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Posted By: Julie

that if they are caught, they can (once) talk their way out of it, and if not, all they have to do is pay the customs tax on what the customs (amusingly, as you point out) decide the value is. Recipients (there's NO tax going OUR way, of course, malgre Bush and his merry men--now missing a CIA director, I understand)cannot be forced at gunpoint to say that a ragged Texas Tommy (no, my stuff has NEVER been caught; that's just an example) is really worth more than $5, because they can always say, "I didn't pay more than that, and as far as i know, it isn't worth more than that."

Package should be wrapped APPROPRIATELY, not like "a Cadallac" (well-known dealer), but firmly, of course. hard, as thin as possible, and not elegantly. The customs people once stopped a FedEx package of mine--i think for inspection--but then sent it on its way without further disturbance.

Lie early and often to governments!