Originally Posted by
aster
I read on on of their sites that you can sent someone a gift worth up to 1000 Kroner without the receiving person having to pay VAT or import duties on it. The site also mentioned that this is a person-to-person gift.
I just got a notice from the post office for a gift from a relative that was sent by LL Bean. The cost of collecting it is over NOK 300. In addition to VAT and import duties the Post office takes NOK 120 for clearing customs. I'm thinking of not collecting it which would mean that the package would be returned. I'd then pick up the next time I'm in the States.
You don't have this problem with books as there is no VAT or import duties. So I order books all the time from Amazon which are much less than in Norway, even after the shipping costs.