $50.04.

I have been calling shipping companies all day long to find out their brokerage policies. and ups has the dumbest way out of all of them.





Now, for the statement of fact that every single one of us should know:

UPS: charges way too much for brokerage fees
Fedex: charges a tad bit less than UPS, but still too expensive
USPS: doesnt charge brokerage fees, but will charge you customs (better)

and,
DHL:

I spent 30 minutes on the phone with their representative. Their policy is the best one I have seen so far, it makes it SO much worth it to ship with DHL (who hands it off to Purolator in some cities) They charge you a percentage based on CUSTOM FEES encurred at the border. say you spent $4000 on a turbo. the customs people charge you $200 for customs. what DHL does, is only charges you 2.5% on the CUSTOMS, not the sale price of the package, the CUSTOMS, yes you heard me right.

there is a minimum charge of $7, so if there are no customs fees, you will be charged $7 for them to do all their paperwork etc, UPS wants $32 (flat rate) for doing that. 2.5% on $200 is $4, henceforth you should be automatically charged the $7.

I was told that they do NOT care whatsoever about the total cost of the package, they ONLY care about the customs charges. this makes DHL the #1 shipping company to deal with when shipping out of the United States, and want to avoid the big rapeage.

I have since cancelled my TireRack order and are relying only on companies who let me choose my shipping companies (on big ticket items) I was in communication with Ricardo at F2 Focus, when he was shopping around for a new shipping company to make the cost of shipping his kits to us cheaper, and I showed him this information, and he has now gone with DHL, so it must be good.

let me know if you have any questions, they said that this policy is available on their website.

but for now.. f*** UPS!

-edit-

the STUPID thing is, if you declare it as a gift, you dont get charged brokerage fees. I didnt have to pay a cent in brokerage when my PWSC was delivered