France in Focus

Some friends wanted to send us a food & drinks hamper from the UK as a thank you because we'd been looking after their house during Covid but I said no please don't as we may have to pay something at this end and you have to be careful what foods are in it or it may be confiscated. Instead and without telling me she sent me a lovely tea cosy . but I had to give our La Poste lady 12 euros to retrieve it

Golly, that turned out to be an expensive tea-cosie - still it's the thought that counts.

Char wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 4:28 pm Golly, that turned out to be an expensive tea-cosie - still it's the thought that counts.

Well it made the post lady laugh as she waited while I opened it - don't think she quite got what a tea cosy is used for so I stuck it on OHs head and said fancy dress

Brexit, the decision that keeps us giggling

Liz wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:09 pm Brexit, the decision that keeps us giggling

Brexit, the decison that keeps me weeping.

Brexshit, the decision that put the uk in it.

Our neighbours run their own pewter jewellery business. They use marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy for most of their sales now, as trade shows became too costly (and impossible during lockdowns). They are being taxed left, right and centre for anything they send out, and for any returns (which thankfully are few). He, a NZ, initially thought that Brexshit might just work for the UK. I get my ear chewed off now, with constant moaning about how it's making their life hell. It seems (as usual!) left hands and right hands in the taxes and customs departments don't speak to each other, and all have a different idea - when in doubt, slap some extra tax on it.

Hence, another reason I'm now only buying from the UK if it comes over in a client's/friend's car!

Sending small parcels, from UK to France, with a value of under £30 and labelling them 'gift' has been fine for me. It's mostly a few clothes, books & toys for the grandkids in France. On average taking 4/5 day to get there.

I've received several things from the UK and not yet been charged this end ...
But when I used to order stuff from the US, I always had to pay customs charges. Wrangler jeans, even with customs charges, were far cheaper than buying them here in France.