MSC shipping to Canada

I've read various reports of the problems when MSC (or someone
else) shps to Canada via UPS. UPS insists on being the customs broker,
resulting (sometimes) in brokerage fees greater than the cost of the
merchandise shipped.
Well ... I was making an order from MSC earlier this evening (I
live in the USA, so the problem is not one which affects me), and
towards the end, after she mentioned when it would be shipped and I
commented on how quickly things usually arrive, I brought up the problem
that our Canadian members have.
She said that they can request an alternate shipping method,
even though they have a contract with UPS, other methods are available.
She explicitly mentioned Federal Express, and I don't know what others
would be available -- but she said that anyone with the problem should
ask when they place their order. (This presumes a phoned-in order I
guess, since I doubt whether the web-based ordering would have that
option available.
I hope that this is a help to some here.
Enjoy,
DoN.