The Vanity Of Gift Giving

koan · Post by **koan** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:41 pm

Just having a chuckle at the number of people who, having to declare what gift they are sending across borders and assign a value to it, won't undervalue the item to clear customs lest they look cheap to the receiver. So... for the vanity of declaring they spent lots of money on the gift, the recipient has to pay duty on it in order to receive.

Anyone heard of a telephone? If you gotta brag about what you sent at the expense of who you bought it for, I'd suggest a phone call. It's annoying but it doesn't cost them anything. :yh_rotfl

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:03 pm

koan;1090092 wrote: Just having a chuckle at the number of people who, having to declare what gift they are sending across borders and assign a value to it, won't undervalue the item to clear customs lest they look cheap to the receiver. So... for the vanity of declaring they spent lots of money on the gift, the recipient has to pay duty on it in order to receive.

Anyone heard of a telephone? If you gotta brag about what you sent at the expense of who you bought it for, I'd suggest a phone call. It's annoying but it doesn't cost them anything. :yh_rotfl

when we send parcels, we write down the amount we paid for the gift/item, for insurance purpose only, in case it gets lost, we get our money refunded.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:18 pm

I never realised that the folk on the receiving end would see the value declared!

When sending overseas I really undervalue so that the receiver doesn't have to pay the tax on it.

I'm not a cheapskate........No really, I'm not.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:08 am

To the UK they won't charge VAT if the gift is under 37GBP (about $60CD) to the United States they allow up to $100 on a gift before customs is due.

Within your own country you can insure for any amount and the receiver won't see it as it doesn't have to be declared in a customs form.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:01 am

I've bought a few things on ebay and have been asked by the post office to pay the customs charges.

It really put me off dealing with sellers from over the water.

koan · Post by **koan** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:12 am

I prefer buying stuff for friends in other countries online through a site that ships from the same country. It's so much easier and saves a lot on shipping charges/time.

Post by **Lifeisfun** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:17 am

That's so sad.:-3

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:18 am

What's so sad?

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:21 am

koan;1090111 wrote: I prefer buying stuff for friends in other countries online through a site that ships from the same country. It's so much easier and saves a lot on shipping charges/time.I do the same with flowers, it's so easy to find a florist on the net and order on line. :yh_flower

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 6:24 am

abbey;1090099 wrote: I never realised that the folk on the receiving end would see the value declared!

When sending overseas I really undervalue so that the receiver doesn't have to pay the tax on it.

I'm not a cheapskate........No really, I'm not.

They don't see it on the receiving end from here, that part is for the sender to keep until the parcel has arrived, strictly for insurance here.

The receiver pays nothing.