UPS Makes it More Convenient to Return Goods
UPS Canada today announced it will be rolling out 139 additional cleaner-burning, propane delivery trucks. Themajority of these vehicles will be deployed in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta and the rest distributed between British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The propane vehicles are joining roughly 600 propane trucks already operating in Canada. The addition of these vehicles means more than a third of UPS Canada's 2,000 package delivery vehicles will run on low-carbon fuel.
"UPS Canada has been a leader in deploying alternative fuel vehicles since 1985," said UPS Canada Vice President of Automotive, Steve Clark. "This deployment demonstrates UPS's continued commitment to running our business in a responsible manner."
The 139 new propane trucks are expected to reduce UPS's carbon dioxide emissions by a total of 254 metric tonnes per year, the equivalent weight of 80 UPS trucks. This would be a 35 per cent improvement compared to conventional gas engines. Additionally, particulate matter emitted from vehicles will be virtually eliminated.
In the 1980s, the propane trucks currently in UPS Canada's fleet were converted from gasoline and diesel to run on alternative fuels. The new trucks are now originally manufactured for alternative fuel use.
The UPS propane vehicles will run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) provided at eight on-site fuelling stations at UPS facilities in Canada. LPG is derived from petroleum during oil or natural gas processing and is cleaner-burning than regular gasoline.
The newly added propane-powered vehicles feature the latest technology in clean-burning propane engines. Propane vehicles emit about one-third fewer reactive organic gases than gasoline-fuelled vehicles. Nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions are 20 per cent and 60 per cent less, respectively, than conventional vehicles.
UPS's global alternative-fuel fleet now stands at 1,629 vehicles - the largest such private fleet in the transportation industry - and includes compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane and electric and hybrid electric vehicles. UPS is also working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicle.
UPS began deploying alternative fuel vehicles in the 1930s with a fleet of electric trucks that operated in New York City. Since 2000 alone, the company's "green fleet" has traveled 202 million kilometres. While continuing to develop its alternative fuel fleet, UPS has already invested more than $15 million in the effort, the company has also purchased and is operating nearly 20,000 low-emission conventional vehicles. These vehicles have regular gas and diesel-powered engines but employ the very latest technology and manufacturing techniques to reduce emissions as much as possible.
"Deploying alternative fuel vehicles and exploring renewable energy sources is one of the many ways UPS actively pursues its commitment to sustainable business practices," said Clark. "We have always believed that working green and working smart are synonymous."
UPS pursues a wide range of socially responsible and sustainable business practices designed to reduce impact on the environment and improve communities around the world. UPS is included in the Dow Jones and FTSE4Good Sustainability Indexes, which evaluate corporations based on economic, environmental and social criteria. Learn more about UPS's responsible business practices at www.sustainability.ups.com.
New Deals and New Hours!
If you are just starting up a business, or have a long established one, you know how valuable a good business card is. This August and September, The UPS Store is offering 500 FULL COLOUR business cards for $74.00! Imagine, full colour business cards without blowing your budget.
The UPS Store also offers full-colour, large format printing, 24-inches wide and up to 50-feet long! Great for banner and poster advertising for your business, or even something special for a special event.
Come check out what we can do for you and your business. We are open Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Moving Supplies
The UPS Store is your one-stop shop for moving suppliesand support. When you need expert advice on supplies and materials like moving boxesor custom packing for valuable or fragile items, let The UPS Store help you make your move easier.
The UPS Store offers moving supplies and professional packing advice. We can help you determine how many boxesyou’ll need and which packaging material will work best for whatever you’re moving. We carry professional-strength moving boxesin a variety of sizes and all the necessary packaging materials, including packing tape, bubble cushioning and packaging peanuts. We can even make custom boxesfor odd-sized items. Any size, any shape. One box or a whole workshop’s worth!
Some of the moving supplies we have available include:
- Cardboard boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Styrofoam peanuts
- Packing tape
- Tape guns
WHEN IN DOUBT, TRUST THE PACKAGING EXPERTS AT THE UPS STORE
Have a special or fragile item that needs some extra T.L.C.? The Packaging Experts are here to help you. Our certified experts can help packagingyour extra-special items to ensure that they transition from A to B in one piece.
UPS Launch New Shipping Saving Program for eBay Canada Sellers
| Sellers Receive Discounts, Fast and Easy Shipping
Mississauga, ON, July 27, 2010 - UPS Canada announced today a new savings program available for eBay PowerSellers in Canada. The program provides PowerSellers with cost-effective solutions to enhance the services they provide their end customers. "In addition to great new savings, eBay sellers also have access to UPS's many shipping and visibility tools such as tracking, cost calculators and more," said Wayne Bosch, vice-president of customer solutions for UPS Canada. "UPS is dedicated to providing solutions to the eBay community that help them save time and money, and grow their business. We are continually working to help small- and medium-sized businesses expand to reach buyers worldwide - and eBay helps provide exposure to new markets."There are also a number of other useful options available for eBay PowerSellers on ups.com:
PowerSellers are a group of high-volume sellers on eBay who sustain a consistent volume of monthly sales and a high level of feedback - with 98% or better positive rating by other eBay users. PowerSellers must be an active member for 90 days and average a monthly sales minimum of the Canadian currency equivalent of $1,000 US for three consecutive months. eBay provides special benefits and programs for these sellers. eBay Canada PowerSellers can now enroll in the UPS Savings Program through the eBay website http://eBay.ca/upspowersellersavings where they can also find information on savings, read answers to frequently asked questions and access links to ups.com®. To make things even easier, the UPS Shipping Tool is integrated within eBay and PayPal so sellers can process the shipment during the transaction (available using the "Print Shipping Label" link on the item page, in the drop-down menu in "My eBay," or the "Ship" button on the PayPal account overview page). For more information about any of the UPS products and services mentioned above, please visit ups.com. For more information about UPS shipping on eBay - visit the UPS Shipping Zone at http://pages.ebay.ca/ups/home.html. |
Shopping and Shipping Across the Canadian Border
Are you new to online shopping? If you're on the Canadian side of the border and thinking of shopping on U.S. sites, hidden costs may catch you by surprise. There are things you should check before you give out your credit card number.
First, check that the site offers international shipping or at least shipping to Canada. There is nothing more irritating than going through an e-commerce site, filling your shopping cart and then discovering that the vendor does not ship outside the continental United States.
Shipping Charges to Canada
Good sites will list their shipping policies and procedures up front, usually under the customer service section or the help section. Shipping charges are determined by weight, size, distance, speed and number of items. Be sure to read the details carefully. Don't forget to factor in the exchange rate for the shipping charges as well as for the cost of the merchandise. Your credit card company may also add a charge for currency conversion.
The shipping charges and methods of shipment (usually either mail or courier) aren't the total of the costs you'll have to pay to get that package across the Canadian border though. If goods are coming across the border, you will also have to consider, and be ready to pay, Canada customs duties, taxes and custom brokerage fees.
Canada Customs Duties
Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadians do not have to pay duty on most American and Mexican manufactured items. But be careful. Just because you buy an item from a U.S. store does not mean it was made in the United States. It's quite possible it was imported into the United States first and, if so, you may be charged duty when it comes into Canada. So check before you buy and if possible get something in writing from the e-store in case the Canada Customs people decide to be particular.
Duties on goods vary widely, depending on the product and the country in which it was manufactured. Other charges and duties may also apply depending on the item, for example excise duty and excise tax on luxury items such as jewelry. In general, on goods ordered from a foreign retailer there is no assessment unless Canada Customs can collect at least $1.00 in duties and taxes. If you have specific questions about Canada customs and duties, please contact a Canada Border Services Agency office or the Border Information Service.