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etiquette question
We recently have had a baby and people are mailing us sweet presents from the U.S. Unfortunately, they all seem to be insuring them for $100 and we keep getting custom requests for 32 euros. I am asked to pay before I get to see the inside. I literally have spent the 32 euros, three times for presents that include a diaper cover, a small outfit, and a pair of baby shoes. I refused a shipment today as I insisted on reading what was on the declaration. It was 32 euros for a burp cloth. How do I tell my friends and family in the states to not send me presents due to customs? How do I tell the person who sent the burp cloth that I refused it? Thank you for your help.
I completely understand; I had to tell family last year to not send gifts for any events or holiday. I am afraid baby gifts will start coming in the next month since I am due quite soon. I would tell your parents and your spouse tell his parents and maybe they can somehow get the message across. You may want to tell your parents that if people want to send a gift then they need to send if via Amazon UK or store that is in the EU that way you don't have to pay VAT/Customs. I think people will completely understand you are paying more money to pick it up then the cost of the item itself; I don't think people realize that. I once paid 45 Euros for a $15 dollar shirt! I rejected a gift for my daughter b/c it was going to cost me 30 euros for a box of stickers and crayons!! Needless to say, we never told the person that we rejected it. We MAY have told a little white lie that we never received such a package.....I know it was wrong! I know I don't have any real advice but I feel your pain.
Good Luck!!
We wrote a "straight up" email about the mailing quirks of Belgium. I addressed customs issues as well as the issue of package pilfering. We requested that out right that gifts sent through the mail not be sent to us here in Belgian and that they are held for when we return on visits to the US. For the times, when nothing but a gift will do, I requested that my US relatives use amazon.co.uk and purchase an email gift card and let us know what they would have spent the money on. We have respected their wishes and purchased similar items through amazon.co.uk in a timely manner. For example, "Happy Birthday and 15GBP to be used on music and books" sent from my mother gets me a CD and good paperback book. She doesn't need to worry about shipping and I get to pick exactly what I'd like. Yes, the surprise of the gift disappears, but so does the Belgian postal disappointment. This seems to work well and our friends and relatives in the US seem to understand. The cost of dollars to pounds purchase is about the same and overseas postage and shipping.
It has nothing to do with Belgian post or customs, the same happened to me for presents sent to me from Belgium to the US. The best option is to try and ask for gift vouchers that you can exchange for something you like.
I order all of my kids stuff from OshKosh or Carters and pay 16 euros for all orders over 80 euros. Tell your friends to pick from there and place the order yourself. Last order I placed was on Thursday and it arrived the following Monday.
If they must buy presents, surely they can order from a Belgian webshop? I would suggest to expecting expat parents to open an account with a Belgian webshop, and on the birth announcement give the details of this account for gifts. In France it is common to open a "liste de naissance" and I am sure it must be here too. Just as you would do for wedding gifts.
Well, you are living abroad, and I think you should educate people that you do pay customs on the presents they send. Personally, I think it is rude to send a 15 $ gift and declare 100 $ for insurance reasons... I recently sent a gift from Canada to the US by ordinary mail, no extra insurance, and I declared a lower value. Because I did not want to risk the recipient to pay any taxes. I don't think there is anything wrong with saying: Please don't send gifts, we pay import duties! A considerate friend / family member would ask how they can give a present then. Here comes the registering on a web shop solution... You can always add it is custom here to register for a list. So they understand you are just following the customs of your new country. Good luck!
NFR here: this is the site I use: http://www.carters.com/home?id=carters
No, never charged by customs.
