Are Brokerage Fees paid by the Shipper or Reciever? And what if it's a gift?

Question

My Uncle is getting married soon, so for his wedding some relatives sent a watch worth $150 but written off as $100 from the U.S to Canada so we can take it to Bangladesh for his wedding. However, when the package came, the total fees were $46.36, a third of the value of the package. Also, it was sent as a gift and we didn't buy it, and it was even written as a gift on the invoice, and yet we still had to pay.

So my question is, does the receiver of a gift have to pay the ridiculous charges, or does the shipper pay? And is there a way to get around the fact that an entire 3rd of the value of the watch added up to the duty fees?

Also, is C.O.D optional? Or can the shipper outright pay the brokerage fees through credit card or something?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

that is an ugly can of worms.

UPS with which I have no problem within Canada has a nasty habit of gutting and cleaning your wallet when they deliver a package from the states.

The customer is expected to pay whatever they demand. Gift or not it is goods and as such the taxes apply (which in my eyes is totally wrong) The postal system will charger $5 handling fee on top of that but UPS or FED EX will take your first born if they choose to.

The $20 item I purchased with exchange factored in was all of a sudden going to cost me $60 more in fees from UPS !

That was the last time I used their services for items from the states!!