Hot rod hullabaloo

So I get a certificate & seal from a course I took sent to me via UPS. They put a "nominal" value on it of $25. UPS charged a broker fee, then COD charges on the fee, then the typical taxes. So the plaque from the class cost me an additional $20. Canada Post would have just sent it through as it was not an item purchased for import. It is like you are travelling and say you forgot your favorite shirt at a motel. So the motel offers to ship it to you as a favor, and sends it UPS. Well, this will cost you even if the motel pays the shipping costs up front.
To me it's robbery, and as far as I am concerned UPS sucks, always has and still sucks.