Overseas parcels cost a packet in SA
READING the letter from S Damons in Auckland, New Zealand, (“Charges turn Christmas gift into a burden”, The Herald, February 4), has prompted me to write about our similar experience on Saturday.
We received a parcel from our daughter in Australia, which had been opened and left unsealed, containing three photographs (two for her grandmothers), two very small crossword puzzle books and one other small handmade gift.
We were informed by the post office that we had to pay R269 customs duty. Needless to say we were totally taken aback and went to see the postmaster whose only advice was that we could send it back to customs for a “re-evaluation” if we wanted. We did, and now wait to see what they decide or if they just send it back to Australia.
At Christmas we sent an enormous box of gifts to our daughter in Australia and another one to our son in the United Kingdom and each was delivered to their door and neither was charged customs duty or any other costs at all.
Why then are we expected to pay on some family photographs which are of no value to anyone else but ourselves ?
Lyn Dickason Sunridge Park Port Elizabeth
