hmmm... i've tried to ship cds, dvds, model kits, books, model kit accessories here in makati.
the bad thing is, makati post office has customs examiners and appraisers, some post offices don't.
i've been charged thousands and thousands for my contrabands hehe sometimes, i'll tell the merchants to declare the goods at lower prices just to get away with taxes.
i spoke with that b*tchy customs examiner and told me what's taxable or not. if i can remember it correctly, below are rates (costs)
for books - should not exceed $40
for cds - should not $20
for dvds - not taxable if 1 dvd, two or more taxable na!
but the bad news is, most merchants declare the actual amount i.e amazon, cdwow etc. so you can't get away with it, they can see the reciepts also
once they know that your goods exceed the limit, they can see it by the way through a green sticker with all the declared items and value
here are the itemized charges
import duty - depends on their computation
+
bir taxes - vat - their computation again
- specific/excise tax - their computation again
+ proceeds-auction sale = 250 (fixed)
+ miscellanious = 250 (fixed)
plus 30 pesos stocking fee, before 20 lang
you'll notice 500 pesos is fixed, succeeding depends on the value of goods (tax rates vary on toys, books cds etc.) they have a book!
to get away with it, you can either bribe them hehe or ship it where post offices don't have examiners

by the way, costs are computed with shipping charges so most of the time, it will exceed their limit esp. airmails