You are correct sir!
Bulk and parcel post can be delayed three days once it arrives at the destination post office.
First and second class, priority and obviously express mailings must go to the addressee the day they arrive at the destination post office.
This happens frequently in the UK. The usual charge is 17.5% VAT (of whatever value C&E place on the item but usually close to the value placed on the Customs declaration) plus a charge somewhere around £8.00 from Royal Mail for collecting the VAT. This only applies to items from outside of the EU.
Regarding Australia, in theory I think they can charge tax on items valued at $A200 or more but they rarely do on items a bit over. I’ve had to pay tax on a Copeland low D and on a flute. I also had to talk my way out of paying tax for a flute on loan but that was easy enough with documentation from the sender. A full set of Abells got through without tax.
I sometimes get involved in complicated transactions so I have a bit of experience with different countries. Australia to and from US is mostly OK. Canada is a little more problematic. For reasons I don’t understand, items take longer to cross the border from Canada to neighbouring US states than they do to reach Australia, but when you think about it, it is less surprsising. These days, time spent on the plane isn’t the issue. It’s time spent in customs or in transit to the wrong place that causes delays.
Fortunately, the only serious delays I’ve had have involved parcels from or to good friends, so integrity wasn’t ever in question. The mail system has always sorted itself out eventually although one small parcel got to me months late from the US, sent, despite very clear addressing, via Malmo, Sweden. Even then there was no apparent reason why it should have taken several months.
I just received a whistle that was delayed in transit.
I think it is essential to send whsitles as small packages/petit paquets. In Ireland (and probably in a lot of other countries as well) the handling of packages has been taken over by private companies. In Ireland packages are not handled by An Post but by GSL.
Several whistles sent to me from the US and Australia that travelled as a small package were delivered to my house by out regular postman, arrived in 4 to 7 days and never incurred customs duties. While the GSL package took twenty days from the US and had a customsfee and VAT attached adding twenty percent to the original price.
I’ve had the best success sending whistles internationally using the postal service and packaging/sending them letter rate. The smaller the package the better. I’ve noticed that I can send the same size item either letter post or parcel post. Parcel post costs more for some reason, and seems more likely to be stopped for customs.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Hello all,
The Kerry low D finally made it’s arrival on the slow boat, the USS Mail! I guess I’m getting too old and impatient, and grumpy. But mail shouldn’t take that long, except at sea.
I apologize to Michael for any suspicions I had, and passed on, but I was concerned that it may happen to others. I have heard of many similar situations, but NOT from members of this board, thankfully.
I learned that the next time I send a whistle, it will be sent Priority Mail, Insured, and probably with tracking. How much is the peace of mind worth?; it’s got to be worth a few extra dollars, at least!
Now I can get down to some unserious whistling, and let’s just let the music make us feel good again.
Update: I’ve since learned that Michael is indeed a good guy, and we only have to divide the blame between a lack of communication, the Post Office, some suspicion and impatience, all thrown into the mix! Sorry Michael!
The estimated transit time for parcel post is also greater than for letter post… at the higher cost, you’d think it would be the other way around.
Customs pays particular attention to parcel post packages, since those are likely to contain items of value… most people choose parcel post over letter post because it can be insured.
Yeah, the USPS should drop “service” from their name to comply with truth in advertising laws 
I’ve recently received two packages (small, lightweight ones containing clothing) from Kentucky. Each of them took 8 full days to go from Kentucky to Texas, a total of about 800 or 900 miles. 
When doing family research I was going through old records from the late 19th century where my ancestors were jumping through the red tape to collect my g-grandfather’s Civil War pension. Two things struck me in going through those files. 1) The government treated its veterans like crap then, just as it does now. 2) It typically took 2 to 3 days for a letter mailed in Southwestern Missouri to reach Washington DC, and be opened and stamped received by a government office. That was in the days of trains and steam locomotives. Now, it takes 3 to 5 days to fly a letter from Missouri to Washington DC, what’s wrong with this picture?
Germany can be a real pain that we found especially since USPS has canceled their contract with German Deutsche Post and passes it’s packages on to a private service GLS. They charge for everything they deliver which is between 10 to 15,-- Euros as a regular fee for the collection of custom fees if applicable and transport expenses inside Germany. Customs starts charging import taxes from about 25 Euros even when clearly stated “present” on it (which is a ridicously low value) import costs 16% VAT and between 1,5% and 3,5% customs fee from our experiences, this is from the value stated. But also UPS or FedEx “do take it from the living” as we say here regarding their handling fees. If sending a parcel with a whistle of some value and want it insured you of course state the correct amount, just in case something happens on the travel so there you go. Either undervalue and loose with a DOA or value correct and pay incoming duties. 
I presume this is similar in other EU countries but their values for being taxed is different.
Brigitte