AUS/CA & ROW customers: Do you pay VAT & customs handling fees on top of shipping?

I was curious of this as I often see comments (esp. in Canada and Europe) about the extra cost of a Folio order. With the price creep and everything going on this is an additional pain to bear.

I can only speak for Latin America. I have ordered Folio books in the three countries I've lived in. Standard shipment is out of the question as the risk of the local mail losing your order or detaining it in customs without notifying is very high (it once happened to me). So, everything must be ordered with expedited, and I've seen that fees vary wildly and seem to depend on DHL's local policy or whims.

Mexico: books are VAT exempt. You pay nothing to DHL for them to release and deliver.

Costa Rica: books pay 2% VAT. You pay additional $8 for handling.

Panama: books are VAT exempt. You pay a whopping $23 for handling. This one in particular makes your eyes water, as a Folio shipment for 2+ books ends up costing your around $90.

So, what's your experience with this? Do you suffer additional pain when ordering?

Here in Japan, I don’t pay any customs or tariffs on books, though if my order is over 200,000 yen (about 1,600 to 1,800 USD) I would have to pay the 10% consumption tax (like VAT). The only time I was hit with a surprise was when my deluxe copy of Arion Press’ Sea of Cortez was delivered, and I had to pay customs because it was classified as art rather than a printed book (must have been the wooden case).

very occasionally Canada customs has charged me but then Folio reimburses.

Tax is included on Australian orders, so there's usually nothing extra to pay, but on my last order, I got assessed for 25 cents duty on the free folio diary, which then led to $50 for Declaration Processing and another $38 for Quarantine Processing :-(

Over here (Netherlands|ROW) we pay 9% VAT over every order, collected by FS and there’s no standard shipping anymore (express is £31 for two books or more). I haven’t ordered direct in a year and a half due to this and the ever increasing prices of Folio books. The floor for application of VAT is €22 EU-wide.

Here in Iceland we are charged a VAT on the total shipping cost. In addition the delivery companies charge extra for handling, paperwork (e.g. for charging VAT). It is not unusual to be charged about 18 Uk pounds for a book costing 50 UK pounds + delivery. There is no ceiling below which VAT and additional fees is not charged. I have even been charged for replacement books.

>6 2261: I know... I've just been sent a replacement Book of the New Sun due to a badly dinged slipcase and I'll pay $24 for it... and it will be only DHL fees.