So familiar! The "tariff war" has merely thrown another wrench into what was a complex and uncertain annual project. We've raised our boy in Switzerland, and it's been almost two decades of trial and error with his grandparents (and aunts and uncles and cousins) in the US. How many times did we pay customs duties—also collected here at the door on delivery—for boxes of halloween candy or Easter treats from my mother?! Even if the contents are deemed not subject to tariffs, there's still the processing fee for opening the box. It took years to convince "Grammie" that it did not make sense for us to pay the equivalent of $50 for a box of marshmallow peeps.
Our workaround has been to tell the family that we use the Three Kings Parcel Service for our Christmas gifts: won't be arriving in the US until January.
And all have become better about consulting me in detail ahead of time about what to send, how to label, and how to send it.
p.s. This year we decided it's just easier to go to the US in person. Hugs are the best gift anyway.
I would prefer a hug, too :)
T-
So familiar! The "tariff war" has merely thrown another wrench into what was a complex and uncertain annual project. We've raised our boy in Switzerland, and it's been almost two decades of trial and error with his grandparents (and aunts and uncles and cousins) in the US. How many times did we pay customs duties—also collected here at the door on delivery—for boxes of halloween candy or Easter treats from my mother?! Even if the contents are deemed not subject to tariffs, there's still the processing fee for opening the box. It took years to convince "Grammie" that it did not make sense for us to pay the equivalent of $50 for a box of marshmallow peeps.
Our workaround has been to tell the family that we use the Three Kings Parcel Service for our Christmas gifts: won't be arriving in the US until January.
And all have become better about consulting me in detail ahead of time about what to send, how to label, and how to send it.
p.s. This year we decided it's just easier to go to the US in person. Hugs are the best gift anyway.
Oh, I hope you have a good visit! I think my parents would much prefer that option, too.
Glad to know we are not the only ones cool with keeping random amounts of cash in small denominations by the door for the odd delivery.