To those who've been charged a lot of tax, you might wanna try talking to the customs people before you actually pay the big fee. Customs charges seems subjective, as determined by the custom offical. So, if you try and tell them it's too much, maybe they would consider and probably lower your tax, or nullify your tax at all!
Might not work for everyone, but well, it's worth a try anyway...
My story: (My First Encounter with Customs at the P.O.)
Just came from Mandaluyong PO this morning. I had 2 shipments: 1 box set of the Godfather collection from Amazon and 4 DVDs from TAU:
When I got to the PO, I gave the claim slips to the lady (as usual) but I was surprised when a guy from Customs suddenly appeared from behind me.
He started to open the Amazon box (because there was no declared value since it was a replacement for the previous defective set that I got), the TAU box however had a declared value of 100+ Can $.
C-Guy: "Taxable ito,a."
Me: "Dati na akong pumi-pickup dito wala naman tax,a"
C-Guy: "Wala lang ako noon. (yeah,right).Bakit walang value ito?"(referring to Amazon box)
Me: "Replacement yan nung previous package ko"
C-Guy: "E,ito? (opens the TAU box)..."Apocalypse Now, Amores Perros...etc,etc..."
Me: "Magkano ba tax?'
C-Guy: (gets a claculator and started computing)"Hmm. Sige, wala na itong Amazon, sabi mo replacement,e. Ito na lang isa. (Continues calculating). Eto.
Me: "1,213 pesos?" (I started questioning his computations, he explains clearly naman.)
C-Guy: "Teka, kukunin ko yung resibo"(he leaves for a while)
I talked to the P.O. lady who knows me very well.
Me: "Bakit may tax ngayon? Dati naman palaging wala, a?."
Lady: "Natiyempong nandito siya, e. TAWARAN MO. TAPOS WAG KA NANG HUMINGI NG RESIBO."
The customs guy comes back:
Me: "Sir, bawasan nyo naman, wala sa budget ko yan,e.Wag nyo na lang resibuhan."
C-guy: (Acts as if surprised (duhhh), nagisip kuno)"Sige, 800 na lang."
As I was collecting my package, he continues: :"Daming dumadating dito niyan! Lalo na yang Ama-zone(pronounced as "zone"). Marami, taga GREENHILLS (beware, people!)!"
Me: "Thank you, sir. Ano ho pangalan nyo?"
C-Guy: [He tells his name]
Me:"Ah, Papaano ho yan meron pa akong paparating na package?(I have another 5 DVDs arriving from Djangos)"
C-Guy: "Sige, bigay ko na lang sa iyo, yon!"
Moral: Be nice to Custom people, para walang hassle.
:-/